Fleet World June 2019

INNOVATION
FOR
APPS, GADGETS AND ESSENTIALS
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE...
CITROËN REVEALS VISION FOR LONG-
HAUL MOTORING WITH 19_19 CONCEPT
THE FRENCH MANUFACTURER, CELEBRATING ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY HAS SHOWN THE SECOND ELEMENT
OF ITS FUTURE MOBILITY PLANS - THE 19_19 CONCEPT MARTYN COLLINS FINDS OUT MORE.
The first element, the Ami One
Concept, which debuted at this
year’s Geneva Motor Show,
focused on urban mobility. The
19_19 Concept carries on from
here, offering long-haul mobility
to all these people live in the city,
as a means to escape.
Citroën believes, that in the
future these people won’t take a
flight due to C02 implications, so
instead they will make very longhaul
drives and the 19_19 Concept
is the answer. How? Well, according
to Arnaud Belloni, Citroën’s
Global Marketing and Communications
Senior Vice President,
“These users will not accept electric
vehicles that will have to be
plugged in mid travel, so you need
to rework the trip.”
So, it would boast a long electric
range, be autonomous on demand
and driven by artificial intelligence.
“It’s also highly comfortable,
respecting the DNA of
Citroën, plus you’ve got a floating
cabin and the technology coming
from aircraft.”
Inside, the interior is designed as
a saloon, but there are individual
seats, and the bench at the rear is
designed like a comfortable sofa.
To emphasise the comfort of the
19_19 Concept, Citroën have
worked with Goodyear on those
massive 30-inch wheels for the
tyres. Made of up of layers of
rubber, apparently there are lots of
patents pending on this completely
new generation of tyres.
Although a production version of
the 19_19 Concept is a way off, it
would be link through to the Ami
One’s 5 minutes, 5 hours, 5 days or
full ownership prospect – the same
as those for production electric
models going on sale next year.
So far Citroën has shown two
mobility visions, as part of its
centenary celebrations. However,
Arnaud told me they are working
on one further third pillar for next
year, which he described “as a step
further.” These cars might be a
way off, but the ownership
prospect is very real.
fleetworld.co.uk • 013