Automotive

Citroenist concept aims to be ultimate work/play 4x4 camper van for digital nomads

Citroenist concept aims to be ultimate work/play 4x4 camper van for digital nomads
SpaceTourer The Citroënist Concept made its debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show
SpaceTourer The Citroënist Concept made its debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show
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SpaceTourer The Citroënist Concept at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show
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SpaceTourer The Citroënist Concept at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show
The Citroënist has a colorful interior to match its exterior
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The Citroënist has a colorful interior to match its exterior
The Citroënist wears the vibrant black-and-white pattern inside and out
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The Citroënist wears the vibrant black-and-white pattern inside and out
The camper van concept includes a matching bicycle, carrier and outdoor shower
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The camper van concept includes a matching bicycle, carrier and outdoor shower
Two tandem rear seats stand next to the bicycle carrier
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Two tandem rear seats stand next to the bicycle carrier
The retractable TV serves as part of the connected multimedia system that stands in the space typically occupied by the kitchen block
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The retractable TV serves as part of the connected multimedia system that stands in the space typically occupied by the kitchen block
Citroënist controls
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Citroënist controls
The Citroënist concept is based on a SpaceTourer with BlueHDi 150 S&S BVM6 engine and Connect Nav navigation
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The Citroënist concept is based on a SpaceTourer with BlueHDi 150 S&S BVM6 engine and Connect Nav navigation
Looking out through the Citroënist's very airy pop-up roof
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Looking out through the Citroënist's very airy pop-up roof
Two rear seats and a bicycle along for the ride
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Two rear seats and a bicycle along for the ride
The two-person bed in the Citroënist folds up during the day to increase interior headroom
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The two-person bed in the Citroënist folds up during the day to increase interior headroom
Floor rail mounting system
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Floor rail mounting system
The Citroënist was developed in conjunction with Possl
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The Citroënist was developed in conjunction with Possl
Citroënist concept camper van world premiere at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show
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Citroënist concept camper van world premiere at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show
Citroënist concept camper van world premiere at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show
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Citroënist concept camper van world premiere at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show
Citroën shows a new style of camper van for digital nomads
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Citroën shows a new style of camper van for digital nomads
Citroënist sketch
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Citroënist sketch
Explore outdoor spaces or work and sleep in the city with the Citroënist camper van
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Explore outdoor spaces or work and sleep in the city with the Citroënist camper van
The Rider Citroënist by Martone is a matching bicycle that's available for order
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The Rider Citroënist by Martone is a matching bicycle that's available for order
Martone Citroënist Rider bicycle
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Martone Citroënist Rider bicycle
Bicycle and camper van have matching designs
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Bicycle and camper van have matching designs
Gearing up to live, work and play on the road
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Gearing up to live, work and play on the road
SpaceTourer The Citroënist Concept made its debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show
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SpaceTourer The Citroënist Concept made its debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show
That sure looks better than the average office view
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That sure looks better than the average office view
While the Citroënist concept comes with a single bike, it includes a dual-bike carrier
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While the Citroënist concept comes with a single bike, it includes a dual-bike carrier
On the road in the Citroënist
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On the road in the Citroënist
On the road in the Citroënist
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On the road in the Citroënist
On the road in the Citroënist
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On the road in the Citroënist
The Citroënist includes a Dangel all-wheel drive for better traction on slippery roads and off-road tracks
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The Citroënist includes a Dangel all-wheel drive for better traction on slippery roads and off-road tracks
A peek inside
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A peek inside
Citroënist closeup
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Citroënist closeup
The Citroënist seems the perfect vehicle for the traveling social media influencer
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The Citroënist seems the perfect vehicle for the traveling social media influencer
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As it celebrates 100 years of automotive ingenuity, Citroën is looking at the past, present and future of mobility. The present? Supporting flexible lifestyles by combining traditional mobility with digital connectivity. The Citroënist concept camper van does just that to assist the new wave of untethered digital nomads, providing a mobile work space and apartment for two as it navigates open spaces and tight city centers.

A long way from the countercultural wandering hippies of yore, the modern day camper van full-timer tends to be something of a free-moving working stiff. With remote working opportunities abounding and connectivity available at every corner coffee shop and grocer, living in a camper van no longer means abandoning steady work for road life and odd jobs collected along the way. Instead, today's van lifer blends work and travel into a seamless lifestyle, trading the claustrophobic cubicle for the world at large.

On the downside, camping vehicles are optimized for driving and living but not necessarily working on the road. Try getting any real work done in the average travel van or teardrop trailer and you may very well find yourself on the wrong end of a pink slip.

On the road in the Citroënist
On the road in the Citroënist

With the painfully named SpaceTourer The Citroënist Concept (that's just going to read "Citroënist" from here on), Citroën explores how a customized van can effectively play the role of both business van and simple camper. The concept cleverly combines overnight accommodations, a digitally supported work space and an even lighter, quicker way of getting to city center meetings or distant clifftop sunsets.

Developed in conjunction with Germany's Pössl, which also builds Citroën-based camper vans like the versatile Campster, the Citroënist looks quite similar to any other small camper van from the outside, save for its flashy show-car black/white/red color scheme. It has a pop-up roof and an outdoor shower below the lift-gate and is otherwise a basic 195-in (495-cm) SpaceTourer. Base van equipment includes a Dangel all-wheel drive and driver-assistance tech like an active safety brake and color head-up display. The dual power sliding doors add convenience for both everyday commuting and camping.

Two tandem rear seats stand next to the bicycle carrier
Two tandem rear seats stand next to the bicycle carrier

Inside, the Citroënist is anything but average, as Pössl replaces the usual camper van kitchen block with a modular connected office/multimedia center. The system features computer hardware inside the cabinet and a retractable flat-panel TV that emerges through the top of the cabinet to work as a productivity and entertainment interface.

Swivel front seats combine with the two inline rear seats to create a living room-like space around the TV. The multimedia system includes a Click & Share feature that allows occupants to quickly and easily share content. A removable table adds dining and work space, and the TV can lower into the console to create additional flush worktop.

While the Citroënist concept comes with a single bike, it includes a dual-bike carrier
While the Citroënist concept comes with a single bike, it includes a dual-bike carrier

The Citroënist van is a compact camper, but there are certain to be spaces too tight to allow its passage, both in the city and out in nature. For those times, van dwellers can pop out the bicycle that shares its look and name with the van that carries it: Rider The Citroënist by Martone.

We're surprised Citroën didn't opt for an electric bike, but it sticks with a simple single-speed notable mostly for its matching styling complete with red chain. Prepared in cooperation with bicycle company Martone, that bike completes the dual-mode transportation concept when stored in the carrier mounted beside the tandem rear van seats. The carrier can accommodate two bicycles so the second camper can bring along a bike as well.

Citroën debuted the Citroënist concept at last week's Geneva Motor Show, adding yet another camper van to a recent slate that includes the 2018 Type H WildCamp and Jumper Biker vans. The company is clearly dedicated to further increasing its position as a leading European motorhome supplier, explaining that it grew by 71 percent last year to grab more than 10 percent of the market.

Citroënist concept camper van world premiere at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show
Citroënist concept camper van world premiere at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show

The Citroënist is quite a particular concept, and we'd imagine many a van driver would prefer a second sleeping berth in the cabin over a bicycle carrier and maybe a kitchen in place of or addition to the mobile office. As such, we don't expect to see it move past the concept stage. The Martone bicycle, however, went up for order following its debut and is available for €950 (US$1,075) at lifestyle.citroen.com. Citroën is also offering a line of Citroënist merchandise, including a jacket, mug and notebook.

Source: Citroën

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1 comment
1 comment
Don Martin
Good ideas for digital nomads, just wonder if a folding bike would be more convenient - using up less space and OK for the last mile