Citroën Lacoste Concept

Two French manufacturers hand in hand to create a prototype vehicle: the Citroën Lacoste Concept. As you can imagine, it is a joint project by Citroën and Lacoste, which will be unveiled at the upcoming Paris Motor Show. A bold, creative and optimistic design for a car that will never go on sale, but which can be understood as a modern reinterpretation of the Mehari.

It is designed to carry up to four people, who won’t need to use doors to get into the vehicle, because there aren’t any. Those who want to ride in the back will have to climb over the front bench, and if you want to access the boot, the rear row of seats must be slid forward.

If the driver happens to enjoy a sport such as tennis, golf, surfing, skiing or cycling, there’s no problem, because Citroën has thought of them and provides a specific equipment for transporting their gear.

The seats feature visible stitching in white cotton, and their feel is meant to resemble that of Lacoste polo shirts. Continuing with this theme, the seatbelt anchor points have aesthetic elements that remind us of the collar line of a Lacoste polo, while the seats are covered in a hard-wearing cotton fibre.

The interior plays with different colours and materials. A striking detail is the information console that stretches across the entire width of the car. It is in fact a huge digital screen that shows various data on the vehicle’s operation, as well as navigation instructions.

Another curious detail is that, instead of a fixed roof, it features a T-shaped panel running lengthwise along the vehicle. This panel acts as the backbone of an inflatable roof that unfolds to shelter passengers in case of rain. It also serves to provide light to the interior.

The dimensions of the Citroën Lacoste Concept are fairly compact (length x width x height, in metres): 3.45 x 1.80 x 1.52. It is powered by a three-cylinder petrol engine which we assume will move the car with sufficient force given its size and weight. According to Citroën, the Lacoste Concept brings us back to the essence of the automobile.