Smart roadster-coupe with V6 biturbo Take Off For Solitude

smart issued the following press release:

Eight smart roadster-coupés with higher power and higher torque engines will take part in the celebration rally to mark “100 years of the Solitude race” (25 – 27 July 2003). Two standard three-cylinder engines have been joined to create a v6 bi-turbo with 1,396 cc engine capacity, power output of 125 kW (170 bhp) and torque of 220 Newton metres.

The prototypes are proof of the achievement potential and versatility of the production car concept. The bi-turbo engines serve to demonstrate the technology and underline the sporty handling performance of the smart roadster and roadster-coupé. The cars which will participate in the Solitude rally have a power/weight ratio of just 4.9 kilogrammes per bhp, accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h in less than 6 seconds and reach a top speed of more than 220 kilometres per hour.

The smart roadster and roadster-coupé are just perfect for the historic racing course near Stuttgart. With their launch in April of this year the segment of the compact and purist roadster was revived, which has not existed in this form since the 50s and 60s of the last century.

Eight vehicles with v6 bi-turbo engines will participate in each of the Solitude regularity races on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Not only legendary racing drivers of the 50s and 60s will sit behind the wheel of the prototypes – well-known names today will also take a seat in the smart roadster. They will do several laps of the 4.6 kilometre course and try to drive a time set by the former silver arrow pilot Hans Herrmann.

100 years ago the first Solitude race was held on a hill-climb course from Stuttgart to Solitude castle. Over time this race became one of the most renowned events in the motorsport scene. After the second world war, the world champions and European champions met there every summer to compete against each other on the difficult course. 200,000 spectators watched the last race which took place on July 18th 1965.

2003-07-18 Please quote www.autoindex.org Autoindex.org if You use this news article!