What's all this about?

The Geneva Motor Show is a month away, and Citroen has revealed its vision of the compact SUV; the C-Aircross Concept, which will debut at the show on 7th March. With its exterior design inspired by the new C3 supermini, the C-Aircross marks the company's intention to enter the SUV sector.

What makes it special?

Citroen has gone for a modern yet non-aggressive look that incorporates bold design elements highlighted in fluorescent coral colour to contrast with the blue bodywork. Design details include the camouflage effect on the wheelarch extensions, bumpers and body side protection. At the rear the light clusters have a 3D design that echoes the shape of the rear quarter window.
To show off the interior Citroen has adopted pillarless construction with rear-hinged back doors. The emphasis is on minimalist design with clean lines and bold colour. The single-spoke steering wheel is a nod to the brand's heritage; although the squared-off shape of the wheel itself is vaguely reminiscent of the Austin Allegro's quartic steering wheel. Driving information is conveyed either in the head-up display in front of the driver or on a large touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard.

Any interesting technology?

The emphasis is on connecting mobile devices, with the ability to connect and synchronise electronic devices via Citroen's Mirror Screen technology, which is already available on Citroen's production cars. On the concept the 'Share with U' app is installed to allow passengers to share music, games and videos with each other. To help the occupants enjoy their own entertainment, the front seat head rests have speakers and microphones installed.
To help with off-road driving there is a five-mode grip-control system operated by a rotary switch on the centre console. The five modes are; Standard, for normal roads; Sand, using the two front wheels simultaneously to reduce the risk of getting stuck on sand or soft ground; Off-road, acting as a limited-slip differential for optimum traction on slippery surfaces; Snow, which adjusts the rotation of the driven wheels to the grip available in snowy conditions; and ESP off, which works at speeds of up to 31mph.