“Black Mamba” Edition Smart Limited To 500 Units

Following his star turn in the Mercedes-owned ultra-compact automaker Smart’s “Big, in China” ad campaign last fall, NBA star (and Smart brand ambassador) Kobe Bryant met with company execs this past July to work on a new “Black Mamba” edition Fortwo. Having made its debut at the recent Chengdu Motor Show, the China-only Kobe Bryant Black Mamba Fortwo has now hit the market. Limited to only 500 units, the Kobe edition Fortwo is priced at 124,000 yuan (US$19,412).

Unlike other recent China-only auto editions like the “Year of the Dragon” Rolls-Royce, customization on the “Black Mamba” Smart is minimal — and possibly disappointing for some NBA fans. The car features a fully blacked out exterior and interior and dynamic BRABUS wheels, but is otherwise similar to the usual Fortwo, with the exception of Bryant’s signature and “Kobe Edition” written on the hood.

Whether Kobe’s name, and the relatively low production run of this vehicle, will be enough to convince a prospective auto buyer to spend an extra 9,000 yuan will likely be directly proportional to his or her level of NBA fandom.