With the ELO concept car, Citroën presents its vision of the future of the family car. This is not just a means of transportation, but also a place to relax. And all in a compact package, because the ELO has the same exterior dimensions as a C3 Aircross! It also contains plenty of nods to Citroën’s past. Citrovisie has rounded them up for you.
The driver is seated in the middle. Years ago, Citroën had already experimented with this in the design of a compact city car and the Karin concept car. You get a better view from the center, but getting in does require some flexibility.
The front and rear bumpers have (identical) interchangeable inserts made from a kind of expanded polystyrene, making any damage easy to repair. Citroën had previously used identical parts in the Cactus and Oli concept cars. The Ami even has identical front, rear, and side panels!
All the functions are on the steering wheel, so the driver can keep their hands on it. That was also the philosophy behind the dashboards of the CX, Visa, GSA, and BX. The steering wheel has just one spoke, by the way. This type of steering wheel debuted in 1955 on the DS and disappeared in the early 1990s. Its return is a lovely tribute to the past.
The tires and wheels were developed together with Goodyear. Well, how times have changed since Citroën worked with Michelin! The brand’s Pilote tires debuted in 1938 on the Citroën Traction Avant, while the 125 x 400 size was developed specifically for the 2CV.
The orange body color contrasts beautifully with the dark windows. It gives the car an almost graphic look, reminiscent of the dark side window in the BX’s C-pillar.
Citroën’s familiar lighting signature: at the rear, the C5 Aircross’s light wings; at the front, two horizontal light strips combined with two blocks positioned close together. Am I the only one who’s reminded a little of the TUB?
The ELO isn’t a redesign of an iconic Citroën from the past. However, it does include a few nods to the icons of yesteryear. For example, as a wink to the 2CV, the rear half of the roof can be opened to carry long items. The driver’s seat, built from a simple tubular frame, and the removable seats for a picnic by the roadside are also hints at the Deux Chevaux.
The ELO is full of practical, well-thought-out solutions. That’s typical Citroën: think of the TUB and the 2CV, or more recently, the Berlingo and Ami.
Typical car design elements, such as a rising window line or sculpted door panels, are completely absent. The design is unlike what we’re used to seeing in cars, and everyone has an opinion about it. Whether you find it beautiful or ugly, it’s certainly bold. We often saw that kind of polarizing design in Citroëns of the past, too.
