raji

I was browsing through cgchannel.com and came across a car that seemed to me as though it had been inspired from the RX-8... If you ask me, the front-end could have been a little more attractive (more like the RX-8? hehe) but the rear-end reminded me very much of the 8. Even the flares around the front wheels gave me the same impression

here's the link
http://cgchannel.com/gallery/viewimage.jsp?imgID=448

the artist makes no explanations, so i can't be sure where he got his ideas from.

here's a direct link to the car concept. Still not as attractive as the 8 but a very interesting accidental concept of an RX-9 nonetheless

pmacwill

not a concept... its a smart car roadster...

http://www.thesmart.co.uk/index.html

rx-9?? where did you get that from?

raji

the smart cars didn't cross my mind when i first saw this... I only said it looked like an RX-9 concept because the rear end really does look like an 8 to me

Kel Rx8

i agree the tails look like the rx8
but it looks more like a isuzu+del sol

Smoker

but anyhow, a Rotary Engine is what makes an RX, not styling.

Pretty nice styling though, I have to say.

epitrochoid

mmm 3 lug wheels

AQA101

I work at a company that was involved with Daimler-Chryler and people there still can buy D-C cars (Smart is a D-C brand) cheaper. So they drive D-C cars a lot and I happen to park besides one of these sometimes - looks funny. Similar lines, but the 8 is nearly twice as big!

I also test drove the Brabus Smart Roadster, which is the "hot" version. It's a funny car (101hp / 700kg), but with absolutely no practical use, since you can't transport anything in it. With the roof open, luggage room is practically zero. And it's so small it's almost dangerous, people just don't notice you if there's another car between you and them.

Edit: The Brabus Smart Roadster looks like this:

raji

wow cool!!

AQA101

IMHO the Brabus Roadster Coupé looks even better (and it has at least some cargo space in the back):

Rxdriftingaction

... wat can i say???

rotten42

speaking of CG....there is a very good render of an RX* on this site. I'm thinking of buying the model so I can play around with it in Max.

http://www.3d02.com/3d_collection_ma...&p=1&moid=2437

OneEvilRx8

Thats A Ugly *** Car..

epitrochoid

looks like a TVR/rx8/del sol

shelleys_man_06

Does that thing have RSX Euro tails? Haha. :p

I hope the next RX-whatever doesn't look like that Smart car. Dune buggy anyone?

zoom44

well my first thought was that it was a smart car and then i saw the rear end pic where it clearly says smart so good on me!! they are designed to be small economical people movers with some flair. not bad. i think they get great gas mileage.

shelleys_man_06

Probably so. They light, economical, and are much stranger-looking than the Scion.

Shelley might like it.

zoom44

are you talking in third person or do you actually mean Shelley might like it?

shelleys_man_06

Haha. My girlfriend, who's now my fiance.

s13lover

Coolest car that get 50 mpg in my book.

robertdot

Yeah. 3 Cyl turbo putting out 100 HP, making about 17 HP per pound. That is some economical get-up-and-go. Smart is about to start releasing cars in the US. First they are making an SUV that is very NOT in the tradition of smart. Then, if that goes over well, they are going to release other models. The BARABUS Roadster has my name on it. I want one of those REALLY bad.

Everyone who moans about luggage space is missing the point. In EU, these ultra small, ultra efficient get-around-town type cars are the way to move around a city, and European countries in general, because they are so small. It's not like in the US where going to see the sights the country has to offer is a several week long excursion.

I think the (real) Smart cars will do well in larger cities here, especially with gas prices so high. But out in the country / planes, I don't think they will fare well.

But I REALLY DO like the Roadster.

Lufa

I saw these things zipping around Germany, they look sweet in person... I was wishing they would put a rotary in one. I would import one in a second, a little 1 litre rotary in a 20lbs car would kick ***.

Odd thing was I only saw them near Baden-Baden... no idea why, just an observation.

Omicron

First one looks like an AWD RX-SUV. Not sure I like it.

robertdot

Yeah, and it has a 4 cyl (if I remember correctly... on second thought it might be a 6), which strays from traditional Smart turbo 3cyls. Not my bag. If I wanted a 4 banger economy car, I'd get a Civic.

RobDickinson

The smarts are ok ,but ruined by the auto gearbox.

standard coupe is 10 seconds to 60mph, a whole 2 of which its spending changing gear.

Stacks of fun, but no practicality, and expensive, you can get a 1-2 year old lotus elise for the price of the RHD brabus roadster.

AQA101

Very true, that gearbox is awful. It shifts extremely slow and it never does so at the right moment. Shifting with the paddels on the wheel is fun though. another point is, that thing is expensive. 25K EURO for the Brabus base model in Germany, make that 26K with stereo and some other small stuff. You can get a fully fitted Miata 1,9l for the same price, which is far more car for the same money.