Citroën Wheels Out Stunning Concept Car For Paris '06

By Motoring Channel Staff - 8/Sep/2006

Paris, France — Showing off a pair of eye-catching vertical doors, the Citroën C-Métisse concept car is one of the show-stopping exhibits at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. The radical concept coupe has all the elements of a hatchback, but takes them to an extreme degree - big wheels, big engine, big style. 

Citroën describes the C-Métisse concept as a flamboyant, glamorous proposal for a coupe that, with its diesel hybrid drivetrain, points towards a fuel efficient and environmentally-friendly motor vehicle of the future that can also deliver the kind of performance thrills that many of today's drivers are increasingly seeking.

Though the C-Métisse will probably never reach production, many of the ideas and innovations contained underneath the car's curved lines will become production reality in the near future. First and foremost, says French car maker Citroën, is the future-oriented hybrid engine, a propulsion solution that was first seen on the C4 HDi hybrid demonstration vehicle, but with one key difference. The electric motors are installed in the rear wheels. 

Capable of developing an extra 15kW of power and a breathtaking 400Nm of torque to the rear wheels, on top of the 150kW of power that the HDi V6 engine delivers to the front wheels via a 6-speed transmission, the C-Métisse is as quick as it is frugal.

It can run completely silently in its 'all-electric' mode with a range of around 3km at 30km/h, and on the open road the V6 HDi diesel combustion engine  provides the vehicle with sports car levels of acceleration. If the driver ends up making prolonged use of the accelerator pedal, a boost function kicks in to provide the immediate torque required. This function combines the torque of the combustion engine with that of the electric motors to push the C-Métisse from 0-100km/h in 6.2 seconds, while the quarter mile takes 14.2 seconds.

Ever the realist, Citroën decided that rather than pursuing the quest for ever higher speeds that are not practicable in normal traffic conditions, the emphasis has been placed on driving pleasure with clean, strong acceleration: the C-Métisse accelerates from 80 to 120km/h in a rapid-fire 4.2 seconds.

All this performance is not to the detriment of the environment, and by controlling fuel consumption and thus pollutant emissions, the C-Métisse boasts combined cycle consumption level of 6.5L/100km for CO² emissions of 174 g/km.

The vehicle remains in 4-wheel drive mode while the boost function is active, since the electric motors drive the rear wheels while the combustion engine drives the front wheels, thus ensuring impeccable traction. Also, when the ESP sensors report low grip conditions, C-Métisse can activate its electric motors and thus adopt a 4-wheel drive configuration when the front wheel lose traction in the event of slide or similar. 

Alongside the engine and motors, the drivetrain comprises a pack of high-voltage batteries supplying the electric motors. Positioned in the centre of the vehicle, the pack is recharged by the electric motors during deceleration phases, converting the vehicle's kinetic energy into electric energy.

With its unique and powerful style, this 4-seater, 4-door coupé is visually striking. Citroën adds that it is also exceptionally low for a grand-tourer of its size, at just 1.24 metres high, which contrasts with its stretched length of 4.74m and width of two metres. And with its long bonnet and virtually non-existent rear overhang, its design is classically Citroën.

The French marque claims that, in keeping with recent concept cars from its European design studios, the sculptured curves offer positive aerodynamics for optimal vehicle performance and fuel economy. Enlarged front air intakes, a flat underbody section, plus two retractable rear airfoils together with a rear fixed-fin spoiler contribute towards an excellent drag coefficient of 0.30.

Particular attention has also been paid to reducing the weight of the vehicle so that it requires less power to run, and therefore uses smaller amounts of fuel and emits fewer pollutants. To this purpose, the carbon fibre body helps reduce the entire weight of the C-Métisse to just 1,400kg, including batteries, which is about 400kg lighter than a Holden Commodore.

Bristling with hi-tech innovations and neat touches, the car features numerous bold , combining coupé styling with 4-door practicality thanks to the show-stopping gull-wing front and rear doors: the front doors open gull-wing style, while the rear doors spin round to provide outstanding accessibility for a car of such a low height. 

Other design cues, including the large alloy wheels and deep crimson colour scheme, add to the prototype's allure. The 20-inch wheels are fitted with 255/40 R20 tyres and the car is quite at home through fast corners, suspended by double wishbones at all four corners coupled with a hydraulic system to keep body roll in check.

Reflecting the exterior's radical styling, the interior is highly developed, and once inside the aircraft-style cockpit occupants are enveloped by comfortable, individual white leather seats, which are surrounded by smart leather highlights and aluminium inserts. It has been revealed by Citroën that each passenger has their own independent air conditioning controls, individual roof lighting and plenty of space, all of which could end up as features on future Citroën luxury cars.

Likely to attract a large numbers of show goers to the Citroën stand, the C-Métisse also makes full use of its generous 3,000mm wheel base, and the French company says the space provided for rear passengers is exceptional for this type of vehicle, with knee room corresponding to limousine standards.

For the driver and front passenger, a dynamic centre console system is divided into five sections, which then extends into the cabin via three illuminated strips which inform passengers of the current mode of hybrid propulsion. This lighting system is complemented by sound effects that accompany certain driver actions and indicate deployment of the airfoils. The driving position is designed to make driving as intuitive as possible giving the pilot a good view of the road ahead with a suspended head restraint and electric adjustment of the steering wheel and aluminium pedal assembly, and the car can be started with sci-fi inspired buttons on the roof console.

Citroën explains that in order to increase the driver's view of the road ahead even further, the front headlamps are equipped with a row of powerful LED's that light up progressively, dependent on the steering wheel angle and vehicle speed, to provide optimal lighting and increased driver awareness through every corner.

Overshadowed by few other vehicles, the C-Métisse is one of the star attractions at the Citroën stand at the Paris Motor Show, which began on the 28th of September, 2006, and runs until mid October.