Spied undisguised, the...
Spied undisguised, the forthcoming Picasso replacement reveals exactly how the French firm intends to develop its bold new design philosophy with a daring MPV.
Featuring styling inspired by the C-SportLounge concept which appeared at this year"s Frankfurt Motor Show, the newcomer promises to be one of the boldest-looking machines in its class. As our picture of its face inside Issue 883 reveals, the famous double-chevron badge has been further enhanced to run right across the bonnet, and is flanked by two generously sized headlamps.
However, in a break from the current line-up, the Picasso"s successor boasts much softer edges than other new-look Citroens - giving its family-friendly appearance a major boost. Initially, two basic editions of the MPV will be available, with five and seven seats. Front and rear doors will open conventionally, as Citroen is thought to have shunned the idea of sliding ones similar to those seen on Mazda"s 5.
Meanwhile, handling and safety promise to be impressive. Insiders admit the newcomer is engineered around the same platform that underpins the C4, which scored a maximum five stars in this year"s Euro NCAP crash tests. Tipped to go on sale early next year, the MPV will use petrol and diesel engines including a muscular 180bhp 2.0-litre turbo. A highoutput 150bhp 2.2 HDi oil-burner is also being developed, and is expected to offer performance and economy in equal measure.
Although exact UK spec is still to be confirmed, safety features include Citroen"s award-winning lane departure warning system, which monitors road markings and makes the driver"s seat vibrate if the car accidentally leaves its designated route. But it is the versatile fold-flat seating arrangement that looks set to take pride of place, particularly in the Vauxhall Zafira-rivalling seven-passenger variant.
Prices for this model are likely to be at least í‚á£1,500 more than on the current car. However, Citroen promises it will continue to build the existing Picasso for at least two years. It seems the company is still keen on its old master!