Rate It: The Crossblade Was Like a Smart Version of the Ariel Atom

Colin
By Colin Wood
Nov 9, 2020 | Smart, Fortwo

No, what you are looking at isn’t a Smart Car that got into a fight with a Sawzall and lost. It’s actually a limited-edition, roofless version of the Fortwo.

Called the Smart Crossblade, only 2000 were said to have been built for the 2002 model year, with all of them being sold in Europe.

Despite the lack of doors, a roof and even a windshield, the Crossblade weighed pretty much the same as the normal Fortwo, though did get a bump in power thanks to tuning house Brabus that bumped up the total power to a whopping 70 horsepower out of the car’s 599cc inline-three engine.

Much like the more pedestrian version of the Fortwo, that power is still sent to the road through a six-speed “semi-automatic” transmission.

As well, even though the Crossblade was never sold in the United States, one did show up for sale over on Bring a Trailer, with the seller able to “acquire a federal replacement VIN as the car is substantially similar to the Smart Fortwo sold here.” Sold with a clean Pennsylvania title, the Crossblade ended up selling for $26,500 back in 2016.

At any rate, is the Crossblade a successful attempt at making the Smart Fortwo a sporty vehicle, or is this still nothing more than a tiny economy car without a roof?

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Comments
SVreX (Forum Supporter)
SVreX (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
11/9/20 3:15 p.m.

I totally get the Ariel Atom.  Much want.

I don't get this.

wae
wae UberDork
11/9/20 3:24 p.m.

I cannot fathom the question for which this could ever be the correct answer.

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
11/9/20 3:29 p.m.

In reply to wae :

If it helps, the listing over on Bring a Trailer says that particular Crossblade lived on some guy's mega yacht—like a more extreme version of people who strap a normal Fortwo to the back of their motorhome.

SVreX (Forum Supporter)
SVreX (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
11/9/20 3:47 p.m.

In reply to Colin Wood :

Haha!

Nope. That doesn't help at all! Lol!!

Patrick (Forum Supporter)
Patrick (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/9/20 3:54 p.m.
wae said:

I cannot fathom the question for which this could ever be the correct answer.

It's the answer to "what to do with my sister's wrecked smart if the buyback is cheap enough because I already committed to it if it's $500 or less"

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt UltimaDork
11/9/20 4:04 p.m.

No, what you are looking at isn’t a Smart Car that got into a fight with a Sawzall and lost.

That might be an appropriate way to re-create one, but it still needs a proper transmission. I think the Smart Roadster was a better idea, although the front end looks pretty weird and it still has the notoriously horrible transmission.

 

Antihero (Forum Supporter)
Antihero (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
11/9/20 4:44 p.m.
MadScientistMatt said:

No, what you are looking at isn’t a Smart Car that got into a fight with a Sawzall and lost.

That might be an appropriate way to re-create one, but it still needs a proper transmission. I think the Smart Roadster was a better idea, although the front end looks pretty weird and it still has the notoriously horrible transmission.

 

I kinda wish you could find one in the US so I could drive one

Kreb (Forum Supporter)
Kreb (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UberDork
11/9/20 5:37 p.m.

If ever there was a car that screamed out for a bike motor, that's the one.

vwcorvette (Forum Supporter)
vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
11/9/20 7:37 p.m.

In reply to MadScientistMatt :

As a smart owner and car enthusiast I disagree about the trans. You need to know how to shift it. We have our own small version of the tail of the dragon here in VT (the App Gap) about 10 minutes from me. It's a blast to drive on that road. I have been waiting for the right smart to come along to turn into a track car. Weight all down low, DeDion rear suspension. 70 hp at 1800 lbs. Same numbers as an old rabbit. Momentum baby! The wife won't let me play with it (it's hers). My Mazda 2 is fun too! I would love a smart roadster.

Dieselboss15
Dieselboss15 Reader
11/9/20 9:28 p.m.

 No, what you are looking at isn’t a Smart Car that got into a fight with a Sawzall and lost.

maybe not, but that's still an apt description 

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