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Citroën Is So Tired of Britain’s Potholes, It Started Filling Them Itself

Spend five minutes on a British B-road and you’ll understand why suspension technicians never go out of business here. Potholes—craters, really—dot the tarmac like a lunar surface, and drivers have learned to brace for impact as instinctively as they check their mirrors. But Citroën has apparently reached its breaking point.

Rather than simply touting its plush “Advanced Comfort” suspension as a solution to Britain’s busted roads, the French automaker did something unusual: it paid to fix the potholes itself.

A Week of Repairs—On Citroën’s Tab

After filing a Freedom of Information request with 424 local councils across the UK, Citroën discovered what most motorists already suspected: the country’s infrastructure is in deep trouble. How deep? According to the data, 1 in every 20 roads requires immediate repair, and some councils face wait times of years before they’ll make a dent in their backlog.

Shropshire Council estimated it would need three years just to catch up. Pembrokeshire and Clackmannanshire said a full year. And the absolute pothole heavyweights?

  • Dumfries and Galloway: 16,819 reported potholes
  • Derbyshire County: 13,327
  • Shropshire: 8,686

These aren’t roads—they’re geological features.

Citroën’s FOI also asked councils to categorise their road networks into green, amber, and red conditions. “Red” means someone should probably investigate before a wheel falls off. The answer: over 12,000 miles of red-grade road across the UK.

After digesting that grim report card, Citroën put its money where Britain’s asphalt used to be. The brand funded one week of pothole repairs in Gateshead, resulting in 250 square metres of cracked, cratered road being patched.

Citroën’s Message: Local Councils Need More Than Sympathy

“We’re highlighting ongoing problems the UK’s roads are facing,” said Greg Taylor, Citroën UK’s managing director. “More needs to be done… councils need more support.”

He’s not wrong. The government pledged an additional £1.6 billion toward local road maintenance last year. But according to the latest ALARM report, fully clearing the UK’s pothole backlog would take 12 years and £16.8 billion—assuming we don’t add fresh potholes faster than we fill them.

If You Can’t Fix the Roads, Cushion the Ride

This is where Citroën pivots gracefully from civic frustration to showroom opportunity. If the blacktop won’t behave, the French brand suggests driving something designed to soak up the abuse.

The latest C3 Aircross and C5 Aircross come standard with Citroën’s “Advanced Comfort” suspension—those hydraulic bump stops that make speed bumps and broken surfaces feel more like rolling over a thick carpet than a medieval torture device. Add in soft, sofa-like seats and you’ve essentially built a cocoon for anyone forced to commute on Britain’s war-torn roads.

Sure, fixing potholes is ideal. But until the UK closes a £16-billion crater of its own, Citroën seems prepared to patch the problem—or at least help you glide over it.

Source: Auto Express

NEW CARS

Citroën Ami Buggy Rip Curl Vision: Micro Mobility Meets the Surf

On the windswept Atlantic coast, where surfboards outnumber sedans and salt air is the local perfume, Citroën is waxing up its adventurous side once again. The French automaker has teamed up with legendary surf brand Rip Curl for the international finals of the Rip Curl GromSearch, a global event spotlighting under-16 surfing prodigies. And this year, Citroën isn’t just sponsoring the event—it’s bringing a concept car that feels right at home on the sand: the Ami Buggy Rip Curl Vision.

This pint-sized electric oddball is Citroën’s latest experiment in youth mobility—a colorful, playful, and surprisingly thoughtful mashup of urban EV and surfside lifestyle accessory. It’s equal parts toy and tool, designed for those who live to chase waves, not gas stations.

The Partnership Returns to Shore

The Citroën–Rip Curl connection isn’t new. The partnership dates back to 2016, when the two brands started co-badging special editions of the C4 Cactus and C3 Aircross—compact cars that embodied freedom, creativity, and French eccentricity. Those cars targeted drivers seeking a bit of adventure beyond the boulevard.

This time, though, the collaboration dives deeper. With the Ami Buggy Rip Curl Vision, the two companies are tapping into shared values of sustainability, freedom, and fun—all wrapped in a 100-percent electric package that’s accessible from age 14.

“Together, we share the same vision focused on adventure, style, and freedom,” says Xavier Chardon, CEO of Citroën. “The Ami Buggy Rip Curl Vision embodies that free spirit while reaffirming our commitment to accessible electric mobility.”

Rip Curl Europe’s president, Mathieu Lefin, echoes that sentiment: “It’s the dream car for young surfers—a project that showcases recycling processes for used wetsuits and our commitment to sustainability and innovation in the service of freedom and adventure.”

A Buggy with a Surfer’s Soul

Think of the Ami Buggy as a cross between a dune buggy and a rolling surf shack. Its purple bodywork, contrasted with a white sunroof and black canvas detailing, gives it a cheerful, sun-faded aesthetic. The white LED light bar perched atop the roof doesn’t just look cool—it’s functional for those early dawn patrol sessions. Inside, Citroën keeps things eco-friendly with seat cushions and mats made from recycled wetsuits, along with storage bins and waterproof compartments designed with sandy gear in mind.

The Ami Buggy Rip Curl Vision is full of practical touches that speak the language of surfers. There’s a portable shower and changing mat, a roof rack and side mounts for surfboards, and even a banana pouch that attaches to the steering wheel for on-the-go storage. A waterproof bag for wet gear and a foldable passenger-side storage bin make sure no space goes to waste.

And because Citroën can’t resist a bit of whimsy, the accessories list includes a Citroën x Rip Curl surfboard, an Ami-shaped wax comb, and even a purple Bluetooth speaker that matches the car’s exterior hue.

Electric Freedom for the Next Generation

Underneath the surf-inspired shell, the Ami Buggy Rip Curl Vision shares its bones with the regular Citroën Ami, the brand’s quirky two-seat urban EV. The Ami is classified as a quadricycle, meaning it can be driven by teenagers as young as 14 in many European countries—no license required. Its 8-hp electric motor and roughly 45 km/h (28 mph) top speed won’t break any records, but that’s not the point.

This is mobility reimagined: compact, electric, and accessible. During the GromSearch finals near Hossegor, Citroën will supply a fleet of Amis and Buggies for young surfers’ transfers, while also offering public test drives. It’s a clever move—introducing the next generation to electric mobility in a way that feels like freedom, not compromise.

Sustainability, with a Smile

In a world where sustainability messaging often feels clinical, the Ami Buggy Rip Curl Vision manages to make eco-consciousness look fun. Floor mats from recycled wetsuits, modular components, and small-scale electric power all underscore a philosophy of light impact and creative reuse.

It’s less about zero emissions bragging rights and more about proving that environmental design can have personality—and purple paint.

A French Wave of Optimism

The Ami Buggy Rip Curl Vision isn’t a production car (at least not yet), but Citroën’s track record suggests this concept is more than vaporware. The brand has already experimented with limited runs of the Ami Buggy in France, all of which sold out in minutes. If this Rip Curl edition ever hits the market, expect it to be equally collectible.

Ultimately, this concept feels like a distillation of what Citroën does best: reimagining mobility with charm and purpose. It’s an urban runabout that thinks it’s a beach cruiser, built for a generation that values freedom over horsepower.

So while the Hossegor waves may rise and fall, the spirit behind this little EV endures—a reminder that adventure doesn’t always require an engine roaring at full throttle. Sometimes, it just needs a surfboard, a smile, and a silent ride down to the beach.

The Citroën Ami Buggy Rip Curl Vision is a micro-mobility concept with a macro sense of fun. It blends sustainability, design flair, and surfer-friendly functionality into a package that’s as accessible as it is aspirational. If Citroën’s goal was to capture the youthful energy of surfing in an EV, they’ve done it—with a wave and a wink.

Source: Stellantis

NEW CARS

Citroën Ami Dark Side: The Tiny Rebel Goes Matte Black for 2025

Citroën’s little electric cube has always marched—or rather, hummed—to the beat of its own motor. The Ami, launched in 2020, was never about following the rules of automotive design. It looked like something drawn straight out of a comic strip, a cheeky toy for the streets with the charm of a smiley emoji on wheels. Now, five years later, the French brand is embracing its mischievous streak once more with the Ami Dark Side, a Halloween-ready special edition that swaps its pastel hues for a matte black cloak and a bolder, more mature edge.

From Cartoon Cute to Dark Chic

The original Ami made urban mobility fun, approachable, and just a little absurd—in the best way. The 2025 restyle didn’t erase that personality, but it did give the tiny EV a grown-up makeover. The “Night Sepia” shade debuted earlier this year, softening the plastic bubble’s cartoon features with a bit more sophistication. The Dark Side, however, takes things to another level.

For the first time, the Ami is drenched in Black Night—a deep matte black finish that transforms its whole presence. White accents add sharp contrast: stickers, wheel trims, and graphic cube motifs give it a futuristic, almost digital vibe. The result? A car that can look rebellious or refined depending on its surroundings. It’s the Batmobile’s mischievous Parisian cousin—compact, electric, and wearing a grin instead of a scowl.

A New Face for the Familiar Smile

Citroën’s designers have sharpened Ami’s expression without losing its friendliness. The raised headlights now sit just under the windshield, framed by new black eyelid-like trims that make the car look more awake, more intentional. Between them, a molded “capsule” acts as a cheeky grin—this time with a matte black finish outlined in white. It’s subtle, but the effect is striking.

Out back, the new rear spoiler adds a hint of dynamism (and a splash of humor, because really—how fast can an Ami go?). The checkerboard wheel covers and door graphics nod to Citroën’s playful side, proving once again that even at 45 km/h, style matters.

Inside the Micro Batmobile

Step inside, and you’ll find Citroën hasn’t gone full goth. The Color Pack Dark Side introduces light gray accents and neatly stitched floor mats, adding brightness to the otherwise monochrome mood. The familiar smartphone-based infotainment setup remains—no screen, just your phone secured to the dash, running My Ami Play. From there, the Citroën Switch on the steering wheel handles music, navigation, and calls with surprisingly slick simplicity.

Practicality hasn’t been sacrificed either. Three modular storage boxes on the dashboard, a passenger bag hook, and nets for smaller items make the most of the tiny cabin. It’s minimalist, but clever.

Accessible, Electric, and Unapologetically Different

Underneath the special-edition flair, the Ami Dark Side is still the same lovable micro-EV: 100% electric, 75 km of range, a top speed of 45 km/h, and eligible to drive from as young as 14 in some countries. It’s as much an appliance as it is a vehicle—perfect for dense cities, short commutes, or anyone who simply wants to stand out in traffic.

With nearly 85,000 units sold since launch, Citroën’s gamble on radical simplicity has paid off. The Ami has become a pop-culture icon, the anti-car in a world obsessed with horsepower and hyper-efficiency. The Dark Side edition doubles down on that identity: a fashion statement for the electric age, equal parts eco and attitude.

Price and Availability

Starting at €8,890 in France and available across Europe—including Germany, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, and Italy—the Ami Dark Side remains one of the most affordable EVs you can buy. Orders open October 31, with deliveries set for January 2026. And yes, Citroën hasn’t forgotten the practical crowd: the My Ami Cargo and My Ami for All variants also get the Dark Side treatment.

The Ami Dark Side isn’t faster, bigger, or more capable than before—and that’s exactly the point. It’s a statement piece, a cultural object as much as a mobility tool. Citroën has once again managed to turn practicality into personality, proving that even the smallest EV on the road can have a big attitude.

Because sometimes, the dark side just looks better in matte black.

Source: Citroen