Citroen wants to change the way we think about small cars, and so it's designed this, the ELO concept, which is super-compact, but super-roomy.
So, it's like an original Mini, then?
Yes, if the original Mini had seats for six. And was a bit like a McLaren F1. And was also a camper van.
Hang on, you might need to explain all that…
OK, let me try. The ELO is a small car - it's just 4.1 metres long (slightly longer than a VW Polo, for example), and it is, of course, fully-electric. That's about where the conventional stuff runs out.
Within that 4.1-metre length, and partly thanks to the adorably cute squared-off egg styling, Citroen has found space for six seats in the ELO. Like a Fiat Multipla, the ELO has two rows of three seats, but the strangeness doesn't end there.
The front row has a central driving position, just like a 1990s McLaren F1 supercar, and the dashboard wraps around that seat almost like a fitted kitchen. The two front passenger seats are slightly offset to the rear to allow for more space.
That sounds awesome!
Wait, we haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet. The driver's seat gets its own built-in suspension - foam cushions built into its metal frame - and it rotates through 180 degrees and has an integrated tablet computer holder, so that you can work when parked up.
Those front passenger seats can fold away under the rear seats if you don't need them, and the rear seats are clever too. Citroen has worked with famed French camping goods brand Decathlon to develop the back seats, so you can pop out the bottom seat cushions and use them as camping stools, thanks to little fold-out legs, just like an original 2CV, in fact, which had hammock seats that could be removed and used for picnics.
This gets cooler by the minute…
Oh, wait, there's more. The back seats fold down as well, and can be used as bases for inflatable mattresses, which fold up for storage in the boot, turning the ELO into a dinky little camper van. A camper van complete with a screen for a projector that clips onto the ceiling, allowing you to watch movies under the stars. There's also an external power socket and an air pump for inflating mattresses and bike tyres.
Any other cool features?
Oh sure. Look at the ELO's lights - they stick out from the bodywork a bit, just like the brake lights on the new C5 Aircross, but the upper surfaces have been coated in a non-slip material so that you can safely rest a coffee cup there when camping. That same material covers the top of the dashboard, so you can leave your mobile phone there and it won't fall off.
Then there's the bubble-car-like styling, with that massive wraparound 180-degree windscreen, and smart tyres co-developed by Goodyear, which are said to be handy for coping with slippery campsites.
Much of the ELO is made from sustainable materials, too, including interior upholstery made from recycled fabric off-cuts and recycled polypropylene for some of the cabin structure.
OK, but will they actually make it?
Hmm, that's a longer shot. I mean, we can hope, but it's hard to see the next C4 looking quite like this. That said, the ELO should at least influence the next generation of Citroens. Xavier Chardon, Citroen's CEO, said, "ELO is a laboratory of ideas that perfectly embodies Citroen'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 Citroen should be."