Citroen Oli Concept Revealed: Looks like a mini-GMC Hummer EV

Citroen recently revealed a concept Citroen Oli Concept, and definitely, it looks crazy and stunning. That being said, the car is not intended to be an off-roader even though it looks like one.

Citroen was formerly recognized for its daring and often bizarre looks, which it has all but abandoned in the previous two decades. But the automaker's recent production vehicles, as well as this new study called the Citroen Oli Concept, which has a vertical windscreen and looks like a mini-GMC Hummer EV, are rekindling some of the old crazy.

The Oli idea, however, is not intended for off-road use, despite its off-roader-inspired look. Consider it a step up from the Ami in that the major concerns while designing it were to keep it light, tiny, simple, and economical, as well as to use as many recycled materials as feasible.

Despite the fact that it was supposed to be tiny and inexpensive, Citroen has not shied away from giving it a highly dramatic look. The upright windscreen and squared-off design are the first things you notice, but the headlights are also rather bold (and even have a tiny intake), as are the curving side windows and the B-pillar section where the quarterlight is larger than the actual window.

And, contrary to popular belief, the curved side glass does not actually slide into the door when you wish to let some fresh air into the vehicle. Instead, they spring out and are hinged on top. "You could argue a vertical screen is less aerodynamic, but we don’t expect people to drive this kind of vehicle at 200 km/h. We see it being most useful in urban and suburban areas where people reduce speed and are aware of the environmental and safety aspects of everyday mobility," said the Design Head of Citroen Pierre Leclercq.

Inside, the design is as dramatic as the exterior, but you can tell it was done on a budget because there are no displays. Citroen believes that the Oli does not require its own displays since you can use your own smartphone, which has its own port in the midst of the single-piece dashboard. It lacks buttons as well, with only five toggle switches on the center console and a single little joystick on the steering wheel.

As per Leclerq, " We wanted to use only the amount of materials we really needed, so we have ruthlessly pursued the objective of putting the right resources where they are required and limiting the impact of the use of those resources. There’s a purity that Citroën has always been about that other brands don’t have, and it is much more challenging to design an object that is pure but unique than it is to create something overcomplicated and make it unique".

However, the Oli concept is more than simply a basic design experiment. Citroen claims it has a 40 kWh battery pack that can transport it up to 400 km (258 miles) on a single charge because of its light weight of under 1,000 kg (2,200 pounds). This is due to relatively low power usage of 10 kWh/100 km, or around 6.2 miles/kWh, which is accomplished mostly due to its lightweight. To maintain the economy, the top speed is limited to 110 km/h (68 mph).

Citroen doesn't even call the Oli a vehicle, instead describing it as "a multi-purpose everyday extension to your life that is as helpful when you're not driving it as when you are." The manufacturer is emphasising the pickup-like body shape (with a covered mini-bed in the rear) as well as the EV's vehicle-to-grid charging potential by saying.

The carmaker does not intend to produce this idea, but it will serve as inspiration for future models. Furthermore, it demonstrates Citroen's intention to build simple, resource-light automobiles, implying that the business would likely offer more Ami-like models in the future.