Kyosho 1:18 Smart Roadster

With the bottom of the world's oil barrel getting ever closer, sooner or later us (non-millionaire) auto freaks are going to either be driving more efficient cars, or finding a new hobby. In the USA, V8s and 5000lb SUVs are still selling like hotcakes, but in the UK and Europe, people just don't want to fill them up with gas costing well over $5 per gallon. Enter the Smart. The latest Smart fourtwo (was the "CityCoupe", or Golfsmart as I call it) gets around 75mpg in diesel form, and IMO is a hoot to drive around town. Parking spaces appear out of nowhere, and the Cabrio model gives real wind in the hair motoring, up to a limited 85mph that is. That's really plenty, but when a big Merc S(chwein)-class blows by you on the Autobahn doing 150, better hold the wheel tight...Building on the success of the original (still quite a desireable car in Europe, even if relatively high prices are keeping sales from soaring), last year Mercedes introduced to rave reviews its athletic cousin, the Smart Roadster.

Availble with either 60 or 80hp turbo diesel 700cc 3 cycl gas engines (mounted over the rear axle, getting between 35-60mpg), the Roadster is faster, longer, wider, and (much) lower than the roller-skate like FourTwo. Weighing in at 1700lbs, with an eletrically opening top (like a roll-top desk), available 16" wheels, standard auto-clutch sequential 6-speed gearbox with steering wheel paddles, stability control, stong permeter safety cage, electric windows, AC, relatively roomy interior and large cargo space, and options out the wazoo, the Roadster could be the wave of the future in sports cars. They're finding them a bit hard to sell at 14,000-20,000Euros, but other manufacturers are taking notice that people want efficient, fun to drive cars. The slow-to-get-off-the-line gearbox gives a deciebing 10 sec 0-60 time. Don't be fooled - maxing out at 115mph with quite acceptable on-the-roll acceleration, a very convincing sensation of speed (aided by super low cockpit and a cute "chirp-chirp-chirp!" of the blow-off valve every up-shift), and grip like a barnacle, on twisty roads (and on the Nurburgring, where I caught and passed many cars with 2, 3 and even 4 times the hp) the Roadster is more fun than a barrel of Simpsons DVDs. The Brabus version with 100hp or a chip tunes the stock Roadster and gets the grunt to match the handling. Dodge has changed the appearance a bit for a showcar, and will hopefully be selling it in the US as the Slingshot soon.

On to the model...I first bought the Bburrago version, and, well, won't waste time talking about it. Just go for the Kyosho. Available in Europe for around 30Euros (35USD), it comes in the "Coupe" version with the glass greenhouse (1000Euro option), or the normal version with a notchback rear (my daily driver until returning to the US in 2005 it's an all black, 80hp Roadster Coupe). It's a pretty light model, with plastic body panels like the real thing.

Pros: The scale is spot on, much better than the chunky Bburrago. The paint is superb. Both red and deep blue are flawless - smooth and deep color. Also available in "Glance Grey", "Champagne Remix", Yellow, and Black. I think dark colors look great on the full scale car, but in the model I'd recommend one of the brighter hues to really show off the bulging wheel arches. Wheels and tires (correctly marked as Bridgestone, 205/45-16) are excellent, and roll well. The interior is accurate and very nice, with rubber belts and a very correctly detailed dashboard, and fuzzy carpet. The headlights, foglights, and side markers are sweet. Mirrors and license plates are well done stickers. The gas cap is perfect. Removable roof panels fit in the trunk as they should. The glass is very nicely done all around, and wipers are well detailed

Cons: The doors open on doglegs (albeit good ones), and don't swing exactly like the real car, surely done not only for cost, but reliability. One note, on the red car the passenger door doesn't shut completely, a bit annoying and Bburrago like... The seats could be better...the headrests in the real car are nicely detailed, not here. Gotta cut costs somehere... The rear tail-lights are gem-like on the real thing. Here they made an effort, but fell a bit short. The non-working suspension is disappointing. The plastic front and rear "bumper" isn't a very convincing replaication of the real thing. It's textured, but the shade of grey on the blue model isn't quite right. The front brake disks are fixed (rear drums invisibly like on real car), but this lightweight doesn't have cross drilled 6 piston Brembos to begin with, so it's not the end of the world. Everything is there on the motor and underbody, but nobody will mistake this for an Exoto...

Overall its a fine model of a fantastic car, well worth trying to get in the US (the model and real thing!) Happy motoring.

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