It’s no bigger than a regular hatchback. It offers seating for up to six people. You can sleep in it. Watch movies in it. And the driver gets to sit in the middle! Just like in a McLaren F1 and GMA T.50!
Welcome to Citroen going Full Citroen, in the delightfully funky form of this new Elo concept. It is said to wrap up the French carmaker’s DNA into an electric “bubble of energy” that simultaneously breathes fresh, orange life into one of Top Gear’s favorite art forms: the MPV.
It’s based on a “dedicated” electric platform, with the motor bolted onto the rear axle to make it rear-wheel-drive. That’s all Citroen has divulged about the powertrain—no acceleration, no power, no top speed—but then it is a concept.
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There’s plenty of info on the design elements. Like that central driving position, which, yes, offers good visibility and can be swiveled around to chat to your passengers, but more than that is really just cool.
Citroen has developed the 2022 Oli concept’s dash further, this time projecting info across the windshield so it’s ‘floating.’ The wheel is a single-spoke job, because DS.
Behind and either side of the driver—just like in a McLaren F1 and a GMA T.50!—are a pair of concealed seats that can be easily folded away. And the second row features three very comfy-looking chairs that can be removed and used as outdoor seating. All in, that’s six prime spots including the driver.
Entry/exit into the e-MPV is via doors that open in opposite directions, and there’s a totally flat floor, because electricity.
It looks fantastic. Wheels pushed as far into each corner as possible, little winglets for mirrors, and on the rear, a bright, airy glasshouse, a cheery little face, and plenty of orange.
There’s talk of the interior being inspired by sportswear, while the two mattresses are designed with Decathlon’s inflatable material used for surfboards and kayaks. There’s a projection screen to watch movies, and an on-board compressor to inflate...things you need to inflate on the go.
You can even turn it into a mobile office, because the driver’s chair can support a little desk that holds a tablet.
“It ticks all the boxes of what has been the brand’s DNA for more than 100 years and what I want to nurture in the coming years: creative, bold, accessible, responsible, ingenious, and dedicated to well-being,” said Citroen boss Xavier Chardon.
All together now: What do we want? Cute electric MPVS! When do we want rhem? Not long after they’ve debuted at the Brussels Motor Show in January!
More photos of the Citroen Elo concept:
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
