GQ reveals the ultimate gentleman's drive

Men's style magazine
GQ has teamed up with Citroën to design the "ultimate gentleman's drive."

The GQbyCITROËN concept, to be featured in the April issue of British GQ magazine, is a collaboration between the magazine, the carmaker and a tailor on London's Savile Row.

The exterior of the vehicle was designed by Mark Lloyd, a Citroën designer who was behind the Citroën DS3. Lloyd was working to a brief provided by Dylan Jones, the editor of British GQ magazine.

"I wanted something practical, something cool, and something idiosyncratic - i.e. something surprising that didn't just look like a concept car," explained Dylan Jones. "The GQ car needed to have the ‘want' factor, but it also needed to look, feel and ‘drive' like the sort of car no sane man could choose to ignore."

Interiors were provided by Patrick Grant, the Creative Director of prestigious Savile Row tailor E. Tautz, who styled a "military inspired interior" that was a "perfect counterpoint to the Gallic flair of the exterior."

Under the hood, the concept uses a plug-in hybrid engine that delivers an electronically limited top speed of 249 km/h. Emissions from the car are 80g/km.
Designer Lloyd says that the vehicle fits well with current attitudes towards conspicuous consumption.

"It is understated rather than in-your-face and sleek rather than too macho," he outlined. "It is not the all-out sports car, rather it is something gentlemanly, it has performance and it is for travelling, not racing."

The GQbyCITROËN is featured in the April issue of GQ out March 4, 2010.

Website: http://www.gqbycitroen.co.uk/