2018 Brabus 125R For Two Coupe (Pano-roof)

• One of just 125 examples worldwide - created by BRABUS in 2018 to celebrate 15 years of tuned Smarts - 125R #103
• Three-cylinder turbo engine tweaked by BRABUS to 125bhp, and 148lb-ft of torque
• The only Coupe example with a panoramic roof - the remaining 124 were all cabriolets
• Bought new by our vendor 2018 from well-known supercar and BRABUS dealer Bob Forstner
• Just 2,600 miles and in as new condition. A perfect addition to any serious car collection

BRABUS GmbH, founded 1977 in Germany, is a high-performance aftermarket tuning company which specialises in Mercedes-Benz, Smart and Maybach vehicles, and has carved out a well-respected niche tuning Mercedes cars to epic specifications. It also does this for Smarts, both for the manufacturer and on its own - as it has with this special car.

In 2018, even the people behind the BRABUS 125R called its new, enhanced, 125bhp Smart Fortwo a 'pocket rocket' so let's just get that cliche out of the way here and be done with it. Pocket and rocket. And let's move on.

Actually, it's been just over 15 years since BRABUS, long-time creator of the most potent examples of Mercedes in existence has been heating-up Smarts, so this BRABUS 125R, of which just 125 will be built, is something of a celebration model.

It's based on the 'Club Sport' track-day version of the Fortwo that BRABUS created for a media event at the fearsome Bilster Berg race track in Germany in 2017, and the 'Pocket Rocket' moniker isn't just a silly nickname, as it's also a link to the remarkable 2006 Mercedes CLS-based BRABUS Rocket V12-engined missile, which set a world speed record for four-door saloons.

The BRABUS 125R sees its 898cc turbocharged three-cylinder engine upped to an output of 125PS (123bhp / 92 kW) and 148lb-ft (200 Nm) of torque. That's up from the 71bhp (53 kW) and 67lb-ft (91 Nm) of the standard version and is said to be enough to send it scampering to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 9.2 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 109 mph (175 km/h).

To achieve this kind of performance, BRABUS developed a modified intake system, an even more efficient intercooler, and a recalibrated engine control unit. For further performance optimisation and for an especially sporty sound at the touch of a button, the engine was fitted with a stainless-steel BRABUS sport exhaust system with actively controlled flaps. To match the three cylinders of the engine, this exhaust system features three centre-exiting exhausts.

The wheels are 16-inch mono-block alloys at the front, with 17-inch versions at the back, fitted with bespoke Yokohama high-performance tyres. The suspension has been lowered by 30mm and fitted with BRABUS sports springs. Outside, there is a front spoiler, side sills and exhaust surrounds, along with carbon-fibre wing mirror covers.

It has also fitted out the interior to BRABUS standards, proving that 'luxury' needn't equate with 'large.' The cabin gets contoured sports seats, with contrasting red seams and diamond quilting, and there's a red 12 o'clock marking on the leather steering wheel. There's also a carbon-fibre look for the dashboard, anodised gear shift paddles and handbrake lever, and velour floor mats with the BRABUS logo.

The car presented here is a 2018 Smart BRABUS ForTwo 125R coupe, number 103 of 124, that was UK registered in December 2018 and bought new then by our privateer vendor. He is the car's one and only owner. As he understands it, this is the only 125R produced in coupe form with a panoramic roof (as opposed to a cabriolet, which the remainder of the examples are).

With just 2,600 miles covered, the car does not require a service until 10,000 miles and presents in remarkable condition. Only used sparingly and always garaged, this is a real opportunity to own a real BRABUS product, at what is, relatively, a fraction of what their more common vehicles sell for. A properly engineered micro-car which punches well above its weight!