The exterior unmistakably borrows styling cues from the Type H vans that Citroën produced from 1948 to 1981. It is 189 inches long, 82 inches wide and 80 inches tall, making it longer and shorter than the H. The name Tubik is a reference to the van that came before the H, the TUB, launched in 1939.
The similarities between the H and the Tubik stop there. The H was a utilitarian work van, the Tubik certainly is not.
The entire right side of it swings upwards in a Gullwing-like fashion to reveal a versatile interior that can carry up to nine adults. It has three rows of seats; the first one is next to the driver’s seat, has room for two and can face forwards or backwards. The second row seats three and folds down into a table if the need be. Alternatively, it can hide under the last row to free up space. The third row seats three.
The driver’s seat is separate from the rest and is upholstered in leather. It is accessed via a door on the left side of the van that swings open at an upwards angle. On the outside the mirrors have been replaced by cameras that transmit video to a screen mounted on the steering wheel.
Under the hood is PSA’s increasingly-familiar HYbrid4 drivetrain. It consists of a four-cylinder HDi turbo diesel engine that powers the front wheels and an electric motor that powers the rear wheels. Citroën did not specify how much horsepower is put out by each.
To complete the package, this retro van is fitted with Citroën’s Hydractive hydraulic suspension, ensuring that ground clearance stays the same no matter what it is carrying or towing.
The Tubik will be on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month. It is unlikely that the Tubik concept will ever see the light of production, although it would be the ideal vehicle to compete against the Volkswagen Bulli. [via : leftlane]
Photo : Citroën Tubik
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