Citroen releases the ELO concept, an insane electric minivan, which promises the 6-seat, 2-bed, and lounge vibes in a body that is only 4.10 meters long and claims to be a laboratory of ideas, demonstrating that tiny packages can be huge amounts of fun. This squarish city adventurer rekindles the funky MPV with sliding doors, luminous glass and a rotating central driver seat that can rotate to work or play with electrified motors on the rear axle to get to the city without emitting any pollutants. It will premiere at the Brussels Motor Show in January 2026, not being production-ready, but indicating how Citroen plans to explore the radical future of modular tiny homes on wheels.
Boxy Exteriors Conceal Spacious Secrets
Single-box shape of ELO shouts retro minivan with strange asymmetry, rounded windshield, glowing badges, and divided rear lights which reiterate front LEDs. The interior is flooded with 4.5 square meters of glass by huge greenhouse and 1.92-meter-wide sliding doors, and the 21-inch futuristic wheels and cutouts provide edge. At the size of hatchback, it fits into a narrow parking space, but transforms to family outing or solo adventure as a Transformer.
Modular Cabin: Bed, Office or Cinema
The central swivel seat frees allow two removable passengers, as well as a fold-flat rear bench with 6 occupants, deflate the Dropstitch mattresses in the trunk and a double bed under a drop-down projector screen. Dashboards are substituted with joystick steering and projection HUD, and accents, storage nooks, and V2L powering grills or speakers are marked in orange. Floats or tires are inflated by an underfloor compressor making it a leisure beast.
Electric Heart Urban Life
EV platform will place the motor behind the rear seating and the cabin is as big as possible without being bulky, ideal in urban sprints, but specifications remain confidential. Citroen markets it as a small house to rest (rEst), play (pLay), or work (wOrk), with the vibe of OLI concept and practicality of the real world, such as rotating seats to hold a meeting.
Design Inspirations and Heritage
ELO transfers the Picasso flair in plays with asymmetric flair and modular genius and transforms the lounge-on-wheels spirit of the Oli concept into a 6-seater reality. Quirky features such as lit-up ELO badging and lights that shift colors refer to the DNA of the Citroen avant-garde, and the perch in the middle reminds the drivers of the rally car visibility in the city.
Future Production Tease
Although a pure showcase, a prototype of a 2028 subcompact ELO EV lies between C3 and Aircross and combines the conceptual extravagance with moderate reality. CEO Xavier Chardon sees it as an energy boost to urbanites looking to have versatility without the size of an SUV.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 4.10 m |
| Seats | Up to 6 + bed mode |
| Power | Rear EV motor |
FAQs
Q1: Production coming?
A1: Inspires 2028 model, not direct.
Q2: Range estimate?
A2: Urban-oriented; still information awaiting.
Q3: Driver position weird?
A3: Central swivel enhances visibility/flex.