Citroen Type Holidays Concept: A Modern Wolf in Retro Sheep’s Clothing

These past three years have seen the RV market explode due to a combination of factors, including the international health crisis and the wave of restrictions it prompted. Trying to find alternative ways of travel went hand in hand with emerging digital nomadism, downsizing, and raised environmental awareness.

As of mid-2023, manufacturers are reporting figures reverting to pre-2020 values as the bubble is bursting. That's not to say that the vanlife slash wanderlust phenomenon is going anywhere: families will continue to travel, and digital nomads will continue working on the road, so demand remains high.

Citroen boasts of being the second largest supplier of motorhome-type vehicles in Europe and has plans to further expand onto the RV market. They're not saying yet what these plans might be, but they do have a most adorable teaser for them. It's called the Citroen Type Holidays, and it's a concept that would best be described as a modern wolf in retro sheep's clothing. Don't judge a book by its cover, and all that. This vintage-looking van wants to be a most comfortable and modern home for four.

Inspired by the iconic and very popular (in Europe) Type H, which was in production between 1947 and 1981), the Type Holidays aims to "take the art of adventure travel to new heights." It boasts the gray ribbed exterior of its muse, with a square front end but a very modern interior, with all the creature comforts of a mobile home, which renders it ideal for a family of four.

Just to be clear, the Type Holidays is a concept, though not a virtual one. It's a one-off and is presumably a functional one.

It was presented in late August at the 2023 Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf, Germany, and serves as a showcase for what Citroen has in store for a new range of campers that will be detailed soon, reportedly by the year's end. Citroen does say this, though: whereas the Type Holidays' super-cute exterior will remain a one-off, that interior will also be found in future campervans.

The concept is based on the SpaceTourer, with kitting by Slovenian specialist Bravia Mobile. The result is a camper that can sleep four people and provide the basics for an extended stay out or that could maybe work for one or a couple of travelers as a long-term solution for vanlife.

Type Holidays stands out from afar for the neo-retro styling that features an angular front and the gray exterior that looks as if made of corrugated metal. Two sliding doors and the tailgate allow the camper to open completely to the outside, letting fresh air in and offering occupants surrounding views of whatever locale they're parked at.

As gorgeous – and cute – as the exterior is, it's the interior that matters. When traveling for leisure or living on the road, you can do without the cutest van, but you can't do without a functional one. Type Holidays is functional to a T, including a small kitchen and modular furniture that ensures versatility for activities of all moments of the day.

For example, the front seats swivel to face the interior at dinner time, creating a dining area for all four occupants. Pop the roof to get standing height for doing the dishes. Bring down the table to join the two benches, and you get a two-person comfy bed with two extra berths in the pop-up extension. Remove the chunky benches, and you get space to haul cargo with the van.

The Type Holidays is "inspired by the idea of freedom and sharing," but is designed with a keen eye to detail and aesthetic considerations so that you get a camper that might qualify for glamping – at least according to Citroen. Today's vanlifers might take exception with that statement since there's no toilet or shower, except for the outdoor shower glimpsed in the video presentation available below.

Citroen didn't detail the specifics of the build, and there's no word on any plans in this sense. However, they do mention that Bravia Mobile supplied the concept with a Webasto heating system and a complete galley, including a sink, fridge, and cooker.

This camper "heralds a more powerful commitment from [Citroen]" to the RV industry, which includes the promise of comfort, spaciousness, ease of operation, the minimum for life on the road, and a compact form factor. The association with the vintage Type H goes beyond the exterior design; it brings to mind a time when a van was all a family needed for the perfect vacation.