Citroen steals show in style

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

The new Citroen C5, the replacement for the Xantia sedan, is the official French star of the Paris Motor Show.

The C5 has been the subject of much conjecture ever since Citroen promised a couple of years ago to go back to its quirky origins.

Show-goers flocked to the unveiling. The car has an all-new chassis and a revised hydraulic suspension system, said to offer unparalleled ride comfort. Its flowing lines are an example of the best of French design.

The line-up of engines includes four-cylinder petrol and diesel and a top-end V6.

The French carmaker is aiming to lift its profile in many world markets with the C5 and a list of new models.

Three new Citroens will go on sale in New Zealand next year - the C5, the mid-sized Picasso people-mover and a revised Xsara sedan and estate.

The first example of the Picasso - a huge success in Europe where demand exceeds supply - is expected before Christmas.

Citroen will replace its passenger car line-up within two years as it seeks to further establish itself in the Asia-Pacific region, one of the world's major growth areas.

Part of the plan includes a replacement for the Saxo, which sits on parent company Peugeot's 206. The new model will be based on the Plurial concept car.

Also attracting much interest is the appearance of the car all Europe is talking about - the 21st century version of the 2CV, codenamed the C3.The C3 is expected to rekindle interest in novelty models, in much the same way as the retro-styled Volkswagen Beetle and Chrysler PT Cruiser did in the United States.

Citroen is expected push the C5 estate more than it did with the Xantia load-carrier.

The Xantia is specially built and as a result the costs of producing it are higher.

But the C5 estate will come off the assembly line, just as the Xsara estate does now.

The production change is likely to give Citroen options, like a four-wheel-drive variant.

The last 4WD model of any significance was the BX of the 1980s - and that was one of Citroen's success stories.