FIRST DRIVE: Citroen Oli - A Genius Cardboard Car | Top Gear
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- Meet Oli. Citroen’s latest ‘wouldn’t it be great if’ concept that looks like a moon buggy that the rocket dropped from orbit, but the thinking is deeply down to earth. It tackles the major elephant in the room questions for electric cars, and manufacturing overall.
The windscreen is flat because that uses less glass than a curved one. Aero isn’t important in town. What if we’ve gone wrong with supersized lithium-hungry batteries? The Oli’s is just 40kWh. But that’s good enough for 248 miles of range - twice the endurance of a Honda e for only 14 per cent more capacity - because it weighs half a tonne less. The Oli comes in at only 1,000kg, thanks to less soundproofing (EVs are already quiet), and a roof, bonnet and truck bed made from polyurethane-coated cardboard. So it’s waterproof, as strong as steel, but half the mass. And recyclable. It also drives. So join Top Gear Magazine’s Ollie Kew as he talks you around this wacky concept before taking it for a quick spin.
Subscribe to Top Gear for more videos: bit.ly/Subscrib...
WATCH MORE TOP GEAR:
First Looks: bit.ly/TGFirst...
First Drives: bit.ly/TGFirst...
American Tuned ft. Rob Dahm: bit.ly/TGAmeri...
MORE ABOUT TOP GEAR:
Welcome to the official home of Top Gear on RUclips. Here you'll find all the best clips from your favourite episodes, whether that’s Ken Block drifting London in the Hoonicorn, Chris Harris in the latest Porsche 911 GT3 or classic Top Gear clips from Clarkson, Hammond and May. You'll also find the latest performance car reviews from the TopGear.com crew, our brand new series American Tuned with Rob Dahm and the fastest power laps from our in house performance benchmark: The Stig.
This is a commercial channel from BBC Studios.
Service & Feedback www.bbcstudios...
I'm an old school petrol head, not a fan of electric cars in general, but had to comment on this because I think it's genius. I like the looks, it's completely out there, utterly unique, and if I lived in a city, and they actually made this, I'd probably buy one. Not often I say that about electric cars, but fair play Citroën, I think it's brilliant
This Oli concept car is much better than Tesla IMO, for all the reasons Top Gear said. Even the 30 m/s (68 mph) limit makes sense, though it would be nice if that was raised to 81 mph (130 km/h). Most highways in cities are limited to 60 mph anyways, so the car is perfect for living in Western Europe or the coasts of North America. Specifically, LA or NYC for the US.
I'm a fan of the EV idea, but I would feel somewhat unsafe in it. What I do love is the fact that you need to place your phone in it fully which would possible mean less distracted drivers? :D
Don't deprive yourself from EV know how
It's not unique sir. It reminds me of a Humvee when I look at its exterior design.
@@toyotaprius79Hu
no unneccesary elctronics, no extra weight, no DRM, no subscriptions, just good design. i love it
DRM motor? how you control the coils, laser ?
Absolutely love what Citroen are doing first with the Ami and now this. So refreshing in a world filled with marketing departments trying to tell us that a 2.5t electric SUV is apparently 'good for the environment'.
Someone's grasping a hold on capitalist realism...
What is inchulation?
It,s not the first time when Citroen has come out with a design marvel. When they think about the box, they do blow peoples minds.
If the Ami could go 70 km/h instead of 50, I'd honestly consider it if I were to buy a car. I very very rarely need to drive more than 70 if I wanted to.
Definitely uses almond milk
I love it. It looks like an 8-bit car in a 4k world!
The perfect way to describe it! 😎
I love that they say the flat windscreen is to use less glass and then they proceed to have wavy side windows
It wasn’t explained in this video. It is a way to reduce the amount of heat and solar exposure inside the car. That way you won’t need so much energy using the AC. That’s the Citroen explanation anyway
I‘ve seen an earlier video from when the conceot was just released. There it was said that the oli is meant to be integrated in the city more like a child climbing frame. You are supposed to be able to climb it, sit on it etc.. A flat windscreen is alot harder to be damaged as you can hardly step on it. The whole car is meant to be rugged enough to be used and abused like this.
@@K00leD Your last sentence is accurate i.e. "that's the Citroen explanation anyway". I reckon they've used the vertical windscreen so to maximise the front cargo space. Note how much shorter the bonnet (hood) would be with an angled windscreen.
IDK about you but I've had to either fix or replace 3 windshields out of the cars I've owned due to rock chips and random shit flying at me from other vehicles. I've been much more lucky with side glass (except for the time I parked in a bad area and had the entire driver's side kicked in with them taking nothing 😢). I think less glass in the front is ok for cost-saving.
@@Jojo21453the pebbles on the road will love that windscreen .
It didn't appeal to me much when i first saw it, but after hearing the philosophy behind it and seeing the uncomplicated interior I changed my mind. Modern car dashboards and controls are ridiculously complicated. Well done Citroen.
Love it when designers are allowed to go all out like this. Great concept and great looking car
@modest mouse colored person really? I think it looks a bit like a ford bronco/ toyota Fj. Agree it’s a bit out there but that’s refreshing
@modest mouse colored person just having a purpose already makes it better than the Cybertruck.
It's very ugly but also unique. In other words, it's very French.
Its kinda cute tbh...🤔
@modest mouse colored person ye its giving me a headache
All the questions that I m asking myself every time that I see a new car drop, are answered by Citroen in this concept. LOVE IT they are 100% right in thoses questions.
I like the idea of a basic and cheap EV. If Citroen manages to keep Oli from falling apart after 10 trips to the grocery store it has the potential to become widely adopted all over Europe.
like the original twingo in paris...
Rather import a nissan sakura
Except that it's really ugly!
its just not a option for me as I drive 55km daily over country roads, neat concept however
Indeed it would fall apart. If I would get close to it. The front flat windshield first lol
My wife and I were just talking about the need for cars that are simpler, easier to maintain, less expensive. After seeing this, we’re cautiously optimistic that Citrön is on to something.
I think Citroën is going in the right direction with this concept. Going against the current of big luxurious, heavy and EXPENSIVE electric cars is what we need to make the transition from fossil fueled vehicles more attainable.
I also like a lot the minimalist interior. Next to no screens, physical commands, some storage for miscellaneous items…
I think that if they can keep the price down on the production model they will sell a lot of them.
It’s almost gaslighting to try to redefine it and say a bunch of buttons and golf tees (and a small screen) on the dash is minimalist but a sleek dash with none of that and a single screen is not minimalist. This interior isn’t minimalist.
Finally some people began to rethink mobility. Oli may have flaws, but it is, in himself, a great success.
If they can actually pull off the sub £20k price target that I've seen in some news outlets, along with genuine 250-mile range, they will have a 5+ year waiting list just based off that alone. Electric cars are deliberately overpriced to an exclusionary extent.
Especially when cynical jokes like the Toyota Aygo X are only a shade below 20 grand.
@@toyotaprius79 the TAX - oyota ygo?
A cheap mass produced electric car will not be made anytime soon. Why make a cheap electric car when you can make a car priced 3 time more using not much more raw materials and reap in the profit? Until car makers are forced into making cheap electric cars, they won't
Imagine buying an EV lmao
Just buy a Dacia Spring, mate.
Great concept - lighter, smarter and more affordable is the direction we need to go for the majority of car transport.
Nice to see Citroën being quirky again, and agree completely with all the features and thinking behind this concept. It would be my first EV if this ever goes into production.
Same for me, if this goes into production this will be my first EV
@Ingvar Tautra me too. I actually hate to have so many touch screens in the car. I like tactile feel so that I don't get distracted
@@deeharper1364 Same here, I can watch tv at home. I enjoys riding.
@@deeharper1364 Same here. I already have a screen in my pocket that does everything I need in a car. If my phone can connect to the speakers it will do exactly the same thing (but most likely better because all infotainment systems in cars are terribly outdated (like CPUs, RAM etc) unless it's Tesla or top end cars). Fiat in 500e had a pretty good idea, if you check the base model, they don't give you a screen, they give you a built in phone holder with a charger. Perfect.
Looks like something you would find in a Micro Machine's toy car set, I absolutely love it.
This is the best electric concept car I have seen so far.
N vision 74 , is also really good.
So I'm a car designer and I will graduate as a automotive Engineer soon. I always designed high-end cars. But this video and Citroens vision popped something in my mind. You are right somethings gotta change.
There must've been a void in there to fill then?
I'm an industrial designer who worked as an industrial packaging engineer for a while... Expensive consumer goods or high-end wars are "easy" to design. It's much more fun and challenging to design within strict limits. In my case, it was cardboard. In you're case it's the city ;)
Shouldn't take Lego long to make a model of it! 😁
This is a copy of lego?!?!?
Well, then its a good design.
And hot wheels hopefully
@@kebab_boi H I knew I'd seen this before?!?!
Playmobil .
Actually might have a dream car. I like how it's made to be a car, not a phone on wheels.
Funky, clever car 😊 Citroën is really going back to its roots. Well done and hurry on the production version!
Citroen is the only carmaker actually doing anything interesting these days and taking any risks.
How many articles will call this “the modern 2CV” I wonder? I like this thing though.
It better actually come out how it is though.
Given how the 2CV was the only serious competition the Bug had ... every other contender being a stripped-down skeletonised sedan, instead of a SIMPLE, RELIABLE, GROUND-UP DESIGNED-FOR-THE-TASK PEOPLE MOVER ... I would call it a compliment.
Lot of engineer forget that a common car design we have is very effective against air resistence and accident ! Thesee minecraft design is uesless
i think its cool that Citroen always tries new things with their designs. BUT i dont believe that this design would actually be practical, no matter how much the presenter is trying to sell it. the windscreen is mostly like that to make us look and talk about it. which is quite clever actually.
For what it's worth, it wouldn't be the first flat windscreen on a post-war road car. The original Fiat Panda used totally flat glass as well because it's a lot cheaper to produce (and thus replace). Obviously the Panda's screen was leant back slightly at an angle, whereas this has been styled with some 'Minecraft chic' to look futuristic, but still...
Still looks better than the cybertruck
I like the interior design, no screen, buittons for the simpel things and use the phone as the car computer. this is very clever, i dont see what this would be more preactical for a city live
It’s possibly the dumbest, most impractical design I’ve ever seen.
Looks cool though.
Apparently the windscreen being flat prevents a build up of heat in the cabin saving power on air con, I'm not sure how much energy it'll save compared to energy used to compensate drag at higher speed but it seems neat for a city car
Finally a car that makes sense to me. I need practicality (4 people and big boot), efficiency, the basic comforts (good seats/seating position, AC/CC) and a place to connect and charge my phone. That's it....and cruise control. No need for excess power and options that I never use and only distract me from driving.
I like how they made the windscreen completely flat and then proceeded to make the glass on the sides curved to the point where you can’t roll down your windows
Flat vertical glass gives off nasty reflections, that's why its all tinted and my guess why the glass is curved.
The windows opens upwards and out. Very cool design for them.
Who knew the 1930s were making a comeback.
If they make these things soon. *I WILL ORDER TWO!!!!* I LOVE THE DESIGN! THE FLAT WINDSHIELD IS BEAUTIFUL!
As I told Citröen before when I saw it the first time... I need this vehicle in my life.
Citröen before DS was good, the future cars were made for a future that never was, sorry
Citroen..... Out-of-the-box-thinking.... with ups and downs in all her life.... like any artist, innovation, development and improvement.... but so often showing the right way forward!!
Lovely vid...
GOOD ON YOU MR. KOSKAS!!!!!
Hoping you and your team will be leading in technology made succesful.... puting Citroen in the spotlights again!!!
The past century Citroen was always in a rollercoaster..... like any innovative force worth mentioning...
Back to basics as a starter has my full support!!!
Greetings,Henk,the Netherlands...
Absolutely great concept. Weight is always the enemy and I wholeheartedly agree about the size and distraction of touch screens (It’s a car, not a software engineer’s workstation)
Plus I like the quartic steering wheel. The poor old Allegro got laughed at. How times have changed.
Austin Maxi > Austin Allegro 😃👍
no this is all nonsense just luike the ami, a complete and utter failure because the people dont have any clue about anything whatsoever.
weight is no concern at all, thats old thinking and belongs to the world of ice cars, which are dead since a long time now.
no its not a car, its an entertainment and work area. you live in the past, just like this entertainment magazine top gear.
You make a very cogent argument. That’s me definitely told.
@@JohnSmith-pn2vlSay that to everyone who likes to go fast.
Citroën needs make this happen! I’ll preorder as soon as I can if this goes to production.
Very cool. The #1 lesson learned from generations of Jeep owners with a straight up windshield, it highway rocks chip and crack glass like everyday.
That’s why it’s made for the city and not the highway…
this would be an absolutely amazing starter car - modern safety, electric, minimal distractions, and good price for a new vehicle. I hope this comes to the US market
Love it. Great design and good application of the old lotus mantra simplify and add lightness. The jab at the 2.5ton palaces on wheels was a nice touch too. Modern cars are getting way too big and bulky for the job they are supposed to do.
I absolutely LOVE this thing... It would be cool if it was sold in the US. If they ever brought it to the market at all...
I love the little place to put your phone to use as the entertainment system. And if that makes the price of the car cheaper then that's perfect. Also the little shelf where you can put your things. I hate when cars don't have places to put miscellaneous items. And most "premium" cars don't, because they want to look somehow sleek. I much prefer this utilitarian approach. Lastly, I hate being distracted by a touch screen while driving. It does not improve safety and when all I want to do is change the climate control when I'm feeling way too hot because the sun suddenly got out of shade - I do not want to do it by anxiously going through a touch screen menu while already feeling anxious about the heat.
Push button on steering wheel. “I’m hot”. How is that less safe then fumbling for a dial?
@@diamond_h0us The fact it has zircon,WTF is it with this smell check, is a total contradiction for what its meant to be targeting surely?
The logo looks like a spartan shield, very good😂👍
I love the idea of a recyclable car!
I've been recycling cars for over 30 years now. I have never and will never buy a new car. I have always bought used cars as this is more eco than buying (well borrowing) a car for 2 or 3 years then dumping it to get the next new reg.
rocks gonna love that windshield.
The thinking behind this car is so refreshing. Car makers seem to think the more bells and whistles they can pile on to a car the better it will sell. Personally I like simple, and I like thoughtful design. Now, if only Citroen would sell in the US.
100% recycling?! Thats an unbelievable achievement. Wow!
The interior seems perfect to me. I want it!
What a brilliant design study, glad to see Citroen doing interesting things again, very impressive, Rj in Oz
Oz, the global warming ?
LOVE IT! No one thinks outside the econobox like Citroen. I hope it gets built…& sells.
That's actually really cool and I hope the final product at least look the same with longer range
Brilliant, love it. Still don’t think electrification is the answer but it nailed the brief. No screens, low weight, simple. One of the only electric cars I’d ever vaguely consider purchasing.
Absolutely great car. Hopefully they will build it.
How do you know it's a great car have you taken it for a test drive?
Or just on what the power of advertisings done to your senses as this is an advert or at best a very bias opinion.
Tell them to make it! It goes where I want to go for a vehicle. Love it.
I like the idea of simplicity, the pursue of lightness, the ease of manufacturing. But do not throw that recipe in a crossover.😢 There is no problem in a compact sedan or hatchback.
No one's buying sedans. Rightfully so, they're a waste of longitudinal space, get a wagon.
‘Simplify, then add lightness’ - Colin Chapman. (Founder of Lotus).
@@AtheistOrphan ironic that this car weighs less than the Lotuses new EV
Best quote I've heard in a long time..."massively over-engineered." Simpler means: cheaper, easier to use, more accessible to more people, and probably safer.
2 words......Planned Obsolescence. While I would love to see this car made in a very close version of what I'm seeing, I can't help but think that it will never be because of the very real "planned obsolescence" companies adhere to....like tire companies and such.
Making it out of cardboard is basically embracing and being honest about planned obsolescence in design, it's far more sensible. What's going on now is manufacturers are making stuff they know will fall part in no time, but still using expensive, environmentally unsound materials, making the car look and feel like a premium, well engineered piece of hardware so they can rip you off by charging you a price more akin of something that's going to run for decades.
I'd much rather have quality vehicles that last for a long time but that's just not the reality. Ideally we should have cars like this, made from such materials that are cheap, and cars you can invest money in and run them for the long term.
"every single question"
Lol. Everyone is complaining about that time to charge it, not the precious metals or stuffs.
Kinda looks like a green screen in the window when he's driving around but a very interesting concept car and I'm excited to see what they end up bringing to market!
Jesus if we keep continuing like this we're really gonna end up with cars like in Cyberpunk.
Citroen sure have done a lot of different things, this is still different.
Wow. Way to go, Citroën. Now, not only do your cars look like garbage, they're now made of garbage! Reliability went out the window some fifty years ago.
Seems like a perfect candidate for solar panel charging.
3:27 technically 100% of all the atoms that make up the car used to be something else lol
I can see those cardboard panels blistering and swelling with age and then with moss growing out of them. Very Cool.
Remember how we all laughed because those commies made their Trabants out of paper mache.
I don't want to be the poor beggar who has to valet those headrests.
Citroen makes a car for the city, "it belongs in a town, that's why it doesn't have a crazy drag coefficient"
... it's a giant crossover ...
OH MY GOD i found a picture of those wheels,
*20 INCHES* and 235mm wide !!
they save a little bit of glass weight with a flat windshield but put the car on 20inchers ...
Love this, really hope they do it justice in production
Wonderful car, build this Citröen! All those Audi/WV/BMW people will hate it, not to talk about Tesla owners...but we are many that will want this. No nonsens, smart and clever with a super cool look!
as a city car, excellent and really innovative.
Dear Citroen, if you're reading RUclips comments then I just want you to know - I would absolutely have one of these. Please make it.
This looks really cool! I dig it. Maybe put like 5-10 deg at least on the front window? (It can be flat, but slightly tilted.)
My issue with ‘city cars’ is, cities have public transport networks and quangos like Greater Cambridge Partnership, are working very hard to exclude private cars from roads.
What is needed is rural transport solutions, and plastic coated cardboard 68mph brick isn’t it.
I love the inspiration behind the design! I would totally buy this to replace my current ride!
It’s not recyclable at all. It’s two different materials fused together.
Only pure materials can be recycled.
I'm sorry these electric cars are getting stupid now, It seems like you need 3 separate cars to do things, like you need one for town, one for Motorway driving and one for country driving, Like why not make one that does everything? pathetic car
I really like it. Well done Citroën.
If Citroen brings Oli to Australia, I would buy one. Love the minimalist design. I don't need a tank for my daily commute to work or shopping. This compact small EV would suit me needs.
looks like a cool, compact Hummer. Love it.
So steel is not recyclable? 😶😶😶
Manufacturing of steel produces 1.8 tons of co2 per 1 ton of steel and takes up to to 8% of world co2 emissions
Highly explosive lithium batteries vs cardboard, sounds great
Yes, because what you want is a steel bonnet and roof panel containing and redirecting the explosive, deadly blast at the occupants. Well pointed out 🤔
@@Cyco2k5 sorry, I forgot the battery’s are stored inside the cockpit… oh wait they aren’t, there are contained in the boot
I red it as Citroen Oil 🛢️ ⚡
So did I, I had to go back and see what the hell you were talking about.
😮 I didnt knew Citroen recently changed their logo back to the original one from 1920
We need small EVs!
Cities should not have cars apart from ambulances, deliveries and utilities. Public transport and huge amount of P+Rs should do the trick for most people. I avoid driving into the city, as I don't like to get stuck in a traffic jam and pay extortionate rates for parking, so I just drive to a train station and proceed from there.
the amount of times I almost broke a finger with my flat screen Beetle happy days. This certainly has a look about it. 👍👍
As a lifetime Citroen fan, and a multi - model owner, i want one.
Citroen deadass looked at the Cybertruck and said “Hold my beer”
This is by far the most practical car ever made by Citroen and also it looks amazing 🥲 when the sunlight hits it’s exterior
Superb design. The first Citroen ever, that I would buy if possible !! It all makes so much sense. 👍
The beat is 50cent for sure , if I can’t do it homie it can’t be done. Who ever picked the song actually did justice to the video
I love the idea of recycling and reusing parts what we really need is for the car companies to work together in this issue.
I love how they have two Ollies in the team to choose from, to review the Oli.
Whilst is don’t ’love this car’, I can appreciate Citroens crazy design. Usually nowadays manufacturers play it safe but this is different in so many ways which I can only really appreciate. No i wouldn’t be buying one but still, doesn’t mean I don’t think it’s great to see some crazy innovation in design like this and the ami.
The curved front windshield also helps deflect small objects, reducing possible breaks to the glass into chips instead.
Clever video for a clever concept car. Citroen has always been a precursor and continues to be one of the most creative companies.
Range and price are THE key issues, virtually no one cares about anything else
This is a concept car concept car. I love it. The chip shortage comes from the need to manage battery heat, battery life, and all the other safety features. Safety is the last thing you want to sacrifice. I don't think this car can hold up the collision test as well as cars made of metals.
It is an adorable vehicle, if this sells more cost-effectively, then we have a disruptive innovation here!
You will never beat Barry Humphrey's at any time God bless Barry for what he has done for aus and the world 😊
thanks for sharing! great to see multiple directions forward into our awesome future!!
Looks amazing! Will never be made, and could never take it on a highway without risking life. But so cool!
I love what Citroen is doing here. They are far more innovative and sustainable than Tesla if they can pull this car off
I want a minimalistic car. All these extras sometimes aren't necessary but extra junk to pay for when I really need what to get me around. This sounds good. Just practical concept.
I love having no big touch screens all over the place.
Thank you Citroes to be that mature finally!