The Smart Forease interprets and embodies urban driving fun in a refreshing way, with its openness and minimalistic style paying tribute to the pioneering Smart concept vehicles Crossblade (2001) and Forspeed (2011).
Everyone knows that Smart is practical. That Smart is cool, too, was made clear to visitors at the 2018 Paris Motor Show by the Smart Forease show car. Reduced to the essential, it is uncompromisingly open, pays no heed to convention and is, of course, powered by an electric powertrain. The Smart Forease is based on the standard-production Smart EQ Fortwo cabrio and can therefore be driven.
Both the Smart brand and the Smart forease stand for emotionality, lifestyle and attitude. The vehicle owes its unconventional beauty to the opening of the interior to its environment, the absence of a roof and the shorter windscreen. With its radiant, dramatic metallic-white and colour accents in “stream green”, the Smart Forease promises a carefree driving experience, freed from convention, yet in harmony with its surroundings.
The designers bring the Smart brand aesthetic to life with the Smart Forease, creating a light-heartedness that results from the unconventional approach typical of smart (ease by being unconventional) – unconventional beauty, lightness and energy (energising lightness) are achieved by reduction to the essential (clever reduction).
Micro-car brand Smart hit the streets for the first time in 1998
Like the Smart concept vehicles Crossblade (2001) and Forspeed (2011) before it, the Forease pays no heed to the convention that a car generally has a roof. It is open to the sun’s rays and the wind, allowing its passengers to enjoy a liberated and pure driving experience. The shorter windscreen offers little resistance to the headwind.
The Smart Forease cleverly focuses on what is essential for urban driving enjoyment. Its manoeuvrability and relaxed openness exert a liberating and invigorating effect on the occupants. Safety comes courtesy of the two domes behind the seats.
The open vehicle concept produces a link between exterior and interior, the entire play of colour being at all times in evidence. The interior therefore contributes to the exterior impact of the vehicle. This is also reflected in technical details in the interior.
A particular feature is the two round displays in place of centre air vents in the instrument panel – as if there were not already enough fresh air! The displays can be used, for example, to present content from the “ready to” app, which allows the driver to share their Smart with friends or to monitor its functions. The speakers of the audio system, which provide a perfect sound for listening to music or making phone calls, are visibly integrated in the rear wall of the cockpit, emphasising the car’s cool, playful character.
The Smart Forease interprets and embodies urban driving fun in a refreshing way, with its openness and minimalistic style paying tribute to the pioneering Smart concept vehicles Crossblade (2001) and Forspeed (2011).
Smart Electric Drive makes this writer feel free and anxious
