CitroĆ«n: The Yank fits into almost any gap š„
ALTERNATIVE FROM PARIS It looks like a playmobile. But Citroƫn is very serious about the Ami, a two-meter-long plastic cube on four wheels. It is purely electrically driven and has room for two people. The Ami is made up of less than 250 parts. Front and rear are identical. The up to 45 km/h [...]
The Yank is composed of less than 250 parts. Front and rear are identical.
According to the French, the little car, which can travel at speeds of up to 45 km/h, is a contemporary response to current mobility expectations. The 2.41-meter short and 1.39-meter narrow plastic body appears like a rolling passenger cell.
Front and rear are shaped identically
The Yank is made up of less than 250 parts. Front and rear are shaped absolutely identically, only the different colored lights in the recesses and the license plate reveal where front and rear are.
The two large doors are also a component that swings backwards in the opposite direction on the driver's side and forwards in the classic way on the passenger's side. This is done from the outside with push buttons, from the inside with somewhat fiddly pull straps.
Smartphone serves as the main screen
Inside, everything looks like a hard plastic mold, but thanks to the 1.52-meter height, two people can sit comfortably, albeit only on narrow cushions.
There isn't much more space apart from a few cupholders, a storage shelf in front of the windshield placed far forward and an attachment for the smartphone, which then serves as the main screen for navigation and infotainment. The driver's seat can be moved longitudinally, while the front passenger seat is fixed. You can see the details in the gallery.
Stromer typical sine tone singsong
The Yank on the move. Press the simple drive button to the left of the seat, step on the pedal, and the two-seater takes off on its 14-inch wheels with a typical Stromer sine wave.
Even the first right-angled turn is maneuvered with amazing skill. With a turning circle of 7.20 meters, the electric cube can even turn on the spot.
No problems with traffic light hopping
This makes the Ami ideal for crowded city centers. But the little electric car is also fun on the road. Despite the mini power of just under 6 kW (8 hp), it keeps up with traffic light hopping.
After all, the two-seater has just 471 kilograms (plus occupants) to move, 69 kilograms of which go to the account of the 5.5 kWh battery.
Thanks to the large glass surfaces and the standard panoramic roof, the driver and front passenger can enjoy an optimum all-round view.
Hardly insulation of the plastic cabin
The only drawback is the noise. The plastic cabin is neither insulated nor damped, so the electric motor can be heard much louder than usual, as can the rolling noise of the wheels.
Suspension is almost non-existent, and the short wheelbase causes the car to rumble over transverse joints and cobblestones just like the first Smart in its day, with the cabin creaking away cheerfully.
After three hours the battery is full
However, the car is not designed and built for long distances. The car has to be plugged in after a maximum of 75 kilometers. However, this can be any standard household outlet that fully recharges the battery after three hours.
Prices, equipment and the Swiss market launch have not yet been determined.
