IAA 2011: Citroën Looks into the Past to Shape its Future with the Tubik Concept

If you are not familiar with Citroën's long history, you will most likely find the Tubik as another concept model with an overly futuristic design language.

But the truth is that the French automaker looked into its past for inspiration as the Tubik pays homage to Citroën's iconic 1939 Tub van and its replacement, the 1948 Type H that was produced for more than three decades.

Citroën described the Tubik as a "high-tech executive shuttle". The van measures 4.80m long, 2.08m wide and 2.05m tall, and is big enough to carry up to nine passengers who are accommodated in three separate rows of adjustable seats plus an individual seat for the driver.

Up front, the first row of seats lets two people sit facing the road or facing towards the rear. At the back, the middle row can seat up to three people or, alternatively, it can be converted into a small table, be folded onto the last row to free up an area of almost two-square meters, or be folded out completely to create a meridienne style coach.

The Tubik runs on the PSA Peugeot-Citroën group's new Hybrid4 full-hybrid diesel powertrain that combines a front-mounted diesel engine driving the front-wheels and an electric motor that motivates the rear axle.

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