Citroën has unveiled ELO, a concept car that opens a new chapter for the French marque. Bold, clever, creative and focused on well-being, it perfectly embodies Citroën’s values. ELO embodies this desire to anticipate the needs of a world in motion: it is a fun, clever, accessible, spacious and responsible means of transport, which also offers a broader and reinvented vision of mobility, designed to give back useful time and accompany its users through the different stages of their lives.
By focusing on architecture designed from the outset for electric vehicles, the brand is freeing up new space and rethinking the interior as a real living space that is practical, functional and accessible. A true living space, ELO was designed to be an everyday companion, a place to rest, play or work thanks to its complete and intuitive modularity. With its ultra-spacious and modular interior that can accommodate up to six people, it meets the demands of a fast-paced life between commuting, leisure, family activities, teleworking and impromptu getaways.
A BUBBLE OF ENERGY
ELO immediately exudes an endearing personality. Its friendly and cheerful silhouette makes it a real bubble of energy in the automotive landscape, bringing freshness and cheerfulness to every glance. This personality is enhanced by a vibrant orange hue, which embodies the joyful character of the concept. With this bold colour scheme, ELO shakes up the urban landscape and distills a real dose of optimism into it.
At the front, the lighting signature echoes the aesthetic introduced on the latest C5 Aircross. The bumpers are identical at the front and rear, made of expanded polypropylene, offering lightweight and effective protection against minor impacts.
At the rear, the light signature also reinterprets the C5 Aircross’s “Light Wings” concept, with a floating upper element. The asymmetrical double tailgate, inspired by utility vehicles and vans, is glazed at the top to maximise visibility and brightness.
REST
Spacious, clever and responsible, it defines itself by facilitating not only travel, but also relaxation, leisure and work. ELO thus becomes much more than a vehicle: it is a catalyst for a life in motion. ELO offers up to six comfortable seats in a minimal footprint of 4.10m, in an era of ever-increasing size, it takes the opposite approach and limits the space taken up by the vehicle, without compromising on interior space. The seats in the three rear seats are removable and, once removed, can be used as extra chairs outside for reading or an impromptu picnic – a nod to the Citroën 2CV.
ELO carries two mattresses folded in dedicated storage compartments in the boot, the total load volume is therefore not affected by these beds. These mattresses are designed with Decathlon’s Dropstitch material, which is inflatable and used for surfboards, kayaks and paddleboards. Combined with a retractable projection screen, it allows you to watch a film in complete relaxation, transforming ELO into a welcoming and cosy cocoon.
On the outside, an integrated compressor inflates accessories like buoys, paddleboards, bike tyres or vehicle tyres, enabling multiple leisure activities. ELO is also equipped with V2L technology, this transforms the environment into a veritable base camp, offering the possibility of powering an electric BBQ or a speaker.
PLAY
With ELO, it’s not the customer who adapts to the car, but the car that adapts to the customer’s needs. The standard model has four seats with a centrally positioned driver’s seat, which offers a new feeling of visibility with a 180° windscreen and a modern, ingenious interface, while rear passengers enjoy immense space. The driver’s seat can be turned around for conversation or work, and if necessary, two additional seats can be deployed to carry six people. It can also be transformed into a sleeping space for two people, a home cinema room, a power supply, and many other uses.
ELO is revolutionising the world of mobility and becoming the catalyst for shared moments with your partner, family and friends. Decathlon, whose design team contributed its expertise in sports and outdoor activities, enabling the team to imagine new features and dare to use innovative materials, and Goodyear, which developed new smart tyres designed for outdoor use.
WORK
The driver’s seat has a cushion and backrest with different thicknesses and foam densities, adapted to different configurations. It provides the comfort and support needed for driving, while also serving as an office chair when required. It rotates 360° and an easily accessible tablet can be attached to the base, as it is housed under the seat of the central seat in row 2.
This tablet can hold a laptop and allow you to complete your tasks with complete peace of mind. In this configuration, the instrumentation under the windscreen will adapt to relay your video conference, display your meeting schedule and manage your calls. Cleverly integrated pull-out trays in the front inner wheel arches, equipped with cup holders, allow you to store items such as your phone or headphones, enhancing the feeling of being as comfortable as you would be in the office.
RESPONSIBLE MATERIALS
In designing ELO, in addition to retaining electrical architecture, particular attention was paid to the sustainability of materials, limiting the number of parts and mass. The second-row seat backrest upholstery is made from a durable, easy-to-clean material that is perfectly suited to leisure use: it is wear-resistant and can withstand water and repeated wear.
The driver’s seat illustrates a simple approach designed to reduce the number of parts. ELO also features a durable, washable felt developed by the brand’s Colours & Materials department and manufactured in France, near Lille. This material is made from surplus fabrics and components used for the Oli concept car presented in 2022. Once shredded, these scraps were transformed into sheets used to manufacture the various storage boxes on board.
This eco-responsible approach is extended to the choice of interior upholstery: a plasticised material that is easy to maintain, durable and gives ELO a colourful touch. On either side of the driver’s seat is expanded polypropylene, the same material used by Decathlon for its bicycle helmets.
Composed of 30% recycled materials and fully recyclable, it is also used on the lower part of the bumpers. This very lightweight material is used on the flat surfaces of the four wings. This protection, identical in shape and composition, is also found on the rear bumper, a choice that limits the number of body parts and helps to reduce the vehicle’s weight.
Speaking on the reveal, Citroën CEO, Xavier Chardon commented: “ELO is a laboratory of ideas that perfectly embodies Citroën’s values and opens up perspectives on what drives our thinking today. It ticks all the boxes of what has been the brand’s DNA for over 100 years and what I want to nurture in the coming years: creative, bold, accessible, responsible, ingenious and dedicated to well-being.
“It is totally in tune with the times and offers concrete, innovative solutions to promote freedom of movement and a better life. Its style expresses friendliness and joie de vivre, and its ultra-modular interior is designed as a living space in its own right. It is full of clever features and simple technologies to make everyday life easier. ELO sends a strong message that conveys our vision of what Citroën should be.”
