Citroën is perpetuating 100 years of innovation and boldness dedicated to the freedom of movement at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, with the presentation of Ami One Concept,
a disruptive all-electric ‘object’ that places digital technology at the heart of a new urban mobility experience, offering more freedom and peace of mind.
With this new and unique urban mobility object – a new field of exploration for Citroën as part of its future energy transition programme – the brand is aiming to free up individual mobility in the city. Citroën designed Ami One Concept as an alternative to public transport (bus, train etc.) and other modes of transport such as bikes and electric scooters. An ultra-compact (2.50m long) two-seater concept vehicle bringing occupants impressive agility in urban environments, Ami One Concept also conveys robustness through its body styling. The enclosed cabin protects occupants in bad weather. The architecture and design – both informed by the object’s function and usage – enable users to explore a new driving experience within the city. Accessible to all from the age of 16 (European countries average/dependent on legislation), Ami One Concept is for urban customers, with or without a driving licence, who share Citroën’s love for the freedom of movement.
A connected object designed for greater freedom in the city, Ami One Concept takes things further by proposing new alternatives for usage. Citroën is making its customers’ lives easier in terms of mobility access by offering, via digital media, several options spanning car-sharing, rental and purchase. The aim is to fulfil customer’s travel needs by addressing all the ways in which they use mobility services (occasionally or regularly, with family or friends, individually or shared) offering complete peace of mind. Customers can access Ami One Concept for a minimum of five minutes and adjust their usage at any time to several hours, with no commitment. The options can be customised to each person’s mobility requirements and meet their needs whether it is for five minutes, five hours or five days of use – as well as over longer periods with rental offers for five months or long-term leasing arrangements for five years.
Five minutes or five hours: The mobility object is made available at a given location for a given period of time through a car-sharing offer operated by the Free2Move brand. Using the app dedicated to new forms of mobility, customers can choose their Ami One Concept in just a few clicks.
Five days: The mobility object is available in the form of an easy-access, short-term rental offer. The customer simply reserves the vehicle online at Citroën’s Rent&Smile website.
Five months: Commitment-free access for a shorter period of time than ‘conventional’ ownership.
Five years: The mobility object is also available as part of a five-year, long-term leasing option with battery, maintenance and parking included in the monthly payment. With the online purchasing journey, customers can choose the delivery location, be it at their home or the closest Citroën point of sale.
Easy and ethical to produce, Ami One Concept has everything it takes to become ‘popular’ in the city. An urban mobility vehicle boasting design, intelligence and economy, it introduces new possibilities through its symmetrical parts. These include identical doors on the right and left, opening in different directions, rear-hinged on the driver’s side for better access and conventionally positioned on the passenger side. There are identical bumpers (partly concealed on the front and open on the rear to display the registration plate); identical wings on both the front and rear; identical panels on the right and left; reversible Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) and rear lights on the left and right. There are also four parts to the door mirrors and door handles. Each part of the vehicle body is robust, easy to assemble and high quality. Inside, the cabin is simple with a limited number of materials used and a finish consistent with the intelligent spirit central to the design of the concept.
The renewed range of Citroën production cars expresses power and harmony through the design of the front end, distinguished by the two-tier light signature introduced in 2013. Ami One Concept modernises Citroën’s identity with a new light signature that is more refined, graphic and high-tech, directly inspired by the previous CXperience concept car. The new front end keeps the two tiers, subtly brought together by a V-shaped light strip, giving Ami One Concept an expressive front end, enhanced by this elegant styling approach. The DRLs and indicators lend a touch of finesse with their floating structure that sets Ami One Concept apart and makes it immediately recognisable. This design theme also features on the rear lights, boosting brand awareness.
The Orange Mécanique paint, and the 2D logo on the centre of the lacquered black surface, enhance its image. Equipped for the city, Ami One Concept also features Dark Grey protective components on the four corners of the body that extend along the sides under the doors. Key styling features aimed at strengthening the vehicle’s protective appearance, these Airbump® components are characteristic of the current Citroën range, and stand out with touches of the Out of the Blue colour.
The ingenuity of the Ami One Concept can been seen through its simple and fully symmetrical design. The emphasis is on wide doors with smooth lines. The exterior door handles are formed by blue rubber straps, topped by a scanner for opening and closing the doors with a smartphone. Like the front and rear bumpers, selected panels include a grooved pattern evocative of both cooling fins and the historical double chevron originally inspired by Citroën gear cogs.
Another distinctive feature of the urban mobility object is its open-top design. The opening Anthracite Grey canvas roof lets light in and is easy to use. Sliding and folding with a single movement, the hood is closed using a blue strap and a push button.
At the rear, Ami One Concept has the same orange colour. The tailgate is topped by a broad tinted window. Detached from the body, the lights echo the DRLs at the front, floating on a backlit grooved polycarbonate panel. This design approach reiterates the customisable quarterlight on C3 Aircross Compact SUV. At the front, Ami One Concept is equipped with its Airbump® panels.
Ami One Concept is as original inside as it is outside. The cabin’s next-generation design confirms the inspiration from other sectors, promising an eminently comfortable urban drive.
Ami One Concept embodies a modern vision of the Citroën Advanced Comfort® programme. In addition to a silent drive and a meticulous approach to the materials used, the cabin is bathed in natural light thanks to large windows all round, including the windscreen, side windows and rear window.
The cabin is spacious and strong on functionality. The designers of Ami One Concept have created an asymmetrical layout for the driver’s seat (on rails) and the passenger seat (fixed). This set-up creates extra shoulder room and ease of movement for both occupants. Ami One Concept invites everyone to tour the cityscape amid an energising atmosphere. The generous seat cushions and headrests stand out with deep blue fabric inspired by easy-maintenance outdoor furniture, enhanced by orange-coloured elastic. The openwork, sculpted appearance of the seat backs showcase the Out of the Blue colour on the front, with the Orange Mécanique colour on the back. The grey floor mats are soft and functional, and feature the cube patterns found elsewhere on the vehicle.
Ami One Concept scores top marks for storage space too, ingeniously laid out around the cabin. Thanks to the concept’s new architecture, maximum use is made of each and every nook and cranny. At the front, the upper part of the blue door panels is pleasant to the touch. These arm rests are fitted with a soft PVC strap similar to that used on the outside door handles. The straps evoke the world of travel and allude to those originally introduced on C4 Cactus. The lower part of the door panels is home to an elastic-stretched canvas creating a storage space with a ‘beach’ vibe.
The ‘Drive-Pod’ (on the driver’s side) has enabled the Citroën Style teams to create an original storage space on the passenger side for a cabin bag and a handbag. At the rear, a platform accessed via the folding driver’s seat can be used for occasional luggage and is equipped with a Safety Box complete with a fluorescent jacket and warning triangle. All the panelling features two-tone paint with a finely flecked and durable appearance, while the various storage areas are finished in blue.
Exclusive luggage has been created to accompany the concept, including a backpack designed to fit in the storage space in front of the passenger. There is also a specially designed shopping basket and a cylinder-shaped travel bag. These three fashion accessories – developed in partnership with Damien Béal – echo the materials and colour themes used throughout the cabin. For Ami One Concept, the artist adapted his techniques and know-how to materials that he generally does not work with, while giving them the same traditional finish as leather.
