Different spirit for Citroen

Jun 22 2009 Patrick James

CITROEN is gearing up for a new generation of cars with a salute to the badge that made the firm famous in the past.

The offensive starts with an exclusive view of the new generation of DS models with the stunning looking DS Inside concept car.

Ironically the famous retro DS badge from the 1950s, 60s and 70s will now adorn a new, futuristic range of cars.

The car was displayed in a static concept format but will be formally unveiled to the world at the Frankfurt Motor Show in the autumn before going on sale early next year.

DS signifies Different Spirit and the car will become the DS3, the first in a new range of sporty, more upmarket cars from Citroen.

The concept has the look of a BMW MINI about it - a car it is looking to take on, but the Citroen is bigger, more streamlined and futuristic looking.

Neat touches like black chrome in the cabin, figure-hugging seats, thick carpet and privacy glass give the car an expensive feeling and interestingly, it is topped off with a pearlescent grey leather roof. Whether that feature makes it into production is a different question.

The car has a sporty steering wheel and the dash is also covered with the same leather material.

Citroen says the car, designed by Brit Mark Lloyd will deliver a powerful identity to the brand.

It will sit alongside Citroen's current range of medium sized cars, MPVs and vans.

If the car unveiled at Frankfurt is anything like the concept, it could be a showstopper.

If the DS is the shape of the future, a current model is also making waves.

The Electric Car Corporation, specialise in, you've guessed it, electric cars and has chosen the C1 city car as the vehicle for its electric battery technology.

The C1 Ev'ie has all the driving, handling, safety and comfort characteristics as the conventional model but is powered by a state-of-the-art, powerful lithium battery that supplies power to a big electric motor.

This means there is no conventional engine or gearbox and the gearstick simply selects forward or reverse and you depress the accelerator.

The car is virtually silent except for some tyre and wind noise, normally disguised by the engine.

This is a proper city car that can reach 60mph and has a range of 75 miles. Charging is a breeze. You simply plug it into a 13 amp domestic socket overnight and a full charge is estimated to cost around 95p.

Cost saving are enormous, which mitigates the starting price of £16,850.

The car has no petrol or diesel costs, no road tax and has low insurance and maintenance costs. Instead of looking like something out of Star Wars, it looks like a normal Citroen.

Although technology is taking centre stage at Citroen, the French car maker is also showcasing a range of updated models including the new Nemo Multispace passenger van that sits below the similar, but bigger Berlingo Multispace which now comes with a seven-seat option.

Both offer enormous space and practicality and a choice of engines to suit most budgets.

Also taking a bow is the new C3 Picasso. As the name implies, this is the smaller sibling to the impressive C4 Picasso and appears to tick all the same boxes, but has even more stylish looks than its big brother.

The car is cavernous for its type and hugely practical for the family driver.

It offers refined and economical petrol and diesel engines and clever little styling points like glass in the windscreen pillars for better vision.