The 2022 Citroen Oli concept introduced the brand’s new styling language, but it turns out it was more than a design exercise. The next generation of the Citroen C4, which is already under development, will reportedly look like the quirky concept, with only a few toned-down features.

The current Citroen C4 was originally introduced in June 2020, and received a mid-lifecycle in October 2024, including the longer C4 X bodystyle derivative. The crossover with the aerodynamic silhouette has a hard time competing with well-established rivals in the compact segment like the VW Golf and the Toyota Corolla, making Citroen look for ways to further distinguish it.

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According to French media L’Argus, the Citroen Oli concept is a good candidate for evolving into the next C4, with its boxy SUV stance and funky elements deemed quirky enough to help it stand out from the crowd.

The concept has already served as an inspiration for the design of the C3 and C3 Aircross, the facelifted C4 and C4 X, and the upcoming C5 Aircross. Still, the new C4 is expected to be a lot closer in terms of footprint and proportions and reportedly end up with around 70% of the concept into the production version.

The C4 will most likely trade the flat and vertical windshield of the Oli with a more aerodynamic solution in favor of efficiency. The sloping roofline and the fastback-style tail might be carried over, although we don’t expect Citroen to go as far as to keep the concept’s pickup conversion abilities. Other changes could include redesigned bumpers, smaller wheels, and more conventional lighting units.

The new model will most likely ride on the Smart Car architecture, which already underpins the Citroen C3 and C3 Aircross, the Fiat Grande Panda, and the Opel Frontera. This would allow Citroen to offer a choice between EV and ICE powertrain options, continuing the example of the current model that rides on the CMP / e-CMP platform. It would also result in competitive pricing, potentially making it one of the cheapest offerings in the segment.

L’Argus reports that the Citroen concept was originally intended to result in a production model, that would be manufactured in Slovakia alongside a Peugeot derivative. Plans were frozen in 2021, but the new CEO, Thierry Koskas, gave new life to the project in 2023, to reposition Citroen as a budget-oriented brand.

According to the latest information, the new Citroen C4 could arrive in 2027, which sounds like a stretch given that the first examples of the facelifted C4 will reach dealers in early 2025. French media speculate that Stellantis might keep the costs low by producing the Citroen C4 in Morocco, alongside a reborn Fiat Multipla sibling.

The Morocco facility, is currently home to the Citroen Ami, Opel Rocks Electric, and Fiat Topolino, with a capacity of 200,000 units per year. However, thanks to a recent investment it has been upgraded to produce vehicles based on the Smart Car architecture, which will eventually increase its production capacity to 450,000 units per year.