Citroen C5 Airscape (2007): first official pictures

By Chris Chilton

First Official Pictures

20 August 2007 11:27

That’s no Citroen C5!

No it isn’t, but it could be next year's C5 because the Airscape concept gives us a few clues to what we should expect from the forthcoming Mondeo fighter. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s deal with the silly concept stuff that won't be heading to showrooms first: the carbon-fibre folding hardtop. This is one strange roof. Not only does it have an integral sunroof, but it's also covered in cloth to mimic the look of premium European cabrios still using old-tech roofs.

We wondered that too, although the Airscape was in fact designed in-house. But as the upper medium saloon segment is dominated by cars like the Mondeo and Passat, and the class above by BMW and Audi, it makes sense for Citroën to try and tap into that demand with the new C5. So the Airscape’s swept-back lamps and double chevron grille are backed up by a pair of assertive creases in the bonnet and a heavily sculpted swage line. It's more BMW than Citroën. And while there’s a hint of C1 about the rear, there’s a suggestion of Volkswagen Eos too, although the VW doesn’t have the Airscape’s dramatically curved rear window - which you can’t see because Citroën won’t release any more pictures until Frankfurt. Same with the interior although we do know it has the C4’s hubless wheel but with touch sensitive buttons.

By Chris Chilton