Before we get too excited about a vehicle that costs under €10,000, it's necessary to note that Citroen’s new Ami isn't even a vehicle in the conventional sense. It may look like one but it’s actually a four-wheeled bicycle or, as Citroën prefers to describe it, a "micro-mobility solution".
I’ve only seen one abroad, where the Ami certainly commands attention. Now it's in Ireland. It’s only 2.4 metres long and 1.39 metres wide and there’s just about room for two up front. It sits on dinky 14" wheels and the front and rear look exactly the same. "Micro" is precisely the applicable word here.
But what’s under "the hood", so to speak ? It’s got a 5.5 kWh battery (a 65 kWh capacity wouldn’t be unusual for a conventional EV) and it has a range of up to 75 kilometres, according to Citroën. The maximum speed is 45 km/h.
The figures are minuscule but this isn’t something designed to be driven very far or for very long. It’s a city hopper that might be useful for small delivery work - for some it’s a step up from an electric bike. We might remind ourselves also that until a few years ago electric bikes and scooters weren’t even on the radar.
As a further reminder that the Ami isn’t a car, you won’t find any airbags or crumple zones but you will still have to tax and insure it. No frills, as they say.
The launch colour is dark brown but you can get colour packs as accessories.
The entry version comes in at €9,990 but there’s another version, which has the colour packs fitted, at €10,790. For that you’ll even get a rear spoiler, which is probably the last thing the Ami needs.
I’m certainly looking forward to driving it.
