Citroen REVOLTe Concept (2009)

Citroen REVOLTe Concept

A vibrant and sophisticated re-chargeable hybrid, Citroën REVOLTe Concept represents a bold vision of the luxury, compact city car of tomorrow, combining confident styling with environmentally responsible technology to create a unique concept for the future of urban transportation.

Citroën REVOLTe Concept reflects the changing role of small cars with style and elegance becoming as important as economy and practicality. True to Citroën's credentials as a bold and forward-thinking brand, Citroën REVOLTe Concept snubs the traditions of the conventional small urban vehicle, bringing a highly contemporary approach to the segment.

Inspired by the Citroën 2CV, REVOLTe takes the key attributes of Citroën's timeless and iconic classic and turns them on their head - a clear example of Citroën looking to the future by taking inspiration from its cool past. Where the 2CV was plain and neutral, REVOLTe is luxurious and colourful; where the 2CV was basic and simple, Citroën REVOLTe Concept is intelligent and technologically advanced and where the 2CV was slow and bouncy, REVOLTe is lively and spirited.

Compact, with a visually-stunning low stance, Citroën REVOLTe Concept measures just 3.68m long, 1.73m wide and 1.35m tall. The well defined wheel arches, curving bonnet, forceful lines and sculpted sides that match the roof line, all combine to present a sleek and elegant profile.

Rear-hinged doors provide easy access to the multi-coloured cabin, with woven black leather, thick crimson velvet and gleaming aluminium. REVOLTe's bright colours and luxury styling reflects Citroën's bold creativity and the desire to modernise notions of conventional car design. Thanks to iridescent, glossy colours, silky smooth textiles and sophisticated materials, Citroën REVOLTe Concept has a vibrant, dare-to-be-different interior that throws tradition aside. The result is a small urban vehicle much more like a fashionable, glamorous and clearly feminine accessory to the driver's modern lifestyle.

The original and distinctive three-seater layout - driver's seat to one side with two passenger seats behind it - is designed to resemble a lounge, with the rear seats taking the form of a contemporary sofa. The passenger on the opposite side to the driver can stretch out their legs fully into the space where the front passenger seat would have traditionally been. Alternatively, Citroën have made it possible to fit a rear-facing child-seat in the space available. Notably, the rear seats also serve to conceal the concept's battery pack, maximising useable cabin and luggage space.

Citroën REVOLTe Concept also introduces luxury from the application of technology. The touch-sensitive screen that projects forward from the dashboard is encased in a deep-red beam of crystals - that also recycles the air on-board like a respiratory system. On the outside, REVOLTe's folding roof is covered with solar cells, which feed power to systems controlling on-board comfort - and reducing the load on the batteries. At the very front of Citroën REVOLTe Concept, a backlit glass element is incorporated into the grille - this original feature highlights the chevrons above, subtly asserting the concept's identity as true Citroën.

With a design philosophy of sophistication and the use of environmentally responsible technology, Citroën REVOLTe Concept's re-chargeable hybrid power-train features a small-capacity conventional combustion engine combined with an electric motor and a battery re-charging function. Agile and responsive, REVOLTe's advanced drive-train delivers lively performance suited to the urban environment. Citroën REVOLTe Concept also provides the option of CO2-free driving with the ability to run in all-electric ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) mode.