Review – Driving the Citroën Ami Buggy II (2023)
In late 2021, Citroën introduced the Ami Buggy Concept. That was a rugged off-road version of the regular Citroën Ami. Complete with thick off-road wheels, protective mesh for the light units and all sorts of accessories that can come in handy when you leave the beaten track. In 2022, Citroën came out with a limited edition production version.
Citroën Ami Buggy concept in production
The “Citroën My Ami Buggy Ultra Limited Edition,” as the production version is officially called, was a bit less extreme, though. The fat off-road tires gave way to regular steel rims, but they retained their distinctive gold-like color. Most of the off-road accessories also disappeared, but the regular doors were replaced with rod construction. The production version was only for sale in France and only 50 were produced. It was a success: The special model sold out completely within 18 minutes.
Extended due to success: Citroën Ami Buggy II
Due to its great popularity, a new print run of 1,000 copies followed this year. This second version formally listens to the name “Citroën My Ami Buggy II. This second edition is identical to the first, but it lacks the special badge on the dashboard. Thus, there is still some distinction from the original Buggy variant. The second print run was also offered in more countries, but the Netherlands was not among them. Despite its price of about 10,000 euros, the Citroën Ami Buggy II sold out within ten hours.
Driving the Citroën Ami Buggy II
AutoRAI.nl visited Citroën to drive a number of new models with electric powertrains. As a bonus, the Citroën Ami Buggy II also turned out to be present. Sold out or not, we still couldn’t resist taking the trolley for a spin. We may make the streets of a French village unsafe with it.
Citroën Ami specifications
First, here are the key specifications. The Citroën Ami has a power output of 6 kW (8 hp). The top speed is capped at 45 km/h, making it a moped for the law and therefore you can drive it with a moped license (and thus from age 16). The WLTP range is 75 kilometers. You can charge the 5.5 kWh battery at a regular power outlet. From 0 to 80 percent charging takes four hours, full charging takes five hours.
Citroën Amy Buggy II: this is how it drives
How does such a Citroën Ami Buggy drive? Like being in a souped-up golf cart, actually. The open sides of the Buggy variant reinforce that idea. Then again, it is a golf cart with much better seats. Behind the wheel is a pretty good seating position. Thanks to some adjustment options, your height doesn’t matter much for that.
We bump along a gravel path to the public road and that’s where the fun begins. The eight horsepower is not much, but the Ami also weighs very little. So it still gets off the ground quite smoothly. The top speed of 45 mph is not much either, but in the village that is our test course, it is fast enough. Corners can soon be taken at “plank throttle,” turning the Ami from a golf cart almost into a low-powered kart. With uphill it does sometimes have some trouble, especially if the climb has to be from a standstill. We are convinced that with a little more power, the Ami would really be a fun little car. A Citroën version of the Opel Rocks GSE we devised would really not be a crazy idea. Do be careful in the turns, though.
By the way, the steering takes some getting used to the first few turns. The Citroën Ami does not have power steering. Of course, this is not necessary for such a light car, but it does make the Ami steer just a bit heavier than the Citroën passenger cars we just stepped out of. Moreover, the Ami’s steering has hardly any centering effect, so you also have to actively steer out of the corner.
The open sides of the Citroën Ami Buggy make the driving experience even more intense. What is noticeable is that the passenger, who sits a little farther back than the driver, is much more in the wind. That’s a bit chilly on this autumn day, but it shouldn’t spoil the fun.
Citroën Ami is coming to the Netherlands!
There is also news about the Citroën Ami that is relevant to us. In fact, the regular Citroën Ami is coming to the Netherlands officially soon! Until now, only the nearly identical Opel Rocks-e was delivered in the Netherlands. Now that Fiat has also presented its own version, the Topolino, it has been decided to offer the three brand variants in all countries. Exactly what the Citroën Ami will cost in the Netherlands is not yet known. The Opel Rocks Electric, as the model is now called, is available from 8,699 euros. We expect the Citroën to be at the same price point.
