The Citroën AMI takes its name from a model introduced by the French brand in the early 1960s, but it takes on new meaning in the 21st century.
In 2020, the chevron brand launched a very peculiar and almost unique car on the market, conceived as a solution to promote electric and urban mobility. It is the Citroën AMI, an electric car that can be driven without a license. But what is the origin of its name?
It is a light quadricycle, powered by an 8 CV electric motor with which it can reach 45 km/h and a 5.5 kWh battery that provides a range of 75 kilometers.
However, it is worth clarifying that “car without a license”, since it is necessary to be in possession of the AM permit, the same one that enables those over 15 years of age to drive mopeds.
The Citroën AMI measures just 2.41 meters in length, 1.39 meters in width and 1.52 meters in height, so we are dealing with a very small vehicle, designed to move agilely through traffic and park easily.
What is the origin of the name of the Citroën AMI?
The Citroën AMI is based on the ONE Concept, a prototype presented at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, but it takes its name from a model that the French brand launched on the market in the early 1960s and that we knew in Spain as Ami 6.
According to the French brand, the name of the classic Ami responds to a feminization of the English term Mrs, which can be seen in some details, such as the cushioning of the seats, the colored upholstery, the buttons on the door trims imitating the leather or gold finish on some dashboard controls.
However, the name Ami takes on new meaning in the 21st century. It has its origins in the word ami, which means friend in French, a word that is related to the type of friendly philosophy that Citroën tries to convey, something like a friend of sustainable mobility.
