Much like Renault, and Peugeot but to an even greater extent, you can always count on Citroen for quirkiness. The French automaker has brought a unique approach to mainstream vehicles, and is responsible for iconic models like the 2CV and DS.

Lately, that quirkiness has perhaps been toned down a bit for new models, but we doubt it will ever go away entirely. The Frankfurt Motor Show brings Citroen’s look at what a future (pretty far in the future) dual-purporse commercial and passenger van could look like.

As you’d expect from a Citroen concept, the Tubik Concept Van isn’t your typical van. Far from it. Citroen calls the Tubik a “high-tech executive shuttle” based on “one key idea: travel should be fun.” The Tubik’s styling throws out the usual van playbook, with large doors and a lack of rear windows.

The upright front end with wrap around windshield strikes us as very train-like. That design makes for an interesting vantage point for the driver. Gullwing doors front and rear open up to an entirely reconfigurable interior.

The Tubik can seat nine passengers, and the seats are able to be moved around to form a table or flat area. The design inside and out is different than anything on the market, and t shows ideas that Citroen designers are exploring. However, in case you’re wondering this is purely a concept – Citroen hasn’t announced any plans for production, even in toned down form.

Citroen did make two commercial vans in the past, the first as a short run called the Tub Van and the second being the H Van, which was in production from 1947 to 1981. There isn’t more than that available as far as details go; Citroen released a very small press release. Perhaps we’ll hear more at the show. Check out our comprehensive gallery below for Citroen’s vision of the future of transportation.

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The Citroen GT Supercar Concept was designed by Polyphony Digital – creators of the Gran Turismo video game series, for the latest iteration of the game, GT5. Apparently the concept was popular, because they made a real version of it, and below is a video of the supercar driving around London.

Autocar got word from Citroen insiders that they will be doing a limited run of the GT Concept with only six to be produced. Expect to pay north of $1.8 million for this ultra-rare car, which would make it one of the most expensive production cars in the world.

The Citroen GT will be powered by either a Ford or GM V8, says product boss Vincent Besson, which will likely produce over 500 hp. Certainly sounds like a V12 in the video. The GT’s body will be made completely from carbon fiber, and details such as the wild copper interior will also remain, which should be interesting.

Expect the Citroen GT Supercar to be officially revealed at the Frankfurt motor show in September. Check out the video below:

Thanks to GTPlanet for the video

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Whoa, what? Are they serious? The news out of Europe is that Fiat and Peugeot/Citroen are thinking about merging? Most of the merger talk has been all in the US, mainly about who is going to marry Chrysler, but this one has come out of nowhere.

Fiat’s CEO, Sergio Marchionne, said that ” … the company would need to find another automotive partner to ensure the company’s survival in light of the recent economic downturn.” Hm, OK, that’s showing some foresight on his part, and also let’s you know just how deep in this mess we’re all in.

It seems that things are far enough along that political leaders in both France and Italy have held discussions on the matter. This, of course would be a necessary step, since both the Italian and French governments are part owners of Fiat and PSA (the conglomerate that contains Peugeot-Citroen).

The marriage isn’t without precedent, since the companies have worked together in the past such as the recent Peugeot Boxer, Citroën Jumper and Fiat Ducato vans. Also, if the merger takes place, the resulting company would be the fourth largest automaker in the world, with an output rivaling Volkswagen and Renault-Nissan.

Source: World Car Fans via Edmunds

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Now this is rather bizarre. Bizarre and interesting.

There has been a respectable amount of online hype for Citroen’s concept GT (yes, the official name is GTbyCitroen), and from the looks of things, it deserves it. This has got to be the wildest car Citroen ever penned, and perhaps the wildest at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. It is the product of a partnership between Citroen and Polyphony, the designers of the Gran Turismo 5 game. Apparently, this is the first time a full size version of a video game car has been built, by the company of the car.

In case you are wondering, this car will not hit the streets. It can’t even rightly be called a concept, as the GT is purely a show car. In the game though (only for Play Station 3, by the way), the car has an electric drive train and is powered by a fuel cell. And according to Autoblog, it features the following: 3.6 seconds to reach 60 mph and 646 horsepower.

Now about the design… the whole idea was to create the feeling of movement. The long rear supposedly creates “retinal persistence”. The white to gray graduation is a sneaky design feature that makes the car look fast, and there are a whole bunch more little tricks that you can find in the press release. As for the front, I keep on thinking of some kind of animal, I just don’t know what it is. Whale shark? Catfish? A rabid squirrel? Maybe even an odd interpretation of some kind of cat?

The gull wing doors are pretty sick though.

More pictures and press release after the jump.

Pictures courtesy of RPMGO and Autoblog

GTbyCITROËN
CROSS OVER TO THE VIRTUAL WORLD…

With GTbyCITROËN, a show-car presented at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, Citroën becomes the first vehicle manufacturer to cross over to the virtual worlds: An original take on a road car, GTbyCITROËN is a style replica of a vehicle from the digital world. The car is the result of a partnership between Citroën and Polyphony, designer of the driving simulation game Gran Turismo 5 on Playstation 3. Already shipped in more than 50 million units worldwide, Gran Turismo is renowned for its quality, design and realism.
In the game, GTbyCITROËN features an electric drive train powered by a fuel cell with no pollutant emissions. It is a car designed to square up to the strongest competition.

“GTbyCITROËN shows how the worlds of virtual and real-life motoring can join together to create a truly innovative partnership. We were delighted that Citroen approached us and gave us the opportunity to combine our creative strengths to build this very special concept car. To see the car take shape in game and then for real has been a truly unique experience as our work normally stays in the digital world. I just hope I can get behind the wheel of GTbyCITROËN and drive it on a real race track!” – Kazanori Yamauchi, President of Polyphony Digital Inc and creator of Gran Turismo

Performance first and foremost
GTbyCITROËN is geared to the world of motor racing, with its dynamic styling, sculpted lines and sharp graphics. The rear end is oversized, made exaggeratedly long in order to create an effect of retinal persistence. The idea is to make the concept car even faster visually. The white-to-grey gradation on the body side further underlines this impression of continuous movement.

Top-level driving
The cabin of GTbyCITROËN, designed to seat two adults, expresses the grand touring vision behind this show-car. The on-board ambience allies premium, extensively worked materials with a more high-tech effect for the driving position.

The layout of the low driving position was dictated by driving pleasure. The aim is for the driver to be able to concentrate on the road, assisted by a head-up display clearly displaying driving information.

RACING SPIRIT BY CITROËN

Power and flowing lines
The design of GTbyCITROËN reflects a quest for optimal aerodynamic design. The show-car is a vehicle of flowing, taut lines, stretched to the extreme. The cleanly drawn sides, ribbed at the top, and the pearlescent shade of the bodywork enhance the vehicle’s sleekly muscled looks.

The determined look of the front end is enhanced by wide air intakes and clear-cut horizontal headlamps. The headlamps feature penetrating blue LEDs in order to light the road effectively and keep rivals at a respectful distance! The chrome chevrons on the smooth bonnet express the Marque’s identity.

The carbon rearview mirrors on their finely profiled supports appear to be suspended as if to cleave the air, giving GTbyCITROËN an excellent on-road stance.

The large wraparound windscreen flows seamlessly into the roof and on into the rear mobile airfoil with its exaggeratedly long shape. The fast-flowing lines create the impression of a car in perpetual movement. The whole body expresses performance and continuous movement.

GTbyCITROËN also expresses strength and power through generous volumes, (length: 4.960m, 2.080m and height: 1.090m) underlined by strongly marked wheel arches. The diamond-effect 21-inch aluminium wheels enhance the car’s sporty personality.

Exceptional handling
The interior design confirms the vehicle’s dynamic and powerful style. The interior of GTbyCITROËN, designed to seat a driver and co-driver, expresses the racing spirit of this concept. The on-board ambience allies rich, premium, extensively worked materials with a more high-tech effect for the driving position, inspired by the world of motorsports.

Looking beyond the spectacular visual effect, the gullwing opening of the two doors gives GTbyCITROËN a level of accessibility rarely seen on this type of vehicle. The driver and co-driver can therefore slip into their seats and get out on the track as quickly as possible.

The dark interior of this show-car is a surprise, compared with the light bodywork. Upholstered in black leather with subtle touches of rare materials such as copper and steel, the cabin of GTbyCITROËN is distinctly sporty.
Two padded racing seats upholstered in dark leather, each fitted with a four-point harness, enfold the driver and passenger for exceptional driving sensations. Placed low down to highlight the impression of speed, the elegant seats are a perfect fit with the rest of the interior.

The top-stitched leather of the door panels and floor adds to the opulence of the interior.

The driving position expresses the spirit of competition. The design was objectively guided by the motivation to win.

The dashboard, with its clean uncluttered design, flows into the receding lines of an imposing copper sculpture. The thrusting modern lines of the sculpture become the central tunnel of the vehicle, illustrating the power of GTbyCITROËN and appearing to catalyse its strength.

Created in a twist of this same copper sculpture, the leather-and-steel steering wheel also reflects the sporting spirit of the cabin.

To promote maximum concentration, the driver of GTbyCITROËN has a head-up display for driving information. Using red LEDs, this system projects key driving information – such as speed and navigation data – onto the windscreen in the driver’s direct line of vision.

The head-up display makes a significant contribution to safety with its direct read-out. Drivers assimilate data more quickly and do not have to look away from the road.

Aerodynamics optimised to combine performance and driving sensations
Special emphasis was placed on the aerodynamics and flowing design of GTbyCITROËN, these being key Citroën values. The objective was to enhance the vehicle’s dynamics and to create exceptional driving sensations.

Looking beyond its taut, dynamic lines, this racing car features innovative equipment such as enlarged air intakes at the front, a flat underside, and a mobile spoiler and air diffuser at the rear. All these features play an active role in reducing lift and – above all – drag, to pin the car to the ground.

With its flowing lines, original architecture and its use – in the game – of what is potentially the best environmental technology, GTbyCITROËN embodies the sporting spirit as seen by Citroën and underlines the Marque’s ambitions to meet new challenges.

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