AMI ONE CONCEPT: CITROËN UNVEILS ITS OWN VISION OF URBAN MOBILITY ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE
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. Faithful to the brand signature “Inspired by You”, Ami One Concept is the response to new customer behaviours and the challenges of energy transition in the city. The concept illustrates Citroën's vision of freedom in the city expressed by #LibertyElectriCityMobility: freedom of use for everyone, freedom of movement and freedom to be modern.
Since 1919, Citroën’s history has reflected its ability to move with the times by creating non-conformist and revolutionary vehicles that have gone on to become icons. At the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, Citroën is unveiling its approach to urban mobility, which it intends to be accessible to everyone. Just as the 2CV made freedom of movement broadly accessible last century, Ami One Concept frees up urban mobility for everyone with its unique and popular character advocating a new experience.
FREEDOM OF USE FOR EVERYONE: ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, ADAPTED TO EACH PERSON
Citroën’s vision of urban mobility is part of a 100% digitalised and personalised customer journey focused on seamless freedom of use.
AN URBAN MOBILITY VEHICLE FOR EVERYONE
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.
Faithful to the brand signature “Inspired by You” and being 100% connected, Ami One Concept is based on a 100% digital ecosystem. It offers an innovative ‘on demand’ customer experience at every step in the process (online presentation, test drive request, service configuration, reservation and delivery), and enables customers to easily choose the period of use most suited to their needs. The digital experience continues with a special mobile app for managing the vehicle and journeys.
>> Five minutes or five hours: Ami One Concept 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: Ami One Concept is available in the form of an easy-access, short-term rental offer. The customer simply reserves the vehicle online.
>> Five months: Commitment-free access for a shorter period of time than ‘conventional’ ownership.
>> Five years: Ami One Concept 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.
FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IN THE CITY
With this concept, Citroën is presenting a 100% electric urban mobility solution. Ami One Concept is freedom by Citroën! Responding to the expectations of urban customers and offering true ease of use, Ami One Concept simplifies travel for two people, especially in the restricted areas of city centres.
ALL THE ADVANTAGES OF 100% ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY IN CITY CENTRES
Zero CO2 emissions
Creating a new form of mobility, and responding to current and future environmental issues, Ami One Concept is fully in step with societal changes in the city. Ami One Concept is an all-electric vehicle able to access all areas of the city while respecting the environment and offering low usage costs. Perfectly suited to city life, Ami One Concept reaches a top speed of 28mph (45km/h) with zero CO2 emissions. With a range of 62 miles (100km), Ami One Concept can make numerous city trips, be they for one-off meetings or daily commutes. The lithium-ion battery, stored flat under the floor, is easily charged with an electric cable. Plugged into a public station or a Wallbox, a complete charge takes just two hours. Ami One Concept can also be plugged into a standard socket at home using an extension cable.
Silent to use
Despite its silent 100% electric technology, Ami One Concept has safety at its heart as it is equipped with its own sound signature, developed by the Start-Rec agency with designers from Citroën. The sounds emitted by Ami One Concept reflect all of its personality. It features an original soundtrack mixing male and female voices, worlds away from the digital cliché of the ‘robot’. Firmly setting the vehicle apart, the sound identity, formed by a sequence of notes that change according to speed, also complies with European regulation introduced on 1 January 2019. For safety reasons, all electric vehicles must now be equipped with an artificial sound at low speeds to warn pedestrians of their approach.
INTUITIVE AND CONNECTED
Ease of use for greater peace of mind
In front of the driver, the ‘Drive-Pod’ is home to ingenious technologies and the controls for all driving functions.
Ami One Concept is a 100% connected urban mobility object, in which the smartphone is central to the man-machine interface so that driving is intuitive and serene. The doors lock and unlock via a QR code on the aluminium base of the door handles. Once inside, the driver places their phone in front of them in a dedicated area. Once their telephone is stored in this wireless induction charging space, the interaction between Ami One Concept and the driver begins. Depending on the app used, the screen display is projected onto a reflective panel in the driver’s field of vision – similar to a head-up display system. Advanced functions such as infotainment and navigation may be used in addition to regulation-required driving instruments and information. The man-machine interface on Ami One Concept has been designed as a personal assistant for enhanced communication with the driver. The interface is controlled using two buttons mounted on the steering wheel: voice command for the assistant and a drop-down menu for browsing apps.
The instrument cluster is an intuitive design, with a 5-inch screen focused on useful driving information (speed, indicators etc.). The display graphics echo the touches of colour on the cabin fabrics (Orange Mécanique and Out of the Blue), and feature two special fonts: one is more natural and the other more technological, inspired by the cube shapes of Ami One Concept and Citroën’s historical chevrons, which are notably used for the speedometer. The graphic interface features stylised ‘eyes’ with the aim of evoking emotion and establishing a special dialogue with the user (warning, questioning etc.).
To the right of the ‘Drive-Pod’, a cylinder houses the start button, automatic gearbox selector and a Bluetooth speaker with volume control.
FREEDOM TO BE MODERN: NEXT-GENERATION DESIGN
Style has been key to the image of the Citroën brand for 100 years, because a Citroën car is always instantly recognisable. The brand’s history has been marked by singular body styles, from the Traction Avant to New C5 Aircross SUV, including the 2CV, Ami 6 and CX. This new concept object is part of that tradition with its pure shapes and original graphic approach. The first time you see the two-seater Ami One Concept, there is a sense of both surprise and familiarity.
INGENIOUS DESIGN
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.
EXTERIOR DESIGN: UNIQUE AND SYMMETRICAL, WITH A NEW LIGHT SIGNATURE
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.
INTERIOR DESIGN: NEXT GENERATION AND CITROËN ADVANCED COMFORT®
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.
