Let's be honest. The automotive industry has become a bit... depressed in recent years. All the manufacturers are competing to make the angriest, heaviest, most expensive electric behemoth that takes up as much space on the road as a small studio apartment. And then there's Citroën. The brand that is apparently the only one that still drinks real wine during lunch breaks. They've introduced the Citroën ELO. It's not a car. It's a mobile living room that devoured a McLaren F1 and decided to live in a Decathlon. And you know what? It's absolutely fantastic.
Let's deal with the numbers first, because they are the only thing that will not be subjective in this article. Citroën ELO It measures just 4.10 meters (13.45 feet) long. To put that in perspective: that's the size of their ë-C3, or about the length of your average rush hour. But the French have used an old trick – because the car is electric and the engine is on the rear axle, they've stretched the interior to absurdity.
The result? They've squeezed six adults into the city car's floor plan. The doors open in opposite directions (so-called suicide doors), without a center pillar, creating an opening 1.92 meters (6.3 feet) wide. This means you don't get into the car, you move into it.
“ELO does not advocate the principle that the customer should adapt to their vehicle, but that the vehicle should adapt to the customer's needs. This is a phrase I usually hear with brands that sell vehicles for 200 thousand euros, but not with the people's Citroën.”
Driver's Seat: Ego Trip or Genius?
This is where things get bizarre in the best possible way. The driver's seat is placed in the middle. Centrally. We last saw this in the legendary McLaren F1 or Gordon Murray's T.50. Except in the model Citroën ELO You won't be chasing a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph), but you will be reigning over city traffic.
Why the middle? Because it provides the best visibility and because – mind you – the seat can be rotated 360 degrees. When you’re not driving, you turn your back on the passengers and suddenly you’re no longer the driver but the host of the party. The steering wheel is single-spoke (a nod to the 1955 DS goddess) and there are no instruments. Everything is projected onto a floating film on the windshield. This is the “Tech-Noir” future we’ve been waiting for.
The holy trinity: REST, PLAY, WORK
Citroën claims that the 95 % car is a parked and useless piece of metal. Citroën ELO changes that with a concept they call REST, PLAY, WORK.
REST: In collaboration with Decathlon (yes, that store where you buy running socks), they created an interior that transforms into a bedroom. Two inflatable mattresses made of “Dropstitch” material (the same as SUP boards) are hidden in the bottom. The roof opens up to let you look at the stars. This isn’t sleeping in a car because you missed your hotel; this is glamping.
PLAY: Everything is modular. You can take the back seats out and use them for a picnic. The car has V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) technology, which means that the ELO is essentially a huge portable battery (powerbank) to which you connect an electric grill, speakers or a DJ booth.
WORK: Since we live in the age of Zoom, ELO turns into an office. The center console becomes a laptop desk, and the car becomes your soundproof office with a view of the sea (or a parking lot in BTC, depending on your luck).
Technology that breathes with you
It's not just a box. It's a smart box. Goodyear developed the Eagle Xplore tires with SightLine for ELO. Sensors in the tires measure wear and pressure in real time, and an LED on the rim tells you with color whether everything is OK. Finally, a car that communicates with you without beeping like a panicked robot.
The body uses recycled materials, including expanded polypropylene (the material used in bicycle helmets) on the bumpers. It's sturdy, lightweight, and if you scratch it, you won't cry, but you'll say it has a "patina."
Conclusion: Why do we need it?
The Citroën ELO probably won't go into series production exactly as it is. And that's a tragedy. In a world obsessed with aggression, status and nappa leather, the ELO is as refreshing as a cold splash of August.
It's colorful, it's friendly, and it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's proof that a car isn't necessarily just a means of getting from point A to point B, but a place where we actually live. If this is the future of electric mobility – fun, modular, and a little bit quirky – then we have nothing to fear. Jan Macarol would have one. Not for racing, but for those moments when the world gets too serious and you need your orange bubble of happiness.
The price? Priceless, because it's a concept. But if they made it, it would cost as much as a well-equipped C3. Citroën, s'il vous plaît, do this.
