Small in size, but big in ambition. At first glance, Ami looks more like a toy than a new Citroën model. With its name, a tribute to a flagship model from the 1960s, the latest addition to the chevron brand intends to revolutionize mobility in our major cities.
An urban model. Dimensions riquiquis (2.41 m long; 1.39 m wide; 1.52 m high), enough to park two Ami in one parking space, for 500 kg only. Motor (electric) at the front: 8 CV. Hence (very) modest performance: 70 km of autonomy and 45 km / h of maximum speed. This last point effectively prohibits the Friend from using all lanes where the speed is higher: peripherals, expressways and motorways are therefore not accessible to this vehicle.
Accessible to minors from 14 years old. "Why have more in town, where speed is limited anyway, and where we do not travel more than twenty km per day? questions Richard Meyer, the head of strategy and future products at Citroën, who specifies that “only two years have passed since the start of the project. »With drastic specifications, and aim to reach the widest possible audience. Hence a model which technically is not a car, but a quadricycle, and therefore accessible to driving from 14 years old, without a license but with the BSR (road safety certificate, which teenagers traditionally spend in high school to drive bikes , scooters or mopeds).
The interior is a success. We were able to try the Friend in preview at the Design Center (DNA) of PSA in Vélizy-Villacoublay (Yvelines). First surprise once installed behind the wheel: its very pleasant interior. How did Citroën engineers manage to free up so much space inside a vehicle that looks tiny from the outside? A tour de force that recalls another, that of the designers of the Mini first version, that of the 1960s, inspired moreover by certain Citroën technologies. Two real seats, where, thanks to a slightly offset arrangement of the seats, driver and passenger do not have to play shoulders. No trunk, but storage spaces, especially to the left of the passenger's legs, sufficient to accommodate a cabin suitcase.
For the rest, equipment and technology in particular, the Friend recalls Valeo's e-City. And for good reason: it is the same technology that equips the two vehicles. “Valeo supplied the engine,” explains Michel Forissier, propulsion technical director for the automotive supplier. For the rest, we had dreamed and worked on this innovative product, Citroën industrialized it. "
A frugal conception. Citroën has reduced technical constraints to a minimum. 200 pieces in total. Plastic body for more lightness. With certain identical parts, such as the front and rear bumpers, or the right and left doors which therefore open in an antagonistic manner. 80% recharge in 1.5 hours using a simple electrical outlet. Two speeds, one forward, one reverse; and a neutral point. A defroster which also acts as ventilation in summer, a heating position for winter. Seats a little bumpy, but we are not there to do a Paris-Marseille. And an incredible turning radius (7.20 m) which allows a U-turn in a pocket handkerchief. Something to sneak everywhere. In a word, after a few laps on the roof of the PSA center in Vélizy: fun!
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A purchase price of 6000 euros. "Friend's accessibility also goes through the wallet," emphasizes Richard Meyer. The model wants to revolutionize mobility, but also commerce since you can buy, rent or share it. »Sale price: 6000 euros, bonus included, when the first price for a cart without a license is generally around 14,000 euros. The Friend will only be accessible via the Internet or in Fnac / Darty stores. In rental, the monthly rent will be 19.99 euros per month, after a first payment of 2600 euros. The vehicle will also be available for carsharing, via the PSA “Free2move” application, on the model of the ex-Autolibs: a monthly subscription of 9.90 euros then 0.26 euros per minute; or 0.39 euros per minute without subscription.
We tested the Citroën Ami, the electric car without a license from 14 years
