Frankfurt Spy: Citroen airs new C5 styling with cabriolet concept

spy: Four-seater convertibles might not be standard fare for Citroen, but that's not stopped the French companyfrom producing a concept version of one. The C5 Airscape made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2007, but before you go rushing down to your dealer to place an order, you should know that it's not going to make production.

At least not in four-seat cabriolet guise. That Citroen C5 prefix to the Airscape is telling though; this concept debuts design elements that are likely to feature on the forthcoming C5 replacement.

If Citroen delivers these elements to the production car then its Mondeo rival could be a big hit. Bold new headlamps extending up the wings and a creased bonnet give the C5 Airscape a particularly strong face.

And those smart lines don't finish up front either, the C5 Airscape's flanks exhibiting pronounced wheelarches and a neat feature line along the car's sides. The rear too has a solidity and Germanic look to it that's new to Citroen.

More than merely a styling exercise, the C5 Airscape also highlights some new technology that's likely to make its way onto the showroom C5 saloon. Citroen is claiming four-wheel drive like driving characteristics due to its new 'Snow Motion' traction control system.

However, perhaps most significantly the C5 Airscape exhibits green technology that makes it more efficient and cleaner. The 2.7-litre V6 HDI turbodiesel is both bio-diesel enabled and fitted with a stop-start system.

Utilising a reversible alternator-starter and super capacitorsto power auxiliary functions like air conditioning and audio equipment, the system, which Citroen is calling 'UrbanHybrid', reduces CO2 emissions from the 208bhp V6 by 24g/km.

It does so by switching off in traffic and scavenging energy during braking and decelerating, this energy also available in short bursts to boost engine torque when accelerating. These features, as well as the touch sensitive controls are all likely to make it through to the C5 when it's revealed in the next 12-18 months. And if it looks half as good as this concept then rivals should watch out.