20:11 25-04-2026

Dongfeng Citroen ELO Concept rethinks the compact electric MPV

At the 2026 Beijing motor show, SPEEDME journalists filmed the Dongfeng Citroen ELO Concept, one of the most unusual exhibits on the Citroen stand. It is a compact electric MPV measuring 4100 mm in length, combining the ideas of a city car, family shuttle, mobile office and mini-camper.

The ELO Concept looks like an attempt to explain again why the market still needs compact minivans. The car has a vivid red body, large glazed areas and opposing sliding doors. There is no B-pillar, so access to the cabin has an almost show-car quality: the wide opening makes entry easier and visually lightens the body.

The front follows the electric-vehicle playbook: a closed grille, an illuminated Citroen badge and clean horizontal lines. At the rear, the theme continues with “floating” lights and a glossy black insert. Against the familiar backdrop of crossovers, the concept stands out not through aggression but through a friendly, almost playful character.

The Dongfeng Citroen ELO Concept is built on a purely electric platform and uses rear-wheel drive. A V2L function is also listed: the car can supply energy to external devices such as camping equipment, lighting or household appliances.

Another detail is the Goodyear “smart” tyres with LED pressure indication. For a show car it is a striking touch, but the idea is practical: the driver gets clear visual monitoring without extra instruments. Here Citroën shows that an electric vehicle can be interesting not only for its driving range, but also for the ways it can be used.

The core of the project is the interior. There is no conventional centre console, and the driver’s position is placed in the middle. This layout allows the cabin to be reconfigured, from a four-seat 1+3 arrangement to a six-seat 3+3 layout.

The driver’s seat swivels, and with an additional table the cabin becomes a working area. The rear seats can be folded and supplemented with a mattress to create a sleeping space. The roof includes a sliding lift-up structure with a projection screen, while the second row consists of individual adjustable seats that can be removed and used as outdoor chairs.

The ELO Concept shows that compact MPVs may get a new chance in the electric-vehicle era. A flat floor, the absence of a large internal-combustion engine and a flexible cabin architecture make it possible to use space differently, even in a body just 4.1 metres long.