CITROËN AUSTRALIA

THE CITROËN C5: Styling and body design Breaking away from conventional saloon styling, the New Citroën C5 takes a major step forward in concepts of saloon design.

The C5's unusual dimensions and exceptional height are the most visible sign of the progress made in saloon design, with a view to meeting new customer requirements. The C5 does not simply offer all the advantages of a saloon, it goes one step further with its new and exceptionally spacious structural design.

The styling of the C5 is the work of Citroën’s Styling Centre at Vélizy, on the outskirts of Paris.

A vehicle of generous proportions, the C5 conveys quality through its styling and great presence with its long wheelbase and wide track enabling the C5 to evoke power, vitality and strength.

Rounding out this general impression, other details place the C5 squarely at the top end of the market: stylish front and rear lights, wheel and door handle design, exterior body fittings.

The front end of the C5 marks a break with conventional saloon styling through the choice of proportions. The lines are clean, with no sharp break between the bonnet and windscreen. The design is contemporary, aerodynamic and sporty. These characteristics are underlined by the large headlamps of complex shape and surface, which draw attention to the grille on which the double chevron occupies a prominent position. The contours of the bonnet and front wings, and the solid strength of the bumpers put the finishing touches to the whole.

The rear end of the C5 reminds that this is a comfortable, spacious, high-status car with all the functional features expected of a truly great tourer. The boot, which is conventional in appearance, is typical of this category of vehicle, the separation between the cabin and luggage compartment is clearly marked. Nevertheless, the C5 has all the advantages of a tailgate, with its large opening and easy loading. These functions are very much appreciated by users, even if they do not necessarily want them to be immediately visible.

The profile of the C5 – strong but protective, aerodynamic and spacious – captures the strong points of the car. Fluid lines running from the front bumper to the rear end of the roof give an impression of continuity. The design underpins the dynamic power and air penetration of the C5, while the height of the doors and the large glazed area point to visibility and interior space. This impression is reinforced by the third side window. The robust design and superlative safety of the C5 are reflected in the contours of the metal parts and side mouldings.

With its clean, harmonious, well shaped lines, the interior styling of the C5 is spacious, modern and vibrant. A double curve gives structure to the dashboard and clearly defines the areas dedicated to the driver, the passenger and to the functions shared by all the occupants. The inner panels of the doors are also curved, giving the interior of the C5 a sense of homogeneity.

The upholstery reflects the focus of the styling. The patterns of the velour and leather fabrics are both relaxing and modern. The luxurious appearance and feel of the materials show their quality. Considerable attention has been given to their use in the car: the choice of materials (slush-moulded upper dashboard, luxury feel window surround, soft-look paintwork, metal door handles, chunky, illuminated air-vent knobs), and the quality of the seats and inner panels of the doors clearly position the C5 as a car in which comfort is of supreme importance.

The Citroën C5 is exceptionally spacious compared with other vehicles in its segment. The interior, for example, offers elbow room of 1.54 m at the front and 1.52 m at the rear, a useful width, frequently found in vehicles from the next segment up. However, the main improvement offered by the C5 lies in its height (1.48 m), which is exceptional for a vehicle of this type.

Styling engineers used this feature to rethink the interior architecture, drawing upon the Citroen’s experience in the design of its most recent vehicles. Although the driving position is higher and more vertical than usual, headroom remains generous. With its semi-raised driving position and useful length of 1.72 m, the C5 ranks among the most spacious vehicles at the top end of the range. Features such as the flat floor pan, providing extra foot space, make sure that all the passengers have room to relax, in both the front and rear. The vast living area comes with generous luggage space and a huge, easy-to-access boot.

The boot offers a capacity of 456 litres with significant height under the parcel shelf (55 cm). The distance between the wheel arches is optimized by the compact dimensions of the suspension system. With the cleverly designed boot, the rear parcel shelf can be stored vertically against the back of the rear seat.

The C5 combines record-beating living space with a generous array of storage options. The many convenient and roomy storage compartments also contribute to the pleasure of travel.

The glovebox has a chilled compartment has a capacity of 17 litres and the lid can be used to store glasses, pens and notes. On the console, a central dashboard compartment can hold two cans or everyday objects such as a mobile phone.

The phone can be recharged on a 12V socket on the central console. A cubby to the left of the driver can hold gloves and a bunch of keys. Both front doors are equipped with two large bins, of which one has a lid. The rear doors are also fitted with a roomy, open pockets. The storage compartment in the rear console is removable. It can be used as an ashtray, a cubby or a bin. Also provided are a cup-holder on the driver’s side, a central armrest with a cubby at the rear and a sliding can-holder. Two additional compartments in the side of the boot enhance the functional convenience of the car.

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