Citroen's new back-to-basics green electric city car costing around £6,000 is to be sold in the UK following 'unprecedented' demand for it to cross the Channel.
Bosses gave the green light to the quirky two-seater Citroen Ami runaround coming here in 2022 after receiving more than 12,000 expressions of interest from potential British customers.
The French carmaker says the dinky car exemplifies the 'spirit' of the legendary cheap and cheerful 2CV.
So proud is the French car firm about exporting its new car to post-Brexit Britain that they have adorned one of the 47-mile-range models in a bright Union Flag - though it won't be sold with this paint-scheme option.
Green car given the green light: Citroen has confirmed today that it will be selling its diminutive Ami electric vehicle to customers in Britain, with first orders arriving in 2022
Powered by a 5.5kWh battery, the pure electric vehicle with zero-emissions has a top speed of 28mph and a range of up to 46 miles. It recharges in just three hours.
The Citroen Ami vehicle will be adapted for the UK market but be sold only in left-hand drive.
However, the vehicle is so small and the steering wheel so central in that cabin that this will make little to no difference to Britons' customers who are happy and willing to take the plunge.
However Citroen pointed out: 'One significant benefit of Amis left-hand drive configuration when being driven in the UK, is that it will allow the driver the benefit of exiting the vehicle at the kerbside when parking at the roadside in city centres.'
In a statement released this morning, the French maker announced: 'Due to unprecedented customer demand, Citroen is pleased to announce that Citroen Ami will launch in the UK during spring 2022.'
It added: 'Since making its debut in 2020, Citroen Ami has been turning heads around the world – not least here in the UK.
'Much to the delight of a large and growing number of UK customers, the Citroen brand is now able to announce that the zero-emissions Ami will officially launch here in the spring of 2022.'
Bosses gave the green light to the quirky two-seater Citroen Ami runaround crossing the Channel after receiving more than 12,000 expressions of interest from potential British customers
While it will be sold in the UK, it won't be modified for British roads, with the steering wheel kept on the left hand side
While the wheel will be in front of the left seat, because of the small and boxy nature of the vehicle, it is already feels like sitting in the middle more than to one side
Powered by a 5.5kWh battery, the pure electric vehicle with zero-emissions has a top speed of 28mph and a range of up to 46 miles. It recharges in just three hours
The 12,000-plus customers who have already registered interest on the Citroen website will from today be given priority access to secure their Ami with a £250 refundable reservation fee.
From Monday (September 27) the reservation system will be open to all.
Final prices have yet to be announced, but translated from the Continental Euro price should be around £6,000.
In France, the basic Ami costs €6,990 (£5,945) rising to €8,350 (£7,119) for a range-topping model.
Car share and rental options are also being explored, as is already the Ami's main use in Paris, where it can be hired in the city in a range of flamboyant colours.
In France it is bought entirely online and can either can be delivered to your home or collected from a pick-up point, with the mantra: 'Ordered from your sofa, delivered to your home.'
That is also likely to be the case for UK customers.
Final prices have yet to be announced, but translated from the Continental Euro price should be around £6,000
Citroen electric city cars Ami for Free2Move free-floating car-sharing service was launched in Paris in August 2020
The Parisian rental vehicles are available in a selection of bonkers colours and schemes, some of them seen here
Technically and legally, however, the AMI is not classified as a car, but as a 'light quadricycle', like the Renault Twizy, and can be driven at 16 across most of Europe and as young as 14 in France.
But anyone driving Ami in the UK will still require a full UK driving licence, as for a traditional passenger car, which means the youngest driver here will be 17.
Citroen said: 'As a 100 per cent electric vehicle, Ami emits zero-emissions in use and has a 5.5kWh battery that recharges in just three hours.
'With a range of 46 miles and a top speed of 28mph, AMI is a modern solution that delivers on Citroën's promise to provide affordable and clean mobility solutions for all.'
Since being revealed in February 2020, Citroen days the
