Hayabusa powered Smart Car (SmartBusa)

[chasingrabbits]

Matt, Like you guys, this has been almost an obsession of mine ever since i bought an old style Mini and found out about the kits that Zcars put sells. My problem is being able to justify such a huge expense, but then again, how can one bring economics into such wonderful idea. I have searched, researched, watched, and even bid on engines, so I know that the price you paid for your engine is right on the money and it's not realistic to expect to get a good engine complete with everything needed for much less. The only place for savings has to been in the differential. The quaife is insanley priced,but it is a fine piece of engineering. Zcars has their own solution but uses a car starter to provide reverse.

The results that can be obtained are unbelievable, as the Hyabusa powered mini cooper built by Zcars can do 0-60 in 2.8 secs. How much is that worth?

Please keep us posted on your progress!

[2micro4u]

Any updated pics of the progress yet?

[uberpanzer]

I will be VERY closely following this thread, while enduring the wrath of my g/f in the process. She has already clearly stated that I shouldn't even be THINKING of anything like this, since the car is supposed to be a reliable daily driver for me (I have other project cars that run at times when they want to). But watching someone go through this process from begining to end will be invaluable for the day when I finally will be able to do this to my own car.

To the people that are trying to grasp the difference in price between a turbo and this kit (or why anyone would even WANT to go this fast in a car this small), it is really the mindset of the person. Not everyone that went and bought a Smart had the same things in mind. Some wanted a small, econimcal car that still had plenty of 'big-car engineering', some wanted something unique and different, while others wanted a very light, but well built chassis as a jumping-off point to OTHER projects. Someone doing a swap like this where the eventual costs (at least on the initial R&D and build) exceed the original price of the car isn't trying to get gas mileage that is double that of most SUV's. They have something totally different in mind. And since it is their money, let them roll with it and don't belittle them.....until they start whining about how much stuff costs. THEN we can rag on them to no end.

Me? I can't wait until more is known about this swap and the prices for it are much lower (diff, engine, rear subframe, etc). I really like the size and the weight of the Smart, as well as the casual driving personality of it currently. But I really like the idea of being able to have ANOTHER 6k rpm on tap if I really feel like beating the car and tires up.

[race911]

Anyone else here actually own a 4 wheeled vehicle using a 1.3L Hayabusa? My Radical SR3 is so equipped, and just tooling around the paddock with me in the car at 1350 lbs. barely works. I cannot imagine stop-and-go traffic at 500 more pounds.

[jetfuel]

to each it's own...


280SL..with 300SL 6.3 engine...talk about fun..




jetfuel

[uberpanzer]

Originally Posted by race911

Anyone else here actually own a 4 wheeled vehicle using a 1.3L Hayabusa? My Radical SR3 is so equipped, and just tooling around the paddock with me in the car at 1350 lbs. barely works. I cannot imagine stop-and-go traffic at 500 more pounds.

In what way does it not work? It generates more power and torque than the Smart 1.0L 3 banger, doesn't it? Gearing issue perhaps?

[smarticus]

The engine has very little low end torque. It's a rev dependent high end monster, but at low RPM's it doesn't have much pull and doesn't work in a street car that is in stop and go most of the time. You also likely can't put A/C on it. Now, if you were to have two identical looking smarts......

[race911]

Originally Posted by uberpanzer

In what way does it not work? It generates more power and torque than the Smart 1.0L 3 banger, doesn't it? Gearing issue perhaps?

Gearing is likely fine for the powerband. I guess 6th gear is 5K+ at 70mph. You can put whatever final drive you want in the Quaife. Tiny flywheel and multi disc clutch that's merely an on-off switch. It's trouble enough launching 1300lbs on a flat surface pulling out of my garage at the track. In the real world, from a stop sign and factor in a hill with traffic?

[Boeschbuilt]

Originally Posted by race911

Gearing is likely fine for the powerband. I guess 6th gear is 5K+ at 70mph. You can put whatever final drive you want in the Quaife. Tiny flywheel and multi disc clutch that's merely an on-off switch. It's trouble enough launching 1300lbs on a flat surface pulling out of my garage at the track. In the real world, from a stop sign and factor in a hill with traffic?

I really don't think this is going to be as big of a deal as you guys are making it out to be. The Hayabusa has quite of bit of torque, a good clutch, and the Smart is light as a feather. If it works in sandrails, it will drive just fine in a Smart!
Construction should start next week, I will be sure to post lots of pictures!

[knick]

Drive it like you stole it and you don't have to worry about low end torque. Launch at 7k rpm from every stoplight.