After several concepts far from the "classic" automobile, Citroën finally unveils a concept of great importance, since it announces the future of Citroën while distilling light clues on future Citroëns. Teeming with ideas and ingenuity, the OLI concept conceals an enormous quantity of details which, for some, will be found on the future models of the mark.
According to Citroën, OLI is intended as a manifesto, a laboratory on wheels to show how it is possible to design a light electric car, capable of meeting the needs of an entire family without sacrificing either style or technology but via simple ideas and new solutions. OLI is a real concept car and not a show car, it does not announce a future production model but it is intended to be an inspiration for future Citroëns. OLI is a philosophy, a new automobile, more responsible, more durable, more respectful but without compromising freedom of movement. Through a redesigned design, Citroën has made it possible to reduce the weight of OLI to just one tonne and therefore to reduce the size of the battery for a sufficient autonomy of 400 km. Beyond the simple weight gain, Citroën has ensured the use of durable and recyclable material that can be found throughout the vehicle, including the paintwork designed with BASF and which is particularly eco-efficient with the lowest possible level of volatile organic compounds.
Of all these ideas and tricks revealed by the design of OLI, the concept also announces certain details of future Citroëns. This is how we will find the front and rear faces of OLI on future models of the Brand. The two LED bars, already present on current models, will become more horizontal while the projectors will be embedded in them vertically. As we anticipated, the restyled C5 Aircross announced on the sly the brand's new style that we will find tomorrow on future models, in particular with lights that will emerge from the bodywork like those of the restyled brand's large SUV. Between the spotlights, the new logo will take pride of place, as Pierre Leclercq indicates, "the new interpretation of the Citroën badge will sign our new standards."
Citroën also specifies that the color Infrared, used for the logo or the frame of the windshield, will be a signature color for the Brand.
Inside, Citroën promises that OLI will inspire ideas, design elements and interior innovations that will be rolled out across future models in the Citroën range. The current Citroëns are already considered a bubble cut off from the world with the best comfort. This feeling of zen will be amplified tomorrow since the brand wants to extend the well-being that Citroën customers already feel inside their vehicle to everything that accompanies them during their journey with the brand. That's why Citroën will soon unveil "Citroën Citizen Services", a comprehensive new program of services and experiences inspired by OLI which aims to reinforce the feeling
However, Citroën recognizes that not all of OLI's ideas will be found in a vehicle tomorrow at the same time. And the brand is aware that customer needs differ as Laurence Hansen points out "We have a large customer base because we offer personal mobility from AMI to C5-X, and not everyone is ready to admit that you don't need certain equipment. So, even if we are not going to change everything in a day, Citroën wishes to engage the discussion, to ask the question of what is enough, to show how to do things well and to accomplish its mission to offer responsible, affordable and optimistic mobility to all. »
Vincent Cobée, for his part, explains “Citroën thinks that electrification should not be synonymous with extortion and that being eco-responsible should not be punitive by restricting our mobility or making our vehicles less easy to live with. We must reverse the trends by proposing
lighter, less expensive vehicles, and imagine innovative solutions to upgrade them and resell them to several successive customers. Otherwise, families will no longer have freedom of mobility when electric vehicles become the only option available to them. Citroën OLI is proof that we can tackle these new constraints by offering a credible and optimistic solution. »
Finally, Laurent Barria, Marketing and Communication Director of Citroën declares “We understand that a heavy and too large vehicle can become a burden more than a pleasure, both economically and ecologically. And we see that consumers are increasingly sensitive to the problems of pollution and traffic congestion, and that they aspire to be responsible in their choice of brands and vehicles. That's why, at Citroën, in addition to focusing on building reliable vehicles, we are committed to creating lasting partnerships with our customers through innovative services and experiences designed to allow them to live their way. »
In short, with OLI, Citroën announces its future to us and not a new model. But OLI is teeming with so many ideas, so many tricks that it will irrigate the future Citroëns of the next ten years. Be that as it may, Citroën also indicates that it intends to continue to speak to families, to offer them electric cars, ambitious, technological but affordable and designed for their needs, while promising to forge a partnership with customers throughout their life in Citroën. A beautiful promise that the brand makes, carried by a very interesting concept, which fits well into the history of the Brand, in particular the C-Cactus concept of 2007 or even the deuche, two beautiful references. OLI is pure Citroën, innovative, daring and the brand proves, with this concept, that it intends to continue to offer new ideas and solutions. When some manufacturers are content to take cork that has already been seen and reviewed, Citroën innovates and offers a set of strong and new ideas.