Citroen of the future

Citroen's stylish, go anywhere C-Buggy would double as an off-road vehicle.

Citroen's C-Buggy concept is its interpretation of a futuristic two-seater, go-anywhere car.

The study will be unveiled at the Madrid Motor Show next week alongside a display highlighting safe driving tips from Citroen's World Rally Championship driver, Sebastien Loeb.

The C-Buggy is a funky derivative of the C-Airplay concept styled by British designer Mark Lloyd and unveiled at the Bologna motor show in Italy last December.

It has no roof, windscreen or windows - which Lloyd says adds to its "carefree charm" - and its wide wheel arches, glass door portholes and sump guard hint at its off-road credentials.
The company will also unveil its new diesel engine, a 128kW (173bhp) twin-turbo, four-cylinder unit of around two-litre capacity that Citroen says will set new standards in flexibility, driveability and fuel consumption.

The engine is destined for C4 and C5 models and is expected to be mated to a new six-speed electronic gearbox.

One of the C4 models to get the new oil-burner will be a diesel-electric hybrid, which Citroen expects to put into production in 2010.

Tests of diesel hybrid prototypes using an older 1.6-litre engine coupled to an electric motor/generator and battery pack revealed fuel consumption of 3.4 litres/100km (83mpg).

Loeb's safe driving tips, meanwhile, include checking tyres regularly, staying at least four seconds behind the car in front, using headlights on in low-light conditions, and slowing down.

"Ease off the accelerator," he says. "Everything is easier to cope with if you just slow down a little."