Citroën is making business and family motoring even more alluring as it lifts the wraps off the brand new C5 in Paris.
Unveiled to the world in both saloon and estate versions, the new C5 benefits from a completely new approach by Citroën's designers who have combined Teutonic-like levels of quality, styling and handling with the highest standards of comfort, safety and in-car technology for which the Company is already renowned.
The all-new C5 conveys a real sense of prestige, with the state-of-the-art design in a classic thoroughbred saloon.
Following the success of the innovative C4 Picasso, Citroën's new C5 also introduces a range of new features such as a second-generation fixed-centred controls steering wheel, a seat back massage function and a choice of suspension set-ups.
Set to arrive in the UK in early 2008, the new C5 embodies the progress that Citroën has made in recent years, and will more than satisfy the requirements of buyers of large cars in terms of both quality and reliability. A powerful addition to the Company's impressive car line-up, it ensures that Citroën is strongly represented in the large family car sector, one of the UK's biggest market sectors with over a third of a million sales last year.
With its long, sleek body, sculpted lines and high waist, the new C5's striking styling gives it a true sense of status. The front end is characterised by the large air-intakes and long incisive headlamps that flank the prominent chrome chevrons and assert the C5's identity. From the back, the distinctive concave window and two-part boomerang lights give it a purposeful, determined impression.
With a view to offering the optimum mix of comfort and dynamics, the C5 has been developed to offer a choice of two suspension set-ups based on the running gear of the ultra-smooth C6 executive saloon. The metallicsuspension strikes an excellent balance between comfort and road-holding and features a double wishbone layout at the front and multilink set-up at the rear.
Citroën's acclaimed Hydractive 3 Plusself-levelling suspension features springing and damping that adjusts instantaneously to offer a cosseting ride, whatever the road conditions. A soft mode provides optimum comfort while a firmer mode delivers greater body control. A "Sport" mode can also be selected for an even more dynamic ride.
The current C5 is one of the safest cars on the road and its successor is well set to follow in its tracks. New C5 is equipped with the very latest Citroën safety technology, including up to nine airbags, providing the occupants with reassuring levels of protection in the event of an accident. The stiffened body and cabin structure incorporates upper and lower absorbers at the front end to soak up the energy released in the event of impact.
The new C5 is the first in the range to be equipped with a collapsible pedal assembly - in the event of an impact the brake and clutch pedals retract into the floor of the footwell to limit injury to the driver's legs and feet. A retractable steering column is also fitted.
The driver and passengers are protected by front, side and curtain airbags, together with the option of additional rear side airbags. The fixed central hub of the steering wheel ensures that the optimally-shaped driver's airbag is always deployed at the right angle, while a knee airbag provides improved protection for the driver's legs.
To meet the full range of driver needs and preferences, the new C5 is available with a wide choice of engines.
The petrol powerplants include 127bhp 1.8i 16V and 143bhp 2.0i 16V units,while there are four HDi diesel engines – HDi 110, HDi 138, HDi 173 and HDi V6 208 units – each fitted with a Diesel Particulate Filter System that virtually eliminates particle emissions.
A selection of manual or automatic gearboxes is offered.
