Bartek Sikorski

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

It's the Citroen that's heaven sent! Not since the introduction of the legendary DS - a model with a name that plays on the French word for Goddess - has a car combined the latest technology with such futuristic looks.

There's no doubt that out in the open, the newcomer looks every inch the stunner it did under the bright lights of the expo

The C-Métisse is a show-stopper that takes inspiration from the stars. But is the supercar - which debuted at last year's Paris Motor Show - as good to drive as it is to look at? Auto Express got behind the wheel to find out.

We caught up with the futuristic diesel-electric hybrid at a top-secret test track in France. There's no doubt that out in the open, the newcomer looks every inch the stunner it did under the bright lights of the expo.

The C-Métisse sits only millimetres from the tarmac, and the low-slung bodywork gives more than a hint about the look of the forthcoming replacement for the Citroen C5.

Penned by British designer Steve Platt, it's an amazing creation, and is a testament to the firm's new-found creative confidence. Platt, from Hayle in Cornwall, explained: "I'm not a sci-fi nut, but when it came to creating this car, I was heavily influenced by how movie designers achieve the look of robots and spaceships."

But despite its 'out-of-this-world' styling, the C-Métisse is actually a conventional four-door hatchback - and it's big, too. Despite being only 1,240mm tall, it measures 4,740mm long and 2,000mm wide. That makes it a similar length to the current C5, but nearly 300mm wider.

With its plunging bonnet, chiselled rear end and concave back window - which has taken inspiration from the manufacturer's C6 limousine - the car has an off-the-wall design. But it's purposeful, too, with large air vents and huge 21-inch alloy wheels that give it a look that wouldn't be out of place on a Porsche or Ferrari.

If you think it's crazy from the out­side, just wait until you see the interior - as this is the most spectacular part of the car. The drama starts from the moment you open the gullwing doors. All of the major controls are grouped together in a series of rotary knobs around the steering wheel. The set-up is similar to BMW's iDrive cabin control system, and the idea is to reduce the amount of switchgear on display, and make the car's functions easier to manage.

Science fiction-inspired details are everywhere. From the roof-mounted headrest to the overhead starter button and skeletal centre console, every­thing feels very futuristic.

The C-Métisse's four individual chairs are trim­med in white leather, and they are extremely comfortable. Each even has its own air-conditioning system, which can be adjusted using controls mounted on the doors.

Fire the engine, and the expected roar of the 2.7-litre V6 HDi powerplant is strangely absent. The newcomer's clever hybrid transmission means the oil-burning engine doesn't start driving the front wheels until the car has reached 20mph. Up to that point, all forward motion comes from the electrically powered rear wheels.

With 208bhp and 400Nm of torque on offer, acceleration is extremely impressive. The sprint from 0-60mph is dispatched in only 6.2 seconds, while the top speed is a claimed 156mph. Yet at the same time, Citroen says that CO2 emissions are low, and fuel economy is a frugal 45mpg. In short, this is the kind of concept car you really could live with every day.

However, for the time being, the C-Métisse is a one-off machine. So how long will it be before we can drive one home? Bosses at the firm are making no promises, yet with the new C5 pencilled in to appear at next March's Geneva Motor Show, it might be worth getting down to your local dealer early. If the next-generation family hatchback looks anything like the C-Métisse, demand is certain to be very strong indeed.

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Mirage77

God it's an interesting car alright, if that's the future of hatchbacks I'm in!

Hypersonic

Very interesting ...I would love Citroën to produce unconventional cars again.

shonguiz

As always with french carmakers and specialy citroen, Concepts are fabulos but real cars are hideous.