The Smart Roadster Brabus produced 74kW (101hp) and 150Nm of torque from a 698cc turbocharged three-cylinder engine, with boost pressure reaching 1.43 bar. It added a chargecooler, uprated injectors, a Brabus exhaust, bespoke bodywork and a sport-tuned suspension to the standard Roadster platform.
When Smart and Brabus collaborated on the Roadster 452, the result was something genuinely compelling: a tiny, mid-rear-engined sports car that produced over 100hp from less than 700cc, weighed around 790kg, and came with visual and mechanical upgrades developed by Germany’s most famous tuning house. For buyers in today’s used market, it represents either the ultimate Roadster ownership experience or an expensive maintenance commitment, depending entirely on how you approach it. This article covers every factory specification, the engineering that underpins the performance, and the practical information you need to make a sound buying decision.
Smart Roadster Brabus Engine Specifications and Performance Figures
The Smart Roadster Brabus used the same Mitsubishi-derived 698cc three-cylinder turbocharged unit found across the Roadster range, but in a substantially upgraded state of tune. Peak power stood at 74kW (101hp) at 5,500rpm, with 150Nm of torque available from 2,000rpm. The Garrett 1238S turbocharger — fitted to all Roadster variants — was pushed to 1.43 bar of boost, compared with 1.09 bar on the standard 60kW car. That is a significant increase, and the engineering changes needed to support it are equally significant.
The Brabus ECU (Bosch MEG 1.1 with Brabus-specific firmware) managed fuelling, ignition timing and boost control to extract those numbers safely. The uprated injectors provided greater fuel delivery at higher boost, and the chargecooler — a water-to-air intercooler system — reduced intake charge temperatures to protect the engine and maintain power density. For a deep dive into how the turbocharger operates at these pressures and where its real limits lie, the compressor map analysis for the Garrett 1238S is essential reading before modifying or purchasing.
- Engine: 698cc inline-3, turbocharged, mid-rear mounted
- Power: 74kW / 101hp at 5,500rpm
- Torque: 150Nm at 2,000–4,500rpm
- Boost pressure: 1.43 bar
- 0–100 km/h: approximately 10.9 seconds (official Smart figure)
- Top speed: 155km/h (electronically limited)
- Fuel consumption: approximately 6.8 l/100km combined
The Chargecooler and Injector Upgrades That Define the Smart Roadster Brabus
Two components separate the Brabus from the SB2 and the standard 60kW car in engineering terms: the chargecooler system and the uprated injectors. Both are critical to sustaining 1.43 bar of boost reliably.
Brabus Chargecooler System
Unlike a conventional air-to-air intercooler, the Brabus chargecooler uses a water-to-air heat exchanger mounted close to the throttle body. Coolant circulates through the unit via a small auxiliary pump, absorbing heat from the compressed intake charge before it enters the engine. The result is denser, cooler air — which means more oxygen per combustion cycle and reduced risk of detonation. This system adds complexity and has its own maintenance requirements: the coolant reservoir, pump and heat exchanger all need attention. If you are considering a Brabus, understanding this system thoroughly is worthwhile — our dedicated article on how the Brabus chargecooler works covers the circuit in full detail.
Injector Specification
The Brabus used higher-flow injectors to match the increased fuelling demand at elevated boost. These flow significantly more fuel than the standard 60kW units, and their condition is a key buying consideration on used cars. Clogged or degraded injectors can cause fuelling irregularities that are difficult to diagnose without dedicated equipment. The detailed comparison at our Brabus vs standard injector guide explains the flow differences and replacement options.
Smart Roadster Brabus Bodywork and Visual Differences
The Brabus was not merely a mechanical upgrade — it was a complete appearance package. Brabus-specific bumpers front and rear gave the car a lower, wider stance than the standard Roadster. A prominent front splitter, side skirts and a revised rear valance with integrated exhaust outlets completed the kit. The Brabus logo appeared on the treadplates, steering wheel, head restraints and exterior badging.
Wheel and tyre specification was also upgraded: the Brabus ran on 16-inch five-spoke alloys with 195/45 R16 rubber at the rear and 175/55 R15 at the front, maintaining the staggered setup that gives the Roadster its rear-biased handling balance. Interior changes included Brabus-badged sport seats, a three-spoke leather steering wheel, and an aluminium-look dashboard trim. The full breakdown of precisely what changed visually — and how to identify genuine Brabus bodywork versus retrofitted parts — is covered in our guide to what distinguishes authentic Brabus bodywork from cosmetic additions.
Two Brabus Variants: SB2 66kW vs Full Brabus 74kW
This is where many buyers become confused. There were, in fact, two distinct Brabus-affiliated variants of the Smart Roadster:
SB2 (66kW / 90hp)
The SB2 was effectively a factory warm-up act — it used a Brabus ECU map and produced 66kW at 1.33 bar of boost, but did not include the chargecooler or uprated injectors. It wore some Brabus styling elements but was not badged as a full Brabus. The SB2 is mechanically simpler and, arguably, more reliable day-to-day than the full Brabus, because it stresses the engine less severely and avoids the chargecooler maintenance overhead. Understanding which map your car runs — and whether it is appropriate to the hardware — matters: see our technical overview of applying the SB2 map correctly for the detail.
Full Brabus 74kW
The full Brabus added the chargecooler, uprated injectors, Brabus exhaust, and the complete bodywork and interior package described above. It is the car most people mean when they say
