Smart previews Geneva-bound Forease+ concept

It's a follow-up to the 2018 Forease concept

Smart quietly released a teaser sketch to preview a concept car named Forease+ it will introduce at the upcoming 2019 Geneva auto show. The design study is a follow-up to the Forease concept the Daimler-owned brand presented during the 2018 Paris show.

Unconfirmed reports claim Daimler will shutter the Smart brand at the end of the current, third-generation car's production cycle. The Forease+ concept argues otherwise. It's a glimpse into what the brand's future models could look like. The teaser sketch shows a Hot Wheels-esque two-seater that looks suspiciously like the original Forease but with a roof made out of orange fabric. We'll need to wait until the Geneva show opens its doors on March 5 to find out whether there is more to it than a piece of cloth.

Based on the current ForTwo, the 2018 Forease concept relied on an electric drivetrain for power. It shared its running gear with its regular-production sibling, which is only available as an electric vehicle in the United States. Its electric motor drew electricity from a 17.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack to deliver 80 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque. The pack stored enough electricity for 58 miles of range. It's reasonable to assume the Forease+ will use the same components, but Smart hasn't released technical specifications yet.

What the future holds for both Forease-badged concepts is up in the air. They could preview the fourth-generation ForTwo, but the fact that they're based on an existing car might hint at an upcoming production car. Smart showing the same concept twice adds fuel to the fire. It sounds crazy, but Smart has released wilder models in the past. The original ForTwo spawned a limited-edition model named Crossblade that featured concept car-like styling, no doors, and no roof.