In France, there is a special type of vehicle that allows those without full licenses to take to the road. Called quadricycles, they are most commonly used by the elderly and teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18. With its latest EV, the Ami, Citroen has moved into this niche market and Johnny Smith has given us a tour of it on The Late Brake Show.

What is the Citroen Ami?

The Ami originates from the Ami One concept that was launched by the French brand at last year's Geneva Motor Show. The car's compact cube-like design resembles a modern reimagination of the Bubble Car , and has now become reality as it is rolled out to leasing firms across the France.

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The Citroen Ami is a fully electric micro car with around 43 miles of range and a top speed of 26mph. Compared to its concept form which had around 60 miles of range, the production version may be a bit of a let down, but as Johnny Smith points out in his review of the model, its specs fit in perfectly with its purpose.

Citroen Ami in Paris
Via Citroen press site

The Ami is set to be made available by leasing firms for short journeys as opposed to being bought outright. Citroen's parent company PSA has launched an app that allows people in select regions of France to rent the little EV for as short a time as half an hour. Though when it becomes available in other European countries, it is expected that longer-term rentals will be the norm.

The Citroen Ami is coming for the Renault Twizy

As Johnny Smith points out in his video, the Citroen Ami is seemingly a good rival to the Renault Twizy. Both models are small, city-bound EVs, they both answer the problem of congestion in a similar way and are both classed as quadricycles allowing young people to drive them.

A trio of Renault Twizy cars in Groupama Team France colours
Via Renault media site

There are however, a few key differences between the two vehicles. First up is the matter of interior space. Whereas the Twizy uses a very funky seat layout akin to a tandem bicycle, the Ami places the two seats side-by-side just as with any regular car. This more social-friendly aspect of the car is reflected by its name, which translates to "Friend" in English. Johnny also points out this makes the Ami an easier car to jump in and out of.

Citroen Ami on stage
Via Citroen media site

The second major difference between the Twizy and the Ami is the price. Though neither car is designed to be bought outright, the total price of the Ami is around half that of the Twizy at around €6,000 or approximately $7,250.

The Ami is initially set to be available only in France with a few European countries also being considered by Citroen.

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