The Citroen brand recently presented a new logo. The place of its debut was the Citroen Oli concept car, which impresses not only (and not so much) with its design, but also with the idea of simplifying the construction. So, what is the Citroen Oli concept car?
Functional design and interior
The first impression of the Citroen Oli design can be described in one word – functionality. For example, some of the parts are made symmetrical so that they can be interchanged: the central parts of the bumpers can be interchanged, the pads on the right/left wheel arches are also interchangeable. The doors open in different directions and provide improved access inside. And the rear part (trunk) is made in the style of a pickup truck: a folding side and an open area that can increase in size.
The interior follows a similar idea of simplification and rejection of excesses. For example, there are no large displays or a complex central console. Instead, there are only small indicators with the most important information and a horizontal bar with several control keys and movable charging ports. The floor received a synthetic E-TPU coating from BASF, which is easy to wash and clean.
But the main “curiosity” is the seats and door panels. Special chairs have 80% fewer parts than ordinary ones. This has a positive effect on the lightness and strength of the structure. The covering is made in the form of a mesh: it is not only elastic, but also ensures a better passage of light through the interior – that is, the latter is perceived as brighter and more spacious. Similar mesh pockets are also provided on the doors.
Electric car and ideas to make it lighter
Citroen Oli concept car is an electric car. But in the case of Citroen Oli, it cannot be “just an electric car”. So that’s what happened…
The overall simplification of the design led to the lightening of the electric car: the Citroen Oli concept weighs about 1,000 kg, although its dimensions are almost equal to the European C-class hatchback: length 4.2 meters, width 1.9 meters, height 1.65 meters. Special Goodyear Eagle GO tires with reduced rolling resistance and wheel rims are used, which are 15% lighter than conventional steel wheels – a reduction of 6 kg (for a total of four wheels). Thus, the amount of energy required for movement is reduced, both due to the reduction of rolling losses and due to the reduction of energy required during the acceleration of a light electric vehicle. So, as the developers promise, the 40 kWh battery is enough for about 400 km of mileage.
In fact, the idea of simplifying the design of the car is not new for the Citroen company. It is worth mentioning such cars as the Citroen 2CV and the Citroen e-Mehari, and the Citroen Cactus concept car, which eventually also turned into a production model.
The same with the Citroen Oli concept, its idea of simplifying the design which originates in the past and has passed through the present gives a new life for future implementation. Not a bad strategy at a time when almost every new model is trying to be a “revolution on wheels” for the customer’s money, right?
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