Citroën ELO: The Funky Electric “Laboratory of Ideas” That Wants to Bring Back the Minivan

 Citroën has always walked a different path from the rest of the automotive world. From the DS to the 2CV to the Berlingo Multispace, the French brand has historically embraced eccentricity and practicality in ways that other manufacturers either fear or fail to understand. With the automotive market now dominated by relentlessly similar SUVs, the Citroën ELO arrives as a delightful act of rebellion—a compact electric van concept designed as a rolling “laboratory of ideas.” Citroën isn’t pretending this is a production-ready car; they’re openly admitting that the ELO is a creative experiment. But the message is clear: Citroën wants to reintroduce the world to a type of vehicle that used to define European family life—the cheerful, flexible, compact minivan. The ELO is tiny, about the size of a small hatchback, but it packs capabilities that border on the absurd in the best way possible. It can seat up to six passengers, operate as an office, become a cinema, and even transform into a cozy camper for two. All this wrapped in a design that is bright, unapologetic, and as French as a picnic basket full of baguettes and cheese. This is Citroën going Full Citroën—and it’s glorious.

Exterior Design: A Cheerful Box on Wheels With Purpose

The Citroën ELO looks like nothing else on the road, and that’s entirely intentional. The design leans into a single-box silhouette—part van, part pod, part retro-futuristic doodle. From the outside, the first thing you notice is how friendly and approachable it appears, with its bright orange accents, airy glasshouse, and utilitarian yet charming proportions. This isn’t a car trying to look aggressive, athletic, or fast; it is trying to look useful, inviting, and slightly mischievous. The headlights are squared-off LED units bridged by a large illuminated Citroën badge, echoing the design language introduced in recent concepts. The roofline dips toward the rear, the fenders have horizontal slashes for visual break-up, and the rear end embraces asymmetry with split glass and playful lighting signatures. It all feels intentionally quirky, like something drawn by a French industrial designer who wanted to build a vehicle that sparks joy rather than aggression. The 21-inch wheels sit far out toward each corner to maximize interior space and stability, while the sliding doors open wide to a massive 1.92-meter aperture. Everything is sculpted around usefulness and charm. Even the bumpers look more like protective shells than cosmetic pieces. The windscreen curves strangely, the roof cuts into the glass, and yet it all works because the ELO doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not. It’s a compact electric minivan that embraces its shape proudly instead of trying to disguise it.

A Central Driving Position Straight Out of a Supercar Fantasy

Inside, the Citroën ELO reveals its most headline-grabbing trick: the McLaren F1-style central driving position. In a world where car interiors are becoming increasingly predictable, this is an inspired slice of lunacy. The driver sits dead-center, commanding a panoramic view ahead, giving the entire cabin a cockpit-like feel. Unlike a supercar, though, this driver’s seat is mounted on a swivel. When the ELO is parked, the driver can simply rotate around to face the rest of the cabin, turning the minivan into a mobile lounge, meeting room, or campsite hub. Flanking the central driver seat are two foldable jump seats for passengers, positioned slightly behind to mimic the layout of the Gordon Murray T.50 or McLaren F1. Behind those, a removable three-seat bench fills the rear of the cabin, meaning the ELO can carry six people despite its small footprint. This entire interior layout is not just quirky—it’s clever. Every seat can either fold, shift, or be removed entirely. The idea is not to create a standard passenger compartment but a living room that can adapt to whatever you need at any moment. This flexibility makes the ELO stand out in a market obsessed with rigid SUV configurations. It shows what an electric platform can make possible when designers aren’t bound by convention.

A Van That Sleeps Two, Works as an Office, and Even Turns Into a Cinema

Citroën has gone all-in on versatility with the ELO, imagining a vehicle that isn’t just for transportation but for lifestyle. At its most creative, the ELO becomes a miniature camper van thanks to two inflatable mattresses made from Decathlon’s Dropstitch material—the same tech used for inflatable kayaks and surfboards. These mattresses unfold in the rear space, transforming the interior into a surprisingly comfortable sleeping area for two adults. This isn’t a gimmick; the materials feel rugged and supportive, designed specifically for camping scenarios. Above the sleeping area, a ceiling-mounted projector screen folds down, turning the ELO into a tiny home cinema. This means you can drive into nature, swivel the driver’s seat, inflate the mattresses, drop the screen, and watch a movie under the stars—all inside a vehicle the length of a city hatchback. The ELO also doubles as a mobile office. The central driver’s chair supports a small desk surface that can hold a laptop or tablet. With the swivel function and foldable passenger seats, the interior becomes an impromptu meeting room for remote work. In essence, the ELO isn’t trying to be a car or an RV or a van. It’s a multi-purpose living space that can be rearranged at will. It’s the automotive equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, wrapped in bright orange fabric and French charm.

Interior Design Philosophy: Sportswear Meets Utility

Citroën designed the ELO’s interior with heavy inspiration from sportswear textiles—flexible, breathable, durable materials that can withstand daily use without feeling premium in a traditional leather-covered sense. The brand wanted the interior to feel friendly and relaxing, almost like stepping into a comfortable piece of outdoor gear. The flat floor—made possible by the electric architecture—gives the cabin an open, airy feel, and without a traditional dashboard, the front area becomes a clean horizontal zone with a minimalist display beneath the windshield. Instead of touchscreen obsession, Citroën uses joystick-style steering inputs attached to a single-spoke wheel—a nod to the classic DS, reimagined for the future. Clever storage solutions are embedded into door panels and side walls, emphasizing practicality at every turn. Everything is wipe-clean, modular, and intentionally unfussy. The orange color theme floods the interior with warmth, playfulness, and energy. The ELO doesn’t try to feel luxurious; it tries to feel usable, inviting, and expressive—qualities that make perfect sense for a modern MPV intended to be a companion for daily life, adventures, and everything in between.

Electric Platform: Rear-Wheel Drive and Designed for City Life

While Citroën has not provided detailed powertrain specifications, we do know the ELO sits on a dedicated electric platform with its motor mounted on the rear axle, making it rear-wheel drive. This decision gives the ELO excellent maneuverability—important for tight urban spaces—and allows the front wheels to maximize steering angle without packaging restraints. Citroën describes the ELO’s “natural habitat” as the city, meaning its engineering focus is on smooth low-speed performance, efficient packaging, and user-friendliness rather than range or performance figures. Given the concept’s size and target use case, the battery is likely small, and the motor probably produces modest power. But none of that matters. The ELO was never designed to win drag races or cross continents. Instead, it showcases what can happen when designers are freed from the constraints of combustion engines and traditional cabin architecture. Electric platforms open new possibilities, and the ELO embraces them with full creativity. Rear-wheel drive, flat floors, compact footprint, and a low center of gravity all combine to deliver a driving experience that is likely nimble, easy, and enjoyable—exactly what you want in a small urban MPV.

A Revival of the Minivan Spirit for a New Generation

In an automotive world filled with SUVs of increasing sameness, concepts like the Citroën ELO feel refreshing. Europe once thrived on compact MPVs—the Renault Modus, Opel Meriva, Ford B-Max, Fiat Multipla, and Citroën’s own C3 Picasso. These cars offered real-life practicality, space efficiency, and family-friendly design. But they were swept aside by fashion trends favoring SUVs with sloped roofs and compromised ergonomics. The ELO doesn’t apologize for being a minivan. It embraces that identity proudly and enthusiastically, reimagining the idea with electric technology and modern lifestyle features. From swiveling seats to inflatable beds, from wide sliding doors to orange-splashed interiors, it channels everything that made MPVs useful while injecting a new sense of fun. Citroën openly calls it a “laboratory of ideas,” suggesting it may never become a production model. But it will influence something—the brand hints at a future subcompact model planned for 2028. If even a fraction of the ELO’s creativity makes it into future Citroëns, the brand could reignite the MPV category or at least revive the spirit of practical, joyful design that made old-school Citroëns so beloved.

Conclusion: A Tiny House on Wheels With a Giant Personality

The Citroën ELO is not a car designed for mass production; it’s an experiment, a provocation, and a vision. It takes a format the world abandoned—the compact MPV—and reinvents it with modern electrification, bold modular design, playful color, and a joyful disregard for convention. With its central driving position, rotating seats, inflatable mattresses, home cinema setup, sportswear-inspired materials, and city-friendly electric architecture, the ELO is more than transportation. It’s a space for rest, play, and work—fittingly represented in its unconventional name. In creating this “bubble of energy,” Citroën demonstrates what the brand stands for: creativity, accessibility, practicality, and a touch of delightful strangeness. It might not enter production, but its ideas will ripple forward into future Citroën models. The ELO is a reminder that not everything has to be an SUV, not everything has to look aggressive, and not every concept car has to chase speed. Sometimes, a van can be the boldest concept of all.