Citroen Lacoste concept
Citroën showcars fall into two categories: either complex, slightly overworked concepts with a strong intellectual back story or else purer studies that reduce the car to its component parts and re-examine the automobile in terms of materials and construction. The Lacoste falls into this latter category and follows in the spirit of previous Citroen concepts such as the widely-admired C-Cactus and C-Buggy with its minimalist and care-free personality and is all the more interesting because of it.
First impressions are that the car is bigger than appears in photos, due to the massive wheels and tires used, but the tie-up with the Lacoste sports brand is nicely evident in the color and textures used throughout. The pearl white exterior with deep blue ribbed wheelarches and bumpers has contrasting white cotton seat covers with a weave closely resembling that of a polo shirt, while the cabin is dotted with bright yellow-green accents on grab handles that are finished in soft rubber, with a tennis ball-like texture. A 'square relief' motif is used on the hood cowl, floor and undershield that resembles parts of a tennis net, as does the alloy wheel design. The simple two-spoke dished steering wheel will also be recognized by anyone familiar with older Citroens, as is the single strip dashboard with information displayed in oversized pixels, like the digital scoreboard used in tennis or an early 1980's Pong game. The windscreen also slides neatly down over the cowl for a fully open mode.
Several designers here at the show spoke of some similarity in feeling to the Visteon Q-e concept from Beijing – mainly due to the snub nose, the upright screen, and color palette used – but that doesn't detract from the appeal of the Lacoste, with its minimalist approach and lack of proper roof or doors. Instead, it has a central roof bar from which an inflatable yellow-green soft top emerges and small steps that emerge from the sills below the Lacoste crocodile logo to allow rear passengers to simply hop over the sides onto the rear seat.
Citroën showcars fall into two categories: either complex, slightly overworked concepts with a strong intellectual back story or else purer studies that reduce the car to its component parts and re-examine the automobile in terms of materials and construction. The Lacoste falls into this latter category and follows in the spirit of previous Citroen concepts such as the widely-admired C-Cactus and C-Buggy with its minimalist and care-free personality and is all the more interesting because of it.
First impressions are that the car is bigger than appears in photos, due to the massive wheels and tires used, but the tie-up with the Lacoste sports brand is nicely evident in the color and textures used throughout. The pearl white exterior with deep blue ribbed wheelarches and bumpers has contrasting white cotton seat covers with a weave closely resembling that of a polo shirt, while the cabin is dotted with bright yellow-green accents on grab handles that are finished in soft rubber, with a tennis ball-like texture. A 'square relief' motif is used on the hood cowl, floor and undershield that resembles parts of a tennis net, as does the alloy wheel design. The simple two-spoke dished steering wheel will also be recognized by anyone familiar with older Citroens, as is the single strip dashboard with information displayed in oversized pixels, like the digital scoreboard used in tennis or an early 1980's Pong game. The windscreen also slides neatly down over the cowl for a fully open mode.
Several designers here at the show spoke of some similarity in feeling to the Visteon Q-e concept from Beijing – mainly due to the snub nose, the upright screen, and color palette used – but that doesn't detract from the appeal of the Lacoste, with its minimalist approach and lack of proper roof or doors. Instead, it has a central roof bar from which an inflatable yellow-green soft top emerges and small steps that emerge from the sills below the Lacoste crocodile logo to allow rear passengers to simply hop over the sides onto the rear seat.
