Citroen has pulled the covers off a new concept vehicle called ELO, a compact electric people mover designed to test fresh ideas around space, comfort, and everyday usability. The French brand describes ELO as a rolling laboratory that explores how future urban family vehicles can feel smaller on the outside while behaving like a flexible living space on the inside. The concept is scheduled to make its public world premiere at the Brussels Motor Show on January 9, 2026.
ELO follows the direction set by Citroen’s OLI concept from 2022, which focused on simplified, lightweight thinking and practical tech solutions. With ELO, the brand shifts toward a more people-centric idea, where a vehicle can quickly transform between commuting, relaxing, working, and leisure use. Citroen has also partnered with Goodyear and Decathlon to shape specific parts of the concept, from connected tyres to outdoor-inspired materials and accessories.
What the Citroen ELO Concept Is Trying to Solve
Modern urban mobility often forces a compromise. Smaller vehicles are easier to park and manoeuvre, but they usually sacrifice cabin room and flexibility. Citroen’s ELO concept is built around the opposite ambition: keep the footprint compact while making the interior feel adaptable enough to support multiple daily use cases.
Citroen positions ELO as a vehicle that can switch roles quickly. It can act as a commuter, a lounge-like space to unwind, a small workspace, or a leisure hub for weekends. The brand even frames it as a tiny house on wheels, emphasising practical touches that support life beyond simple transport.
Short Summary Table
Topic |
Details |
|---|---|
Concept name |
Citroen ELO |
Premiere date and venue |
January 9, 2026, Brussels Motor Show, Brussels Expo |
Core idea |
Multi-purpose electric vehicle designed for rest, play, and work |
Length |
4.10 metres |
Seating |
Standard four seats, expandable to six |
Driver position |
Central seat with 180 degree forward view and 360 degree rotation |
Key partners |
Goodyear and Decathlon |
Tyres and tech |
Goodyear Eagle Xplore with SightLine monitoring |
Practical features |
Built-in compressor, vehicle to load power, awning attachment points |
Official site link |
Size and Platform Details
ELO measures about 4.10 metres long, which places it shorter than many compact hatchbacks while still aiming to deliver the kind of interior volume typically associated with larger vehicles. Citroen says the concept sits on a dedicated electric platform, used here to demonstrate how packaging advantages of EVs can free up more cabin space for passengers and storage.
The design approach also reflects a shift in how family vehicles may evolve in dense cities, where the need for interior flexibility can be as important as outright size.
Cabin Layout: Central Driver Seat and Expandable Seating
One of the most distinctive features of ELO is the driving position. The driver sits centrally, which is intended to improve forward visibility and create a panoramic feel through the large windscreen area. Reports around the concept highlight a wide field of view, designed to make urban driving calmer and more confident.
The standard layout is a four-seat configuration, but Citroen builds in the ability to unfold two extra seats when needed. That expands capacity to six occupants, supporting the idea of a small vehicle that can occasionally behave like a bigger people carrier.
The driver’s seat also rotates through 360 degrees. In practical terms, that means the cabin can become a more social space when parked, allowing the driver to turn toward other occupants and use the interior more like a small room than a traditional cockpit.
From Commuter to Lounge to Sleeping Space
Citroen and Decathlon push the multi-purpose idea further by letting ELO convert into a sleep-friendly layout for two people. The concept uses inflatable mattresses made from Decathlon’s Dropstitch material, a construction method often used in durable inflatable sports equipment. The idea is to provide a robust, packable sleeping solution that fits the vehicle’s flexible lifestyle narrative.
Citroen’s broader message is clear: ELO is not just about moving people, it is about supporting what people do before and after the drive, whether that is taking a break, working remotely, or spending time outdoors.
Practical Outdoor Features: Compressor, V2L Power, and Awning Setup
ELO adds several real-world touches that back up the tiny house positioning.
An integrated compressor under the floor can help inflate items like sports gear, and it can also be used for tyre-related needs. The concept also supports vehicle to load capability, meaning the traction battery can supply power to external devices. In theory, that enables everything from speakers to cooking gear, turning the vehicle into a useful base for day trips or outdoor downtime.
There are also door-mounted attachment points that allow an awning to be fitted, creating a sheltered area next to the vehicle and reinforcing the leisure-focused use case.
Goodyear Partnership: Eagle Xplore Tyres and SightLine Monitoring
Citroen worked with Goodyear on bespoke concept tyres called Eagle Xplore. Goodyear highlights SightLine technology, aimed at real-time monitoring of factors like tyre pressure and wear. Beyond the tech angle, the tyres also contribute to the concept’s styling, aligning with the vehicle’s overall design theme.
This partnership matters because concept cars increasingly use tyres as part of the design and connectivity story, not just as a functional component.
Display and Controls: Evolving the OLI Smartband Concept
Citroen’s OLI concept in 2022 introduced a Smartband approach, projecting information across a broad strip at the base of the windscreen to reduce complexity and cost. With ELO, Citroen evolves that thinking into a different display format, using reflected screens and a treated transparent surface that creates the impression of floating visuals in the driver’s view. The brand frames this as a calmer way to present information without relying on expensive conventional head-up display solutions.
ELO also debuts a distinctive steering wheel design that references Citroen heritage, including a single-spoke theme inspired by the classic DS era, paired with simplified control inputs intended to keep the cabin experience intuitive and reassuring.
Why the January 9 Brussels Premiere Matters
ELO’s public debut is set for January 9, 2026 at the Brussels Motor Show, which runs from January 9 to January 18 at Brussels Expo. That timing places the concept in front of a major European audience and ties it to one of the most visible early-year auto events.
For Citroen, it is also a way to signal where the brand’s future thinking is heading: practical EV packaging, playful modular interiors, and collaborations that pull ideas from outside the traditional automotive world.
FAQs
What is the Citroen ELO concept?
A. Citroen ELO is a compact electric concept vehicle designed as a flexible living space that can support commuting, relaxing, working, and leisure use.
Q. When and where will the Citroen ELO make its world premiere?
A. It is scheduled for January 9, 2026 at the Brussels Motor Show in Brussels Expo.
Q. How many people can the ELO seat?
A. It has a standard four-seat layout, with two additional fold-out seats that expand capacity to six.
Q. What is special about the driver seat in ELO?
A. The driver sits centrally with a wide forward view, and the seat can rotate 360 degrees to turn the cabin into a social or workspace when parked.
Q. What do Goodyear and Decathlon contribute to the concept?
A. Goodyear provides Eagle Xplore tyres with SightLine monitoring, while Decathlon contributes materials and lifestyle-led features like the Dropstitch inflatable mattress concept and outdoor utility ideas.
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