Green for go from Citroen

The hybrid Citroen combines a top speed of 250km/h with consumption of about 6.2 litres/100km (45mph).

Citroen says the elegant design lines of its latest concept, the C-Metisse, prove that a high-performance car can also be green.

It says the hybrid car, to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show this month, combines a top speed of 250km/h with the ability to consume around 6.2 litres/100km (45mph).

The four-door C-Metisse explores new paths in car design and driving pleasure, says the French carmaker, thanks to the gull-wing front and rear doors.

It has been developed to offer leading environmental credentials.

It has a HDi V6 turbodiesel engine, coupled with a diesel particulate filter, and two separate electric motors on the rear wheels, capable of developing a huge 400Nm of additional torque. Around town it will run in Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mode.

It is also low for a grand-tourer of its size, at just 1.24m high, which contrasts with its length of 4.74m and width of 2m.

The front doors open gull-wing style, while the rear doors spin round to provide unusual accessibility for a car of such a low height.

Each passenger benefits from independent air-conditioning controls, individual roof lighting and plenty of space.

The car is started using fighter-pilot-style buttons on the roof console. The central console is divided into five sections, within which are located key functions. It extends into the cabin via three illuminated strips which inform passengers of the current mode of hybrid propulsion.

Sound effects accompany certain driver actions and indicate deployment of the airfoils.

A suspended head restraint and electric adjustment of the steering wheel and aluminium pedal assembly optimise the driver's view, while maintaining passenger space behind.

The front headlamps are equipped with a row of LEDs that light up progressively, depending on the steering-wheel angle and vehicle speed, to give optimal lighting and increased driver awareness on corners.

Powering the front wheels is a 155kW (208bhp) V6 HDi diesel engine mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox.

The two electric motors at the rear wheels can provide four-wheel-drive capability, each delivering up to 400Nm of torque and 15kW (20bhp).

Particular attention has also been paid to reducing the weight of the vehicle so it requires less power to run, uses smaller amounts of fuel and emits fewer pollutants.

The carbon-fibre body helps reduce the weight of the C-Metisse to 1400kg, including batteries.