Citroën C10: The ancestor of MPVs

Compact, aerodynamic and ultra-light: that's the C10, an avant-garde concept from the late 1950s.

Photo by: Citroën

By: Alberto Carmone

Dec 21, 2024 at 2:05am ET

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Citroën has always been synonymous with models with rather original shapes. Many of them have gone down in history, including the legendary 2CV and the iconic DS. As well as their iconic design, these cars, and many others introduced throughout history, featured pioneering technical solutions, such as the hydropneumatic suspension fitted to the DS.

Another non-conformist model is the C10, a 1956 prototype that anticipated the MPV concept by several decades.

A featherweight for the whole family

At 3.84 m long, 1.40 m high and just 1.55 m wide, the C10's aerodynamic shape was inspired by the world of aeronautics. Its Cx of just 0.258 is almost a record for the 1950s and can be considered very low even by today's standards, with many modern electric cars boasting a coefficient of around 0.20-0.22.

Citroën C10 concept (1956)

Photo : Citroën

But aerodynamics are not the only talent of the Citroën, which also relies heavily on weight. On the scales, the C10 weighs just 382 kg, almost a third of a current C3. An impressive figure also achieved thanks to an aluminium body and an extremely minimalist interior.

Focus on the essentials

Despite its small size, the Citroën can comfortably accommodate four adults. The two bench seats have no seatbelts or headrests, while the instrumentation is reduced to the bare minimum, with a tiny dial showing the engine speed.

Citroen C10 Concept (1956), the dashboard

Photo by: Citroën

Based on the mechanics of the 2CV, it can reach a speed of 110 km/h (68 mph). And if you want to hear the sound of its engine, you can 'turn the key' virtually on Citroën's official prototype website.

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Comments

Unfortunately, the C10 did not become a production model, but some of its solutions, such as hydropneumatic suspension, found their way onto later Citroëns.