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The Smart Roadster is a two-door microcar first introduced in 2003 by Smart GmbH. Sales of the Roadster and Roadster Coupé were below expectations, resulting in a halt of production of both models in November 2005 after about 43,000 Roadsters were made. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1063x617, 249 KB)[edit] Summary Smart Roadster Coupe [edit] Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...
Automakers, also known as carmakers, automobile manufacturers, motor manufacturers, or the automobile industry are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ...
For cars with artificial intelligence, see Smart car. ...
2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
It has been suggested that Vehicle size class be merged into this article or section. ...
A Messerschmitt KR200. ...
Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ...
1923 Ford Model T roadster 1950 Jaguar XK120 roadster This article is about the roadster car body style. ...
1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupé (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ...
The Fortwo is the original Smart model, launched in 1998 as City Coupe. ...
A Messerschmitt KR200. ...
For cars with artificial intelligence, see Smart car. ...
History At the 1998 Paris Motor Show, the two-seat, 2.5-metre Smart City Coupe (later named Smart Fortwo) was launched. This was the beginning of a new car brand and one of the more radical vehicle concepts to hit the European market since the bubble cars of the 1950s. It was also the beginning of a difficult period for Smart. The City Coupe had stability problems that were uncovered only immediately prior to launch. These forced a package of alterations to be made that were both expensive and compromised the car’s handling, ride and gear shift. Public concerns over the car's stability, combined with Smart’s elitist marketing and the sheer radicality of the car’s design, proved damaging to initial sales. Production projections were slashed from 200k per year to 80k, close to disastrous for a new brand with just one product. The Mondial de lAutomobile (Paris Motor Show in English) is an annual auto show in Paris. ...
The Fortwo is the original Smart model, launched in 1998 as City Coupe. ...
A microcar is a particularly and extremely small automobile. ...
Inside the company, the evangelical buzz surrounding the launch of the radical City Coupe quickly evaporated. With new management, new marketing initiatives and continuing revisions to the car’s engineering to answer public concerns, future vehicle plans, including development of a four-seat model, had not been far advanced. It was under these inauspicious circumstances the Smart Roadster was born.
Design & Development Under design director Jens Manske in autumn 1998, Smart's 14-strong design and engineering team began to sketch possible future Smart cars. They soon realised that the powertrain of the City Coupe was ideal for a small sports car, with a compact turbo engine driving the rear wheels via a sequential 6 speed gearbox.
Following Smart’s ‘reduce to the max’ philosophy and general innovative approach, a concept for a super compact, practical and pure sports car was generated. Two quarter-scale exterior and two quarter-scale interior models were made in February 1999 with Volker Leutz’s exterior and Christoph Machinek’s interior proposals selected for development into full-size development models. The design of the car had progressed considerably by the time Michael Mauer officially arrived from Mercedes-Benz's Japan design center to take over Menske's position in May 1999. Mauer worked closely with the design team to quickly develop the roadster, with the intention now of producing a show car for the upcoming 1999 IAA motor show in Frankfurt. This page is about the Mercedes-Benz brand of automobiles and trucks from the DaimlerChrysler automobile manufacturer. ...
By June the full size models of the roadster were handed over to Stola in Italy for production of the show car model, which was produced in about three months for the car’s debut at the Frankfurt show. The Roadster concept was well received at Frankfurt and helped to convince management that the car should be developed for production. At the same time a decision was made to develop Mauer’s idea for a coupe version as a concept car for Paris motor show a year later. As development of the coupe concept began, so the roadster show car was developed over the following year with both exterior and interior designs completed by November 2000 However, colour and trim design continued until a year later.
By early 2000 the Smart City Coupe had finally started to gain sales momentum, with its cabrio version making a significant addition to total Smart sales. In March Mauer left Smart for Saab, succeeded by Hartmut Sinkwitz in May. As the third design director of Smart during the Roadster's development, Sinkwitz had to bring the concept to production in a very short time. This task may have been made somewhat easier by the Roadster having been designed from the start to use existing powertrain and other City Coupe components. Given some of the advanced design features, it is a credit to the design team that so much of the concept car made it to production.
Concept Car The ‘Roadster Coupe’ as shown at the 2000 Paris motor show was already on its way to production form. It shared the design of the Roadster from the doors forward, but had a glass targa roof and rear structure resembling a very small estate (station wagon) in the same way as the BMW Z3 coupe and the Saab 9X concept car developed under Mauer at Saab a few years later. The BMW Z3 was the first modern mass-market roadster produced by BMW, as well as the first BMW model assembled in the United States. ...
Production versions of both Roadster and Roadster Coupe debuted together at the 2002 Paris Motor Show and were available to buy within a few months. Both cars were unique in the market, being significantly smaller than the Toyota MR2, MG TF, Fiat Barchetta and Mazda MX5, but offering similar performance and practicality to the base versions of these cars while significantly more fuel efficient. The Toyota MR2 is a two-seat, mid-engined, rear wheel drive sports car produced by Toyota from 1984 until July 2007 when production stops in Japan, in three different design series. ...
The TF name has been used twice with the MG marque: 1953-1955 - T-Series 2002-2005 - F-Series This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...
This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, etc. ...
The Mazda Miata (sold as the Mazda MX-5 in Europe and Australia, and Eunos Roadster in Japan) is a convertible sports car made by Mazda since 1989. ...
Production The Smart Roadster and Roadster Coupé were introduced in 2003, based on a stretched platform of the Fortwo (full length is 3427 mm). The two variants are meant to be reminiscent of the British roadster of yore, such as the Triumph Spitfire or the MG B. Both the Roadster and Roadster Coupé are available with a removable Targa roof or an electrical Softtop. The Roadster is powered by 45 or 60 kW (61 or 82 PS) versions of the turbocharged 3-cylinder engine in the rear, which is engineered by Mercedes-Benz. The Roadster Coupé has only the more powerful 82 PS engine. A steering wheel with Formula 1-style gearpaddles, to control the semi-automatic sequential transmission, is optional. With weight as low as 790 kg, it is meant to provide the emotion of driving a sports car at an affordable cost. Still, the Roadster's price is not very far from that of a Fiat Barchetta or Mazda MX-5. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (850x565, 66 KB) Summary Interior Smart Roadster Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...
Image File history File links Download high resolution version (850x565, 66 KB) Summary Interior Smart Roadster Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...
The Triumph Spitfire was a small British two-seat sports car, introduced in 1962. ...
1967 MGB GT The MGB was Britains best-selling sports car. ...
This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, etc. ...
The Mazda MX-5, also known as Miata (IPA: /miαrə/ or /miαtə/) in North America and Roadster (IPA: /lodostα/) in Japan, is a sports car built by Mazda in Hiroshima, Japan, since 1989. ...
Both the Roadster and Roadster Coupé are available in Brabus-tuned versions with power increased to 74 kW (101 PS). The Brabus versions have a different twin sports exhaust, lower suspension, polished six-spoke aluminum alloy Monoblock VI 17" wheels, front spoiler, side skirts and radiator grille. Exclusive Brabus interior includes leather trimmed dashboard, alloy-effect accent parts, instrument graphics, leather/aluminium gearknob, aluminium handbrake handle, aluminium pedals and Brabus labeled floor mats.
Despite a projected break even of only 8-10,000 units per year, first year sales almost doubled this estimate. However, some smart roadsters leaked and production ceased due to the warranty work and other costs reaching an average of €3000 per vehicle. While a critical success, the smart roadster was, due to these costs, an economic failure for the company. For those who have driven it, and fallen in love with it, it has proven to be an excellent driver's car with fuel consumption in the high 40s or low 50s miles per Imperial gallon. Running costs are proving to be low and the car is one of the few true sports cars built in the spirit of the 1950s classic British sports car.
Brabus V6 Bi-Turbo prototypes
 Smart Roadster Coupe Brabus. In 2003 German tuninghouse Brabus created a prototype version of the Roadster Coupé with two merged 3-cylinder engines to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Solituderennen. This V6 bi-turbo powerplant had a maximum power of 218 PS for a weight of only 840 kg, giving it the same power-to-weight ratio as a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S. Smart claimed the car could accelerate to 100 km/h in under six seconds. Image File history File links Cimg0990a. ...
Image File history File links Cimg0990a. ...
Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 522 pixel Image in higher resolution (2194 × 1432 pixel, file size: 589 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This picture may have usage restrictions - Smart Brabus Coupe Source: My own picture -- Stahlkocher File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia...
Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 522 pixel Image in higher resolution (2194 × 1432 pixel, file size: 589 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This picture may have usage restrictions - Smart Brabus Coupe Source: My own picture -- Stahlkocher File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia...
The Solituderennen is a former race track that held motorsports events until 1965 on a 11. ...
Since the twin-turbo V-6 occupies almost as much space as two three-cylinder engines, the fuel tank had to be relocated to the nose of the car, where a luggage compartment used to be. It comes in the form of a Formula 1-type foamrubber fuelbladder. The bigger engine also forced a change from separate coil springs and dampers to concentric units to support the de Dion rear suspension. Ten cars were built and presented at the Castle Solitude. Unfortunately they are not available for sale and are not even allowed to be driven on the public roads in Germany. Some of Mercedes' race drivers, like Markus Winkelhock, drove guests around the event's race track. This article has been translated, and needs attention from someone approaching dual fluency. ...
Markus Winkelhock (June 13, 1980) is a German auto racing driver and the son of the late Manfred Winkelhock and thus a nephew of Joachim Winkelhock. ...
Special Editions
 Smart Roadster Collector's Edition.
 Smart Roadster Collector's Edition. In March 2006 Smart unveiled the final variant of the Roadster at the Geneva Motorshow: a limited collector's edition. Image File history File links SR_collectors. ...
Image File history File links SR_collectors. ...
Image File history File links SR_collectors_2. ...
Image File history File links SR_collectors_2. ...
It was based on the topmodel Brabus Xclusive with 101 PS and came with a satin brown-metallic paintjob. The interior had brown leather and higher quality materials were used extensively. It had the new Runline aluminium wheels and Brabus exhaust, frontspoiler and side fenders. Apparently only about 50 cars are made, although that number might rise if there are enough orders.
An additional, UK-only 'Finale Edition' was unveiled in April 2006. This model came in a variety of colour combinations, including an exclusive speed silver and black tridion with 17" runline alloys and 'flow silver' interior components. It also featured leather door and cockpit trim and a central arm rest.
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Project Kimber and the AC Ace Roadster Project Kimber has bought the tooling for the Roadster and will restart production of the car in 2007 in South Wales. The reborn Smart will wear the famous AC badge and is named AC Ace. It's been confirmed that the lightweight machine will be designed and engineered by some of the UK's most accomplished automotive experts. Gordon Murray, the South African-born designer responsible for the McLaren F1 road car, is involved, as is John Piper, who helped build the JCB Dieselmax land speed record machine. But while Project Kimber has revealed the names behind its new model, the exact specifications remain secret. Project Kimber is the industry group which has bought the rights to manufacture the recently discontinued Smart Roadster in South Wales under the famous AC name. ...
Approximate extent of South Wales South Wales (Welsh: ) is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. ...
A.C. Royal Roadster 1924 A.C. 16/70 Sports Drophead Coupé 1935 A.C. ACE 2-Seater Sports A.C. Greyhound Saloon 1962 1999 Cobra Replica 1971 AC Frua AC Cars Group Ltd. ...
The classic 1951-1962 AC Ace. ...
Gordon Murray (born 1946 in Durban, South Africa) is a renowned designer of Formula 1 race cars and the McLaren F1 roadcar. ...
The McLaren F1 was the fastest street legal car in the world of its time(its the Bugatti Veyron at present). ...
John Piper (artist), a prominent artist John Piper (politician), 19th-century lieutenant-governor of the Norfolk Island John Piper (theologian), a Reformed theologian and pastor This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...
JCB Dieselmax on display at the British International Motor Show The JCB Dieselmax is a diesel-engined Streamliner car designed for the purpose of breaking the land speed record for a diesel-engined vehicle. ...
However, it is set to be available as a Roadster and Coupé. The newcomer is expected to have a fresh Mitsubishi power-plant and gearbox, plus a distinct original style created by Keith Helfet, who also worked on the Jaguar F-Type concept car. Production is due to start in 2007, and the maker hopes to build 8,000 examples of the AC Ace every year. Mitsubishi Logo The Mitsubishi Group ), Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies, all refer to a large grouping of independently operated Japanese companies which share the Mitsubishi brand name. ...
Keith Helfet is a distinguished automotive designer. ...
Prices have not yet been discussed by the company, although speculation has suggested a figure in the region of £13,000.
The use of the AC name will not affect production of the AC MkV heritage sports car, which is assembled in small numbers in Malta.
External links - Smart (official site)
- TheRoadster.net, Smart Roadster UK and Worldwide Disscussion Forum
- FQ101 Smart Car reference and modification site
- Review of the Smart Roadster
- Review of the Smart Roadster Coupe
- Review of the Smart Roadster Brabus
- UK Model Guide
- onSMART the unofficial online smart magazine
- The Smart Roadster Appeal
http://nuke.smartroadsterclub.eu/ [official club] Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...
The Wikimedia Commons (also called Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ...
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