Citroën has unveiled its new “Oli” concept, a B-SUV-style car with strong boxy lines and as few frills as possible to keep prices low. The vehicle is an attempt at imagining the future of mobility by opposing the industry’s trend of “heavier and more complex” cars, as demonstrated by a notorious German brand’s latest electric giant. According to Citroën, the future of EVs should be low-impact, affordable, and really aimed at everyone. 

In that regard, Oli is a manifesto of possible ideas that Citroën will adopt for its future electric offerings. Among other details, the company highlighted the car’s 400km range, achieved not just by means of a bigger battery but also by limiting the car’s weight to 1000kg and capping its top speed to 110km/h. “We called this project ‘Oli’ as a nod to Ami, and because it sums up what the vehicle is all about – further proof that only Citroën can deliver no-nonsense, ALL-Electric mobility to ALL kinds of people in unexpected, responsible and rewarding ways,” explained Vincent Cobée, Citroën’s CEO. 

Moreover, Oli is not envisioned just as a car, but rather as a lifestyle-enabler and an “everyday extension to your life that is as useful when you aren’t driving it as when you are.” From a design standpoint, Citroën decided to exaggerate the concept’s lines and shapes to emphasize its functionality and versatility. Like its real-world companion, the surprisingly successful Ami, Oli is a symbol of the carmaker’s future-oriented approach, which aims to highlight intuitiveness of use and the ability to customize the aesthetics of the electric driving experience.