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Citroën Ami
Overview
Manufacturer	PSA Group (2020–2021) Stellantis (2021–present)
Also called	Opel Rocks-e (2021–2023) Opel Rocks Electric (2023–present) Fiat Topolino (2023–present)
Production	2020–present
Assembly	Morocco: Kenitra (PSA Kenitra plant)
Designer	Pierre Leclercq (Ami) Centro Stile Fiat (Topolino)
Body and chassis
Class	Quadricycle
Body style	2-door quadricycle
Layout	Front-motor, front-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Electric motor	6 kW (8.2 PS; 8.0 hp) single motor
Battery	5.5 kWh lithium-ion
Electric range	75 km (47 mi) (WMTC)
Dimensions
Length	2,410 mm (95 in)
Width	1,390 mm (55 in)
Height	1,520 mm (60 in)
Kerb weight	425 kg (937 lb) (without battery) 485 kg (1,069 lb) (with 5.5 kWh battery)
Chronology
Predecessor	Citroën C-Zero

The Citroën Ami is a two-door, battery-electric quadricycle marketed by the French marque Citroën since 2020. Designed by Pierre Leclercq and named after the model produced between 1961 and 1978, the production model was previewed by the "Ami One" concept car. Both the Ami and Ami One were developed simultaneously by Groupe PSA (now Stellantis) and Altran. The vehicle is manufactured at the facility in Kenitra, Morocco and is equipped with a compact electric motor located at the front, generating 6 kilowatts (8.0 hp; 8.2 PS) to drive the front wheels. The vehicle's diminutive size has been noted by car reviewers, with a journalist from The Telegraph describing being inside the Ami as "being inside a Lego brick".

History

The French carmaker Citroën debuted the Ami One, a concept car, at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2019. It is named after the model produced between 1961 and 1978. The doors are almost identical, with the driver's door being front-hinged and the passenger's door rear-hinged. This design choice was made to reduce costs by minimising the number of unique parts. The vehicle's front and rear bumpers are also made from the same components. A smartphone powers the information screen and provides audio to the car through the cylindrical Bluetooth speaker located to the right of the steering column. According to Jean-Arthur Madeleine, the Ami's interior designer, "the way to make it affordable was to avoid the redundancy of technology  everything is based on the idea that instead of having a lot of displays, everything is coming from your smartphone".

The production version of the Ami was unveiled in February 2020. Pierre Leclercq, the exterior designer of the Ami, revealed that the production vehicle and the concept car were developed simultaneously. He also noted that the Ami's design was not intended to be carried over into Citroën's wider model line. Manufacture of the Ami, which began in June 2020, occurs at the facility in Kenitra, Morocco.

Overview

It is a light motor quadricycle which can be driven in France without a license by people born before 1988 or by those older than 14 who have an AM license (EEA name)–formerly Road Safety Certificate (BSR) (national name). As a quadricycle it is limited to 45 km/h (28 mph).

The Ami can be used for carsharing in the Free2Move network of Groupe PSA, rented or purchased, on the internet or in stores Fnac and Darty with which Citroën has concluded a partnership for the exhibition, sale or rental of the vehicle from 30 March 2020. The vehicle can be picked up at a store, a Citroën dealership or delivered at home.

In June 2022, Citroën launched the My Ami Buggy, a limited edition (50) inspired by the My Ami Buggy concept.

In May 2023, 1000 second generation Ami Buggy were produced for sale in Europe, Turkey and Morocco.

In November 2023, the Ami Pop trim was released, which includes four alloy-look wheel trims, a black graphic strip under the windshield, black front and rear bumper sections, a rear spoiler and a set of door and quarter panels graphics.

In May 2024, the Ami was refreshed with a new color (Night Sepia), as well as other small changes, such as the drive select buttons being moved to the dashboard below the hazards indicator and phone mount.

• Rear View
• Side View Night Sepia
• Citroën My Ami Buggy Concept
• Interior

Opel Rocks-e

In August 2021, Opel presented the Opel Rocks-e, an identical version of the vehicle for Germany only. It went on sale in November 2021. From 2023, it was renamed Opel Rocks Electric, in line with Opel's phasing out of the "-e" suffix on electric models.

From 2022, the Opel Rocks Electric is offered on the Dutch market as well, where it is marketed with the Citroën model.

• Opel Rocks-e
• Rear view

Fiat Topolino

The Fiat Topolino is a rebadged version of the Citroën Ami and Opel Rocks. It is the only vehicle of the three that has a different front and back design. On the front it resembles the design of the 1957 to 1975 Fiat 500, and on the back it features vertical taillights.

• Fiat Topolino
• Rear view

Technical characteristics

To save costs, the body is completely symmetrical; not only left-right symmetrical, but also front-rear symmetrical, except for the doors and the roof. The doors open in opposite directions, with the driver having a suicide door while the passenger door opens conventionally, allowing the same panels to be used. There are no other doors, making the storage spaces accessible only from the two side doors. All versions are left-hand drive, even those intended for use in the otherwise right-hand drive UK.

The vehicle measures 2.41 m (7 ft 11 in) in length, 1.39 m (4 ft 7 in) (excluding mirrors) in width and 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in) in height. Its total weight including battery is 485 kg (1,069 lb).

The quadricycle is equipped with a 6 kW electric motor operating at 48 V. It accepts a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 5.5 kWh, rechargeable to 80% in three hours on a 230 V household outlet, giving it a maximum range of 75 km (47 mi) WMTC.

Controversy

Dispute with Italy

In May 2024, Italian customs blocked a shipment of 134 Fiat Topolinos at the port of Livorno, Tuscany, for having Italian flag stickers on the doors, despite being manufactured in Kenitra, Morocco. An investigation was launched against Stellantis, Italy deeming the stickers to be a violation of the 2004 financial law, which defines as illegal "the marketing of products bearing false and misleading indications of provenance or origin". A Stellantis representative said that the company had "operated in full compliance with the rules, transparently communicating the Topolino's country of production, without any intention of misleading consumers" and that "the sticker in question was intended solely to indicate the product's entrepreneurial origin." Stellantis agreed to remove the stickers in order to resolve the situation.

References

Notes

Citations

1. Markwell, Lisa (31 March 2024). "'Like being inside a Lego brick': my week driving Citroen's (very) tiny EV". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
2. Golson, Daniel (21 February 2019). "The Citroën Ami One Concept is a tiny city car that doesn't require a license". Car and Driver. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
3. Fidler, Matt (5 March 2019). "Geneva goes electric: 2019 Motor Show – in pictures". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
4. Szymkowski, Sean (27 February 2020). "You can lease this adorable Citroen EV for $22 a month and let your 14-year-old drive". CNET. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
5. Overland, Colin (6 March 2019). "Citroen Ami One concept: dinky concept is mobility problem solver". Car. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
6. Porter, Jon (28 February 2020). "Citroën's tiny Ami electric car can be driven by 14-year olds for $22 a month". The Verge. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
7. Valdes-Dapena, Peter (28 February 2020). "This tiny electric car looks like a washing machine and costs just $6,600". CNN Business. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
8. Burgess, Rachel (30 June 2021). "Citroen UK boss: 90% chance of imminent Ami UK launch". Autocar. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
9. Burns, Matt (27 February 2020). "Citroën introduces a two-seat EV that costs €19.99 a month". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
10. Hayes 2021, p. 166.
11. Peden, Jean-Philippe (27 February 2020). "Citroën Ami (2020) : le quadricyle sans permis à petit prix". Auto Plus (in French).
12. Quintal, Hugo (27 February 2020). "Citroën AMI : la révolution de la mobilité électrique est-elle là ?". Turbo (in French).
13. "Citroën My Ami Buggy Sells Out In Just 18 Minutes". Carscoops. 22 June 2022.
14. "Citroën To Build Another 1,000 Ami Buggies After Original 50 Sold In 18 Minutes". Carscoops. 22 December 2022.
15. "Citroen My Ami Buggy 2 comes to UK beachsides in 2023". CAR Magazine. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
16. Chilton, Chris (7 November 2023). "'Sporty' Citroen Ami Pop Gets New Nose And Graphics, But There's Nothing Sporty About 28 MPH". Carscoops.
17. Anderson, Brad (25 August 2021). "Opel Rocks-e Is A Rebadged Version Of The Tiny Citroën Ami EV". Carscoops.
18. Harloff, Thomas (2 November 2021). "Opel Rocks-E - Elektrokleinstwagen ab 7.990 Euro: Summ, summ, summ - Opel summ herum!". auto-motor-und-sport.de (in German). Retrieved 2 November 2021.
19. • "Opel Rocks-e". Opel Deutschland (in German). Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
    • "Opel Rocks Electric". Opel Deutschland (in German). Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
20. "Nieuwe Rocks Electric Kargo". Opel.
21. "Opel Rocks-e is coming to the Netherlands". Techzle. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
22. "Citroën AMI 100% elektrisch rijden vanaf 16 jaar". Citroën Van Beek (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
23. "2023 Fiat Topolino EV Unveiled In Two Flavors, Starts At $10,770". InsideEVs. 5 July 2023.
24. Bell, Sebastien (4 July 2023). "Fiat Topolino Offers 47 Miles Of Range And A Top Speed Of 28 MPH To Drivers As Young As 14". Carscoops.
25. Sagar (2 March 2020). "Citroën AMI is for everyone, even for 14-year-olds". Autodevot. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
26. Reisser, Sylvain (27 February 2020). "Citroën Ami, un minimum automobile sans permis". Le Figaro (in French).
27. Ducamp, Pauline (27 February 2020). "Citroën lance une petite voiture électrique à 6900 euros, l'Ami". BFM Business (in French).
28. "Sequestrate le Fiat Topolino al porto di Livorno: "Non sono italiane"". la Repubblica (in Italian). 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.

Books

• Hayes, Russell (2021). The Big Book of Tiny Cars. Motorbooks International. ISBN 978-0-7603-7062-9.

External links

• Official website (United Kingdom)

v t e Citroën
A marque of Stellantis
Current models	Cars Ami C3 C-Elysée SUVs, crossovers Basalt C3 Aircross C4 C4 Cactus C4 X C5 Aircross C5 X Vans Berlingo ë-Berlingo Jumpy/SpaceTourer Jumper
Historic models	Cars 2CV 7U Ami 6, 8, Super AX Axel Bijou BX CX C-Crosser C-Triomphe C1 C2 C3 Picasso C3 Pluriel C3L C3-XR C4, C6 C4 Picasso C4 Aircross C5 C6 C6 C8 C-Zero DS, ID DS3 DS4 DS5 Dyane E-Méhari Elysée Evasion FAF Fukang GS, GSA LN, LNA M35 Méhari Nemo Multispace Rosalie Saxo SM Synergie Traction Avant Type A Type B2 Type B10 Type B12 Type C Visa Xantia XM Xsara Xsara Picasso ZX Commercial Acadiane Belphégor C15 C25 C35 H Van Nemo TUB, TUC U23
Concepts, prototypes	19_19 2CV Pop Activa Ami One C-Airdream C-Airplay C-Buggy C-Cactus C-Métisse C-SportLounge C3 Air C3 Lumiere C6 Lignage C44 Cactus M CXperience DS High Rider DS Inside DS Numero 9 G Van GS Camargue GT by Citroën Hypnos Karin Lacoste Metropolis Oli Osée Pluriel Prototype C Prototype Y REVOLTe Skate Survolt Technospace Tubik Tulip Zabrus
Motorsport	Racing cars C-Elysée WTCC C4 WRC DS3 R5 DS3 WRC Xsara WRC C3 R5 C3 Rally2 C3 WRC Citroën Racing Citroën World Rally Team Kronos Citroën World Rally Team Citroën Junior Team Abu Dhabi Total World Rally Team Citroën World Touring Car Team
Regional operations	Citroën Argentina (1959–79) Citroën Chile Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën
List of vehicles Category Commons

• Citroën vehicles
• Cars introduced in 2020
• Microcars
• Quadricycles
• Electric city cars