Smart ForSpeed concept

Headlining Smart's display at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show will be an electric two-seater that does without windows and wet weather protection.

In the spirit of various "speedster" concepts by the likes of Porsche, the ForSpeed does without a windscreen; in its place is a small wind deflector.

The ForSpeed also does without a roof, so you'll need to hope that it doesn't rain. There is a weather cover, but it's only for unused seating positions. Should it rain whilst you're driving, rest assured that the interior has been waterproofed and there are drainage channels in the seats.

The ForSpeed's entertainment and nav systems are run entirely by an iPhone app that lives in a pod just ahead of the passenger.

With a name like ForSpeed, this Smart has a lot to prove. The company claims that it can go from zero to 60km/h in 5.5 seconds. No zero to 100km/h time is quoted, presumably because top speed is just 120km/h.

A small series of solar cells at the bottom of the wind deflector help power the car's on-board electronics.

A 30kW electric motor lives in the rear of the car and powers the rear wheels. The electric motor runs off a Lithium-ion battery pack.

A fully charged battery is good for a range of around 135km. A quick charge can fill 80 per cent of the battery in just 45 minutes.

This is not a just a neat design for the third brake light.

Voila! That Smart logo has been hiding the car's charging point all along.

The ForSpeed is the latest in a series of electrically driven vehicles from Smart, following on from the ForTwo Electric Drive, as well as the eBike and eScooter concepts.

There's a button on the centre console that will allow the engine to provide an extra 5kW of power for a short space of time.

LED technology is making it easier for car makers to create truly distinctive head- and tail-lights.

As there are no side windows either, there's no need for exterior door handles. Just reach over the door and open the doors from the inside.

The car finder feature on the ForSpeed's iPhone app records the car's position when you park it, allowing you to easily find it again later.