An electric minivan with many ideas that indicates the French company’s vision of the urban mobility of tomorrow. But not all the intelligent solutions of this original compact can be transferred to a production car
“Our goal with the Elo is to go beyond the classic cliché according to which city cars are only useful for getting from point A to point B. With this concept we offer a solution to all those moments we experience in the car, but without driving” explains Xavier Chardon, CEO of Citroën. This is the meaning of Elo, an electric minivan designed to maximize interior space which will make its public debut at the Brussels Motor Show (opening next January 9) and could influence future series models from the French company. A compact concept car – it is 411 cm long – which was born with important technical collaborations. For example, Goodyear has specifically developed Eagle Xplore tires with Goodyear SightLine technology which makes them smart and completely connected to the car: the data is accessible from the passenger compartment and from a dedicated app. Furthermore, for the first time, the SightLine system displays tire pressure in real time and directly on the vehicle rim, via an LED side bar. With Decathlon, however, materials and accessories have been defined for solutions that transform the car into a versatile companion, on outdoor trips as well as in daily work. The Elo, in fact, can be transformed from time to time into a mobile office, a meeting room, a relaxation space, a small camper or a vehicle for transporting sports equipment. Hence the adoption of V2L technology which allows you to power external devices.
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Born from the same philosophy as the 2022 Oli Concept, the Elo can accommodate up to six people in just over four meters with a new formula: the driving position is central and two smaller side seats can be inserted, while in the second row there are three single seats that can also be used outside the vehicle. Modularity is the key to transforming the living space according to needs, turning or moving the driver’s seat or using inflatable mattresses on board to create two beds. The internal height of 1.7 metersthe cupboard doors and the flat floor with electric motor at the rear also allow you to move easily in the passenger compartment, flooded with light thanks to 4.5 m2 of crystals. The choice of a central driving position is combined with a 180-degree windscreen which makes visibility while driving optimal. The column has been moved forward to free up space and all vehicle information is projected below the front window on a dedicated surface, with a much lower cost and complexity than traditional head-up displays.
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The Elo has a nice appearance: the thin lights and the large illuminated company logo stand out on the front. The sides are flat, the windows are very large, the pillars are very thin and the front and rear overhangs are reduced to a minimum, with identical front and rear bumpers made of polypropylene (a plastic material similar to polystyrene, but more resistant). The two-part sunroof adds brightness to the airy interior, which is accessed through large swinging doors. There is no shortage of references to the past: for example, from the DS of the 1950s, the single-spoke design of the steering wheel has been taken over, on the sides of which there is space to accommodate two large travel backpacks. On the mechanics, it is known that the engine is that of the Citroën C4 electric (present with 136 or 156 HP) and that the battery, capable of supplying power to small devices such as an electric barbecue, for example, has a capacity of approx 50-55 kWh. The Stellantis brand is keen to point out that the car works but for approval reasons, only half of the solutions proposed by this prototype could, at the moment, be transferred to a series model.
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