Citroën e-Mehari: New French it-car resurrects an iconic name

The bodywork is made out of plastic and will come in a range of bright colours to appeal to the bright young things

The vehicle will go on sale in France early next year, but as yet there are no plans to bring it to the UK

The French get so existential. Apparently the new Citroën is ‘designed to appeal to customers looking for an alternative vehicle with a positive outlook on life, attentive to trends and to the environment’. We looked in vain for the complimentary pack of Gauloises Bleu and a bottle of absinthe.

The looks are certainly pretty Left Bank. There’s a strong SUV look to the main body, which has a light ribbing pattern as a gesture to the original Mehari. A folding soft-top roof may not be that original, but this one can be folded out to cover the entire vehicle if necessary. Preferably not while on the A6 Autoroute de Soleil.

The bodywork is made out of plastic and will come in a range of bright colours to appeal to the bright young things. After they’ve partied inside, they’ll be glad to know the e-Mehari can be hosed down inside as well as out.

The soft-top can be folded out to cover the entire vehicle if necessary

Naturally, the e-Mehari won’t pollute the atmosphere like the smoke-filled cafes in Saint Germain des Pres. Instead there is a lithium metal polymer battery pack, which gives you a range of 124 miles they claim, and a top speed of 68mph. Recharging takes eight hours at a charging station, or a whole 13 hours if you plug it in at home. Plenty of time to discuss the meaning of life and what Jean-Paul Satre really meant.

The vehicle will go on sale in France early next year, but as yet there are no plans to bring it to the UK. Salut!