Smart Roadster (2003)
The smart marque began as a collaboration between Volkswagen and the Swiss watch brand Swatch. After VW pulled out from the project, Daimler-Benz stepped in to provide the vehicle architecture.
The first smart brand car was launched in 1998. The car was a short two-seat city car. The car was known as the Smart City Coupe and Smart City Cabriolet.
A second line was added in 2003 the Smart Roadster (R452) shown, and the Smart Roadster Coupe (C452). The two shared the basic architecture and design, differing primarily in the Roadster having a flat luggage/engine lid behind the rollbar, while the Roadster Coupe had a glass hatch section in the place. Both cars had a removable 'targa' panel over the two occupants, spanning the windscreen and the rollbar.
The Roadster and Roadster Coupe also shared many mechanical systems with the Smart city car (to be renamed Smart Four-Two in 2004), including the engine/transmission systems and suspension. The Smart Roadster and Roadster Coupe had a much lower set 'Tridion' safety cell.
For such an appealing compact sportscar, the Smart Roadster had a short lifespan, being removed from market at the end of 2005.
Smart Roadster (2003)
The smart marque began as a collaboration between Volkswagen and the Swiss watch brand Swatch. After VW pulled out from the project, Daimler-Benz stepped in to provide the vehicle architecture.
The first smart brand car was launched in 1998. The car was a short two-seat city car. The car was known as the Smart City Coupe and Smart City Cabriolet.
A second line was added in 2003 the Smart Roadster (R452) shown, and the Smart Roadster Coupe (C452). The two shared the basic architecture and design, differing primarily in the Roadster having a flat luggage/engine lid behind the rollbar, while the Roadster Coupe had a glass hatch section in the place. Both cars had a removable 'targa' panel over the two occupants, spanning the windscreen and the rollbar.
The Roadster and Roadster Coupe also shared many mechanical systems with the Smart city car (to be renamed Smart Four-Two in 2004), including the engine/transmission systems and suspension. The Smart Roadster and Roadster Coupe had a much lower set 'Tridion' safety cell.
For such an appealing compact sportscar, the Smart Roadster had a short lifespan, being removed from market at the end of 2005.