Citroen C5 Airscape

When a car company unveils a car that actually moves and features technology that is just a hop-skip-and-jump from production reality, you know it's more than just an abstraction.

Such is the case with the Citroen C5 Airscape. It's based on the C5, but with a four-place convertible body and Citroen's current corporate look as particularly evinced in the C4.

In building the concept car, which will be introduced to the public at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show, Citroen was aiming for a modern day reincarnation of the DS convertible of the early sixties.

As with the DS in its day, the C5 Airscape could be a showcase for new technological features that will filter down to other models in due course.

For the record, the C5 Airscape seats four, runs a V6 diesel in a hybrid drive configuration and features a premium traction control system for snow and icy conditions.

The engine, which can also run on bio-diesel, develops 150kW of power and 440Nm of torque. It integrates the alternator and starter functions, combining these two with super-capacitors which can store and release large amounts of energy for short periods.

At speeds under 6km/h, the engine will cut out and then re-start once the driver releases the brake. Power scavenged from deceleration and braking is used to run the electrical accessories, like air conditioning and audio.

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