The BRABUS Ultimate E Shadow Edition “1 of 28” is a small-run offering of high-performance electric cars tying in with the German automotive experts’ continuing collaboration with Finnish manufacturer of high-performance boats Axopar. In the BRABUS Ultimate E Shadow Edition “1 of 28” city sports car, the two teams pooled their expertise to build a “tender” for the new recreational craft presented by BRABUS Marine early this year – the BRABUS 500 “Shadow OPS“ Limited Edition “1 of 28”, whose two outboard motors with a combined output of 368 kW / 500 hp (493 bhp) give it a top speed of more than 50 knots (92.6 km/h/57.5 mph). The compact 28-foot boat is one of the most dynamic of its kind and comes from BRABUS Marine refined with exclusive appointments.
To be just as agile on land, BRABUS developed a “tender” for the city, which is not only equally nimble, but also boasts many parallels to its seagoing counterpart with regard to the design. The two-seater, which celebrates its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show 2019, is painted the same gunmetal gray and in the cockpit features the identical combination of red leather and Silvertex fabric as the BRABUS 500 “Shadow OPS” Limited Edition “1 of 28”.
However, instead of two eight-cylinder gasoline engines like the boat, the city speedster relies on an electric powertrain: The basis is provided by the smart fortwo EQ cabrio of the current generation, which is powered by a three-phase synchronous motor in the stern. The power is sent to the rear wheels by a single-speed transmission.
BRABUS stands for high performance and consequently the development engineers did of course not settle for the stock output of 60 kW / 82 hp (80 bhp). Thus, they developed a performance upgrade for an electric car, making BRABUS the first company in the world to do so. The BRABUS PowerXtra performance upgrade includes a reprogrammed torque control system, special modules for the driving dynamics switch and the accelerator pedal as well as a special gateway. These measures allowed unleashing and using the inherent reserves in this electric powertrain.
The “driving fun switch” in the cockpit enables the driver to choose between four different drive modes. In Level 1, the electric motor responds as in any stock smart EQ fortwo. In the “Eco” position, the energy recovery rate is increased and the two-seater brakes much more strongly than the production model when lifting off the accelerator. Level 3 stands for “Sport.” The accelerator pedal delivers quicker response and the energy recovery rate is dialed down to the production level.
When the driver selects the “Sport +” mode, the motor produces an increased peak output of 68 kW / 92 hp (91 bhp) and peak torque climbs to 180 Nm (133 lb-ft), a proud 20 Nm (15 lb- ft) more than the production vehicle. This mode also offers more direct accelerator pedal response while the energy recovery rate remains at the production level.
In “Sport +” mode, the BRABUS two-seater sprints from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 10.9 seconds. The top speed remains limited to 130 km/h (81 mph). It goes without saying that the exclusive city sports car remains completely carbon-neutral despite its increased performance. Depending on the driving style, the BRABUS Ultimate E Shadow Edition “1 of 28” has a range of up to 125 kilometers (78 miles) on one battery charge.
However, the “tender” city sports car captivates not only with its eco-friendly and at the same time fascinatingly dynamic powertrain: The design of the city sports car also sets itself apart from the crowd! The two-seater is a preeminent eye-catcher not only thanks to its gunmetal gray special paintwork, but also thanks to its thrilling WIDESTAR body, which is exclusively reserved for the vehicles of the limited BRABUS Ultimate special editions.
The widebody version has a sporty and dynamic design with fender flares at the front and rear axle. They create space for 18-inch wheels with low-profile tires, which are highly unusual for an electric car of this size.
The BRABUS suspension was specifically calibrated to the weight of the electric car, the ultra-low-profile tires and the wider track. It combines sporty and safe handling with the desired ride quality. Of course, the widebody comprises not only wider fenders, but also aerodynamic-enhancement components such as front spoiler, rocker panels and rear diffuser, all developed in the wind tunnel.
The cockpit of the BRABUS Ultimate E Shadow Edition “1 of 28” is a prime example of an outstanding combination of fascinating design, masterful workmanship and meticulous material selection as well. The company upholstery shop created a BRABUS fine leather interior in a combination of especially soft and breathable BRABUS Mastik leather and Silvertex fabric for the seat surfaces.
The red is exactly the same that also adorns the seats and lounger area of the boat. This color is found not only on the seats, the inner sections of the door panels and the steering wheel rim, but also on the dashboard. The lovingly finished details of this exclusive all-leather interior also include square quilting of the seat surfaces applied with pinpoint precision.
Prices for the BRABUS Ultimate E Shadow Edition “1 of 28” start at at €64,900 EUR (approximately $74,000 USD).