Cordero Studios/www.corderostudios.com
Smart Alec
June 1, 2007
Think of it as an anti-Hummer.
The Smart Crossblade is not simply diminutive; its overall length
approximates the Hummer’s width. An earth-friendly testament to
minimalism, this 1,600-pound featherweight does without a roof altogether,
substitutes horizontal bars for doors and provides only the loosest
interpretation of a windshield.
A clutchless 6-speed is standard. For safety,
passengers will want to keep arms and legs inside until the ride comes to a
complete stop. Photography by Cordero Studios/www.corderostudios.com (Click images to enlarge); function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
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Interior materials clearly acknowledge the Crossblade’s general
absence of all-weather protection; the extensive use of neoprene and
water-resistant plastic serve as a pragmatic nod to the inevitability of a
sudden shower. But don’t mistake this open-air runabout for an exalted golf cart
or an efficient-but-unexciting electric car. The similarities are purely
superficial.
Photography by Cordero Studios/www.corderostudios.com (Click images to
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In the United States, we often equate compact dimensions and
small-displacement engines with fun-sapping economy. The Crossblade defies any
such notion. Linked to a 6-speed Tiptronic transmission, its Brabus-tuned 699 cc turbocharged 3-cylinder engine kicks out a healthy 85 hp, a
significant bump from the 50 hp unmodified Smarts generate. The extra
performance, however, does little to reduce the Crossblade’s green
credentials—even with its power boost, the motor still returns up to 58 miles
per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline. In theory, the Crossblade can reach
125 mph; in practice, an electronic governor limits top speed to 85 mph. The car
has more than enough rubber to handle aggressive maneuvers: A quartet of
low-profile tires mounted to 16-inch wheels maintains close communication with
the road.
Smart introduced the Crossblade to
great fanfare at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show, and built only 2,000 examples
before production ceased. A small supply of remaining Crossblades is among the
gray-market offerings trickling into the United States ahead of Smart’s official
American launch in 2008. (Even then, the Smart menu will be limited—Roger
Penske, who holds the franchise, plans to import only the more conventional
Smart Fortwo.) Should you find the quirky appeal of the $38,500 Crossblade
irresistible, all it takes is a $15,000 deposit and an eight-week delivery time
to put one in your garage—where it will occupy hardly any space at all.
Big Ass Motors
www.bigassmotors.com
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