Looking at Tesla's Cybertruck, many wonder where Elon Musk and his team got the idea for the unusual design. One option is over 40 years old and comes from France. Citroën developed some really interesting concepts at the time, and the Karin study shown here is a great example of what the designers were capable of when given complete freedom.
The pyramid on wheels was, of course, only a concept, as Citroën did not intend to send a production vehicle to the market. In fact, the company created the Karin model only because the 1980 Paris Motor Show was just around the corner and there were no new production models on the horizon. BX, for example, would have to wait until 1982.
Designed by Citroën design chief Trevor Fiore, the concept had one of the smallest roofs ever fitted to a car: about the size of a book cover (that's an A3 for Europeans who like standards). The proportions of the two-door car were unusual: very straight (1,07 meters), but also quite wide (1,90 meters). Despite being only 3,70 meters long, which was the size of the Citroën Visa at the time, this meant that a lot of space could be created.
Open the butterfly doors and enter a futuristic interior that can accommodate three people. The driver's seat is in the middle, and there are passenger seats next to it, which remind connoisseurs of the Matra Bagheera and Murena models and the McLaren F1.
While today's automakers strive to include most controls in the infotainment system, in the 1980s Citroën used only buttons. Karin was equipped with a variety of buttons that provided quick access to most of the available functions. In fact, the brand also relied heavily on so-called control satellites in its serial models at the time. Even more buttons were placed on the door panels, which also had built-in monitors, which was quite amazing at the time.
The front wheels were driven. They were powered by a four-cylinder gasoline engine. The suspension was hydropneumatic. Typical of the manufacturer's models. Nothing else is known about the technology. But given the whimsical appearance, you don't really need more information.
