Citroen reveals C-Metisse hybrid

The Paris motor show doesn't open its door for a few weeks and already Citroen has us drooling with its C-Metisse concept.

Long, low and wide, the C-Metisse is Citroen's take on the coupe of the near future, possibly hinting at a C6-based luxury coupe from the French firm.

The classic double-chevron Citroen front is flagged either side by swooping headlights with LED lights that light up progressively as the steering wheel is turned to give better vision on twisty roads.

The curvy sides and sleek roof flow to a stubby rear with almost no overhang to optimise aerodynamics, the C-Metisse recording just 0.30 Cd of air resistance, while the boot opens on a parallelogram hinge mechanism.

Also at the rear are a pair of retractable aerofoils to produce downforce at higher speeds.

The swoopy lines of the C-Metisse are crafted from carbon fibre, which keeps the weight down to 1,400kg, including the electric batteries for part of its power source.

Those shapely lines have one other surprise - the front doors are hinged from the roof to work in a gullwing fashion, while the rear doors spin out and open.

Inside, the C-Metisse continues its assault on the conventional with a centred front driving position, while the head restraint is fixed to the roof.

We're not so sure about the noises the C-Metisse makes as the doors are closed or as the driver settles into the front seat.

Citroen says this is what makes the C-Metisse come alive and gives it an 'animal' character, although it could just spell misery as a cacophony of bells and buzzers accompanies the start-up of the car.

Behind the driver are three seats that Citroen says provide limousine levels of comfort and space, but we'll have to wait for the Paris show to double-check this.

As you'd expect of a Parisian concept car, the interior is decked out in white leather and aluminium, and crammed full of luxury goodies, including individual air-conditioning controls for each of the three rear seats.

With all of this luxury inside, the C-Metisse has an eye on the environment from under the bonnet.

A turbodiesel 2.7-litre V6 engine is nestled in there, pumping out 208bhp and driving the front wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox.

For added oomph, there's an electric motor for each of the rear wheels, each producing 295lb ft of torque.

The rear wheels can be driven by the electric motors if the car senses front-wheel slip to provide four-wheel traction, and they also come into play when the driver is in a sporty mood.

With both the diesel and electric motors working at full chat, the C-Metisse will crack 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds, reach 155mph and still return 43.4mpg.

The Paris motor show opens on September 30 and runs until October 15, and the Citroen C-Metisse will be one of the undoubted stars.

© Source: original article on topgear