smart fortwo Brabus Edition Debuts: Specialty tuner buffs up the little commuter

When you have none other than Roger Penske introducing you to a crowd, after the big-time German specialty tuner Brabus has pumped you up, no way can you be called “diminutive,” even if you are just a smart fortwo.

The smart fortwo Brabus was introduced on the second and final press day of the LA Auto Show, a day otherwise booked for the likes of Ferrari, Maserati and Lotus. The overachieving little sucker looked tough in black, flaunting its specs: fender flares, suspension components, low-slung body with its nose pressed to the blacktop by 17-inch rear and 15-inch front alloy wheels with fattish tires, twin-tip exhaust, tight skirts all around, and aluminum pedals. Very racy indeed.

Only one small catch: the three-cylinder engine remains stock, at 1.0 liter and 70 horsepower, mated to a five-speed transmission with paddle shifters. There’s no truth to the rumor that Brabus is working on stuffing a turbocharged 2.0-liter Solstice GXP engine into the smart. At least not that we know of. “We’d like to, but we don’t think it would be too smart,” said a guy who didn’t claim to be from Brabus.

The smart fortwo, imported by Penske Automotive Group, has been selling by the tens of thousands. Standard equipment includes electronic stability control, ABS, six airbags, and even Hill Start Assist (for running around San Francisco). Crash ratings are tops.

There will about 1000 or 2000 Brabus edition models built, with the Coupe costing $17,990 and Cabriolet $3000 more. They’ll come in either black or silver. But black is the only way to go.