Citroen Tubik?

It's a van – but not as we know it. This amazing Citroen concept reinvents one of the firm’s most famous commercial vehicles.

Called the Tubik, it draws inspiration from the TUB and the Type H – which featured a pronounced nose, corrugated body panels and sliding doors. The Type H was produced between the Forties and Eighties, and was one of the simplest and most versatile vans in history. A total of 473,000 models were sold.

The Tubik takes those themes and adapts them for the 21st century, with seating for up to nine and an eco-friendly diesel hybrid powerplant.

As with the Type H, it has a nose that stands apart from the main body, while the windscreen pillars are reminiscent of the Type H’s two characteristic ridges. Concept car touches include a bold grille – as seen on the likes of the 2009 Revolte – plus 22-inch wheels and a mix of metallic grey paint for the bodywork and contrasting white at either end.

A door at the front gives access to the driving compartment, while the whole side of the vehicle lifts upwards to allow entry to the cabin.

In the back is a ‘lounge-style cocoon’ featuring felt seats, silk backrests and door panels, and a leather floor. At 4.8 metres long, the Tubik matches the Renault Grand Espace, but it’s far wider and taller. The nine-seat layout comprises individual chairs that can be arranged with occupants sitting one behind the other, face-to-face or semi-reclined.

Up front, the driver gets a black leather seat and starts the car via a fingerprint recognition system. There is also a head-up display screen and all-round parking cameras. Power comes from PSA Peugeot-Citroen’s HYbrid4 drivetrain, which uses a diesel engine to drive the front wheels and an electric motor for the rears.

Hydractive suspension automatically lowers the car at high speeds to improve aerodynamics and reduce fuel consumption. The Tubik isn’t set to go into production, but the ideas behind it could influence forthcoming large Citroens.