Paris Motor Show 1980. On the Citroën stand, it is not a new model that attracts the public, but a strange futuristic concept, called Karin. It is the work of Trevor Fiore.

Trevor Fiore makes his debut at Fissore, where he will give birth to De Tomaso Vallelunga, Elva GT and TVR Trident. You can also subsequently own the Monteverdi Hai or Sylvia GT by Coggiola. It is in fact consulted by many manufacturers. Including Citroën without a style manager since the departure of Robert Opron in 1974. From January 1980, Fiore was first of all as a consultant, then in July he became the Citroën style boss. He will stay there barely two years, but will have time to give birth to a real style studio, and to start the tradition of concepts for the brand, with this Karin in 1980, then the Xenia in 1981. The Karin owes its name.

With its cut sides, the Karin fits rather in the style of the 70s, and we can thus bring it closer to the creations of ItalDesign such as the Maserati Boomerang, Stratos Zero, or at Bertone the Alfa Carabo, Lancia Sibilo or multiple Gandini creations.

In fact, the Karin is almost part of the conclusion of this trend, while the 80s are opening up to bio design. But it sticks pretty well to the angular styling of Citroën's next big thing, the BX. Signed Gandini precisely on behalf of Bertone. Still at Bertone, we can also evoke the NSU Trapèze, whose Karin takes up the idea of ​​a 3-seater cabin, with driver in the center.

Layout to which it owes its characteristic pyramidal appearance. With the triple-optic headlights that cover almost the entire front, we also find a bit of the Alpine A310, which itself owes to the pencil of Trevor Fiore, via the study carried out for Alpine at Fissore, and now Monteverdi Hai.

Inside, we also find the desire of the time to group the controls as close as possible to the steering wheel. Or even on the steering wheel. Trend already present at Citroën in series, with the CX.

In addition to this, you will need to know more about it.