Smart announces pricing and specification for the Fortwo, Cabrio and Forfour Brabus trim range.

• Prices start from £16,320 on-the-road for the smart BRABUS fortwo
• Range features 898 cc turbo engine with increased power of 109 hp
• Choice between BRABUS or BRABUS Xclusive – smart BRABUS Xclusive available from £19,490

Prices for the new smart BRABUS range start at £16,320 for the smart BRABUS fortwo. The smart BRABUS forfour costs £16,815, while the smart BRABUS cabrio is available from £18,460.

The BRABUS range uses the existing turbo-charged 898 cc engine, with an increased power output of 109 hp (up from 90 hp). In keeping with its sportier engine and exterior, it also comes with BRABUS Performance sports suspension with specially adapted ESP, sports power steering, and a twinamic dual-clutch transmission with race start function.

Based on the existing passion model, the BRABUS models add significant styling updates including BRABUS badging; BRABUS sports steering wheel; BRABUS seats with dinamica inserts; handbrake and gear shift with BRABUS logo; BRABUS sports pedals; 16- and 17-inch alloy wheels (front – 16; rear – 17). Passion models come generously equipped as standard, including the smart audio system; automatic climate control; and cruise control. 

For £845 BRABUS customers can add the Premium package which includes height adjustable driver’s seat and steering wheel; heated and electrically operated door mirrors; rear parking sensors; and smart media system. The night sky option also adds a fabric folding sunroof for an additional £625 on smart forfour models only.

For an additional £3,170 customers can opt for the BRABUS Xclusive model, which adds BRABUS leather sports seats; a bi-fabric dashboard (leather and mesh); BRABUS floor mats; and Xclusive badging. BRABUS Xclusive models come standard with the Premium Plus package (£1,345 on BRABUS models) which includes ambient lighting; rear view camera; automatic window wipers and lights; fog lamps with cornering function; and a centre armrest. 

Prices for all smart models:

Model line	g/km - CO2	% - BIK tax rate	£ - P11D value	£ - Price OTR
BRABUS fortwo	102	16	16,265	16,320
BRABUS Xclusive fortwo	102	16	19,435	19,490
BRABUS fortwo cabrio	104	16	18,405	18,460
BRABUS Xclusive fortwo cabrio	104	16	21,575	21,630
BRABUS forfour	104	16	16,760	16,815
BRABUS Xclusive forfour	104	16	19,930	19,985
night sky BRABUS forfour	104	16	17,385	17,440
Night sky BRABUS Xclusive forfour	104	16	20,555	20,610

It Has been THIRTY years since the unveiling of the Volvo 480 ES at Geneva, where has the time gone.

The Volvo 480 ES was the first front-wheel-drive car with a transverse engine produced by Volvo. It's now been 30 years since this wedge-shaped car made its official premiere at the Geneva Motor Show.

When the annual motor show in Geneva opened on 6 March 1986, the Volvo 480 ES was one of the cars that attracted the most attention. It was not just the premiere of the first sports car from Volvo in more than a decade; the 480 ES was also the brand's first front-wheel-drive car in series production. 

The model designation was tied to the 1800 ES sports wagon, which ended production in 1973. The low, wedge-shaped body with its pointed nose and pop-up headlights provided a hint of the future, while the abruptly ending rear section with its glass tailgate was yet another way to pay homage to the 1800 ES.

Several sketches had been prepared by designers such as Carozzeria Bertone and Volvo Cars' Chief Designer Jan Wilsgaard, but the proposal that got the green light was created by John De Vries of Volvo's subsidiary in the Netherlands. Dynamics and personality were key words guiding the design.

The interior was also innovative, with an instrument panel angled towards the driver and adjustable backrests in the individual rear seats. The interior was designed by Peter Horbury, who would later become Volvo's Chief Designer.

The level of technology in the car was high, and the 480 ES was well equipped even in the standard version. A new feature was the trip computer. This “electronic information centre” could give the driver information about average fuel consumption, average speed, range and outside temperature. Digitally, of course.

The 1.7-litre engine came from Renault and produced 109 hp thanks to the help of catalytic converters. This was enough to produce a top speed of 118 mph and enabled the car to sprint to 62 mph in 9.5 seconds. While the engine's power output was not particularly high, the 480 ES was a road car with driving properties that could match its sporty appearance. 

1998 saw the launch of the 480 Turbo, which had a 120 hp engine with the help of its exhaust turbo and intercooler. In 1993, a new 2.0-litre engine was added to the 480 ES series, with 110 hp and, above all, improved torque.

The 480 series was designed to be a niche model and was not a big seller for Volvo. However, it was more important for Volvo than many realised at the Geneva Motor Show in 1986.

The 480 was namely the first car in a large and comprehensive project – internally called Galaxy. The name implied that they were aiming for the stars. For Volvo, it meant that a new era of technology was beginning. Rear-wheel drive was replaced with front-wheel or all-wheel drive, and a range of new engines was developed.

Project Galaxy began in 1978. Two years later, the first front-wheel-drive prototype was ready. The project was then split up so that Volvo Cars in Sweden was responsible for the larger car that would become the 850, and the Dutch subsidiary Volvo Cars B.V. was responsible for the smaller models – the 440, 460 and 480.

There were plans for an open 480 ES, and a prototype of a convertible version of the 480 was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1990. However, it never made it into production. Neither did the Targa version that was also developed for study purposes. Three of the prototypes of an open 480 ES are currently preserved at the Volvo Museum in Gothenburg.

The Volvo 480 ES was primarily marketed in Europe. The largest single market was the UK, where 22,000 cars were sold. Production of the car in Volvo's plant in Born, Netherlands ended in September 1995. At the same time, the new compact model S40 was picked up. 76,375 Volvo 480s were built in total.