Citroen Ami “Charleston By Biancone”

 

The Citroen Ami has proven to be a great canvas for custom liveries, so it’s not surprising that it served as a base for a new limited-production special. This one, however, doesn’t come from Citroen, but from Italian designer Massimo Biancone who modified the fully electric heavy quadricycle into a modern homage to the 2CV Charleston. The Citroen 2CV was originally introduced back in 1948 but the Charleston trim with the Art-Deco livery debuted in 1980 and remained on sale until the end of production in 1990. The new Ami Charleston By Biacnonce is finished in the classic Rouge Delage / Noir two-tone paint finish and is stripped from the Citroen badges, featuring a body-colored grille, black wheel caps, and a canvas roof similar to its Fiat Topolino sibling.

More striking changes occur inside the cabin, where we find nostalgic touches, higher-quality materials, and more standard features. The highlight is the single-spoke steering wheel which is a nod to the classic 2CV. The same applies to the umbrella pocket behind the driver’s seat, and the leather upholstery featuring a houndstooth pattern.

 

Equipment includes more comfortable seats, a Bluetooth audio system, rubber mats, and a central rear-view mirror, features that were missing from the spartan cabin of the standard Citroen Ami. Still, there is no A/C, so you have to rely on the tinted windows and canvas roof for cooling down during hot weather. Finally, the Charleston retains the stock 8 hp electric motor and the 5.5 kWh battery pack allowing a 70 km range between charges.

According to the official website, Biancone plans to build 150 examples of the retro-themed special editions. The designer has already received 32 pre-orders, with four units currently in production. Pricing of the Ami Charleston By Biancone has not been disclosed but it is safe to assume it will be much more expensive than the standard heavy quadricycle. Massimo Biancone is not the first independent designer that customize the Citroen Ami, as he follows the example of Massimo Alba and Rossana Orlandi.