Yahoo Autos I'm In Love With Citroën's Latest Concept
If there's one thing Citroën managed to prove with its funky C4 Cactus crossover is that great design doesn't need to cost you a lot of money. With the French brand now wishing to deploy its "Be Different, Feel Good" promise in the whole segment, the CXPERIENCE is here to give us a hint of what Citroën believes "a new executive hatchback with international reach" should look like. Not that they could afford to build such a thing.
The CXPERIENCE measures 191 inches long and 79 inches wide. It's got a long wheelbase (118 inches) with short overhangs and a low roof at 53 inches tall. As all concept cars, Citroën's "Mizuiro" green wonder also rolls on 22-inch wheels to get that stance production cars could never afford to have. It's powered by a plug-in hybrid drivetrain with "250-300 horsepower" and comes with an electric range of 37 miles.
The exterior is a mixture of high-tech design and aerodynamic wizardry. The car's got controlled air intakes integrated in its front bumpers, and mobile flaps designed to open and close on either side depending on what suits your needs the most. To top off the aero package, an active wing is integrated into the concave rear window.
Stepping inside through the rear-hinged autoclave doors that rise to the top of the roof and open to a 90 degree angle (in line with the wheels), you end up in a cabin that Citroën believes provides the brightest and most ergonomic space a car can, with enough entertainment options to keep all occupants happy.
The centerpiece of the dash is a 19-inch rectangular touch screen that can split into 1/3 – 2/3 or 2/3 – 1/3 or full screen modes, enabling the driver to control other devices (like gates) from the car as well. The center console houses a dedicated smartphone stand with inductive-charging, while passengers in the back seats get a tablet that can be used to adjust the seats and air conditioning as well as for media sharing and streaming. The CXPERIENCE is also packed with cameras, not only giving the driver a 360-degree view, but also recording whatever you see on the road ahead.
As if Citroën's famously comfortable ride wouldn't be enough, the concept's seats are made from flexible shape-memory foam, surrounded by multiple storage compartments and a full sized panoramic roof above for that "living room feel."
PSA's current plan is to bring Peugeot up to Volkswagen's European quality (and price) levels while the DS brand satisfies luxury buyers with new unique models. Citroën is destined to acts as the group's budget brand, sort of like Skoda does for VW, but with a funky, French twist that will make their cars the most joyful to own. That's not a bad plan, but one that makes sure Citroën will never build "a new executive hatchback with international reach" , unless they can full off one with a DS badge up front.
Either way, we're up for such a hatchback.
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