Having spent some time with the Citroen Elo concept car, I can say that it feels like a design masterclass in the interior packaging of a subcompact people mover.
The 13.4 ft (4.10 m) long electric minivan study is built around three scenarios: rest, play, and work. Xavier Chardon, Citroen Brand CEO, said Elo “sends a strong message that conveys our vision of what Citroen should be,” hinting that it’s serious about translating it into production.
Packaging & Layout
Elo uses a dedicated EV platform with the motor fitted on the rear axle. Citroen places the driver in a central front seat, the place you’d find yourself in driving a McLaren F1. The design pairs this layout with a 180-degree windscreen, which leads to excellent outward visibility.
The cabin height measures 5.6 ft (1.70 m). Opposing-opening side doors and the absence of a center pillar create a 6.3 ft (1.92 m) access width. This translates to effortless ingress and egress even for tall passengers like me.
The driver’s seat rotates 360 degrees to support driving, interaction, and work modes in a reality where autonomous driving features do away completely with driver attention.
Seating & Access
The standard cabin uses four seats: the central driver’s seat and a three-seat second row with folding backrests. Two additional seats stow under the outer second-row seats and deploy when needed, creating a six-seat layout without reducing cargo space.
Layout
You have everything inside the car. The car is loaded with innovations, but the biggest innovation is what I call ‘Small is the new big.’ To be able in a very small footprint to have everything you need within the car.
Xavier Chardon, Citroen Brand CEO, during the unveiling of the Elo Concept in December 2025
Elo deletes a conventional dashboard and relocates the interface to the steering column. Citroen describes a system where flat screens reflect onto a transparent surface with a reflective film, creating a floating display across the windscreen’s width. I imagine this also being the next stage of the BMW Panoramic Vision display‘s evolution.
A single-spoke steering wheel uses two joystick-style controls for digital functions. A tablet stored under the second-row center seat can be fixed to the driver’s seat base to hold a laptop. Citroen says the windscreen display can adapt to show meeting information and support video calls.
Features
The Elo integrates two inflatable mattresses in dedicated cargo compartments. The mattresses use Decathlon Dropstitch construction, and Elo includes onboard compressed air with an underbody nozzle for inflation.
The reason why we did Elo is you know that today people want to have freedom, they want their car to be the third place to live, but they also want privacy and this is why it makes so much sense to adapt our cars to more than just driving. We wanted to reinvent the interior architecture.
Pierre Leclercq, Citroen Style Director, at the unveiling of the Elo Concept in December 2025
Citroen also packages a clip-on projector mount and a retractable screen for in-car movies. A rear roof opening is designed to increase loading height or allow night sky viewing when the cabin is configured for sleeping.
The concept also includes an integrated compressor designed to inflate accessories and tires. Citroen lists vehicle-to-load capability as part of the car’s feature set.
Materials
Citroen specifies a washable felt made from surplus materials and also references parts borrowed from the 2022 Oli concept. Shredded scraps are reused to form interior storage boxes. Expanded polypropylene with 30% recycled content appears on exterior protection panels, including the bumpers and wing surfaces.
Goodyear Eagle Xplore concept tires use SightLine technology to monitor pressure and wear through an app. Citroen says an LED in the rim indicates correct pressure in green and underinflation in red, which I feel could be a feature that’s useful in today’s world.
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
