Smart Forease gets the speedster treatment

Mercedes-Benz’s Smart city car division has revealed an updated speedster version of its forease concept car dubbed the Fourease+ ahead of its planned public debut at next week’s Geneva motor show.

The new two seater, first unveiled in open top guise at the 2018 Paris motor show, receives a reinforced fabric roof that fits over its cabin, providing protection from the elements for its occupants, together with other subtle styling revisions.

Like the original Forease, the new concept is based on the Smart EQ Fortwo cabriolet and is intended to underline Smart’s “uncomplicated solution to urban mobility” with a pure electric driveline and compact dimensions.

Changes over standard Smart Fortwo cabriolet include a shallower windscreen and prominent domes at the rear behind the seats for added roll over protection.

The new roof, described as a hard shell cover in a textile fabric, is designed to be removable.  It is light, robust and yet suitable all year round, says Smart.

“The Smart Forease+ shows the spirit of the brand: individual, scales back and sustainable. It is also a statement of urbanity typical of Smart,” says Katrin Adt, head of Smart.

The Forease+ borrows heavily from two previous open top Smart concept cars: the Crossblade revealed in 2002 and the Forspeed shown in 2011.  

The Crossblade boasted an even more minimalist design ethos than the Forease+, eschewing doors, roof and windscreen. Although it was conceived as a concept car, it was placed into limited production.

The Forspeed was created to showcase Smart’s first-generation electric driveline. It featured a wind deflector in place of a windscreen as well as roll over hoops integrated into its body structure behind its seats.