Sharp as a tack, and just about as small.
This is an installment in a series of posts looking back on show cars that we feel deserved a little more attention than they got. If you have a suggestion for a Forgotten Concept topic, please shoot us a line or leave a comment below.
Citroën Karin Prototype
First Seen
1980 Paris Motor Show
Description
Butterfly-door coupe design study
Designer
Trevor Fiore
Sales Pitch
“Highlights Citroën’s willingness to think outside the box.”
Details
First seen at the 1980 Paris Motor Show, the Citroën Karin was purely a design study. Commissioned at the last minute, the Karin was intended to fill a void at the show left by the brand’s lack of new products.
The Karin was design by Trevor Fiore, and per Citroën demonstrated the maker’s willingness to “think outside the box.” Unique features included top-hinged butterfly doors, and 3-passenger seating highlighted by the center driver’s seat.
The Karin is smaller than it appears. At 150-inches in length the concept car is fully 4 inches shorter than a current-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata. The Karin is 7 inches wider, however. As it was never intended for production, the Karin was not seen again after its 1980 auto-show tour.
CG Says:
We applaud all concept cars that challenge design norms. That said, the Karin is pretty much useless as anything but a concept. Given the car’s extreme bodyside slope (often referred to by design types as “tumblehome”), we can’t image that the side passenger seats would accommodate even the smallest adults.
And, while we appreciate all the glass, we think it unlikely the Karin could ever be crash certified. The sharp and angular styling does conjure vehicles seen in period science-fiction movies, and that’s cool with us. Question: Why stop at just six headlights?
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Karin Concept Pictures
(Click below for enlarged images)