This TDI-Swapped Smart Is An Adorable Drag Racer With A Smoking Habit

Sometimes people build cars not because they make sense, but simply because they can. That appears to be the ethos behind this cute little drag racer: it’s a Smart ForTwo with not the kind of engine conversion you’d expect, like a high-revving, lightweight motorbike engine for instance. Nope, it has a 1.9-litre VW TDI engine. And boy, does it like to smoke.

It’ll belch its way to the quarter-mile finish-line in just 13 seconds, crossing the line at 105mph. We don’t feel all that envious of the guy filming at the start line during this video…

Naturally, the ForTwo has required a few further modifications for it to handle the 230bhp of thrust (plus a torque figure starting with a number ‘3’, no doubt): the rear track has been widened significantly, with bulging arches filled by much wider tyres. And it has a wheelie bar which looks to have nearly doubled the length of the car.

It’s quite adorable, we think. At least up until the point it starts forming vast, black clouds…