Smart Forease Concept Pays Tribute To The Past While Giving A Nod To The Electric Future

Smart is celebrating its 20th anniversary and the company is marking the occasion by introducing the new Forease concept.

Set to debut at the Paris Motor Show next week, the Forease is a two-seat roadster which pays tribute to other “pioneering” concepts such as the 2001 Crossblade and 2011 Forspeed.

Billed as “uncompromisingly open” and “reduced to the essential,” the Forease concept is based on the EQ Fortwo Cabrio and features a chopped windscreen and flush-mounted door handles.  The model also has a metallic white body that is contrasted by stream green accents and a matte silver Tridion safety cell.

Designers also installed unique bumpers, a massive diffuser and two stylish roll bars. Other highlights include distinctive headlights, a revised grille and 3D taillights.

The stylish design continues in the cabin as drivers are greeted by a unique steering wheel and two-tone seats with stream green accents. The multi-colored theme is visible elsewhere as the white leather dashboard contrasts with black lower panels.

Elsewhere, the concept has stainless steel pedals and green honeycomb inserts in the air vents. Speaking of the latter, two of the vents have been replaced by digital displays which can be used to show information from Smart’s “ready to” app.

Read: 2018 Paris Auto Show A-Z Guide

Smart didn’t mention technical specifications but, since the car is based on the EQ Fortwo Cabrio, the concept likely has a 17.6 lithium-ion battery and an electric motor that develops 80 hp (60 kW / 81 PS) and 118 lb-ft (160 Nm) of torque. This enables the standard model to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 11.8 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 80 mph (130 km/h).

According to Smart’s incoming CEO, Katrin Adt, “The Smart Forease embodies a refreshingly simple form of driving fun in the city, standing for urban electric mobility without compromise.”