In Citroen's press release, accompanying the photographs of its audacious new C-Métisse, there is no explanation of the meaning of the name. The nearest thing we found is the word 'mongrel', which surely can't be the image Citroen wanted to convey!
Dodgy translation aside, the C-Métisse concept car is indeed a mixture of different breeds, purporting to be an environmentally sound car with high performance credentials. Powering the front wheels is the 208bhp PSA-Jaguar V6 diesel engine, mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox (as on the Citroen C6). Nothing unusual there, but the rear wheels can also receive power from separate electric motors that, when required, can provide 295lb.ft of instantaneous torque, making the C-Métisse a diesel-electric hybrid.
Performance claims are suitably impressive, with 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. Thanks to the masses of torque available from both turbodiesel and electric motor, in-gear acceleration should be exhilarating, with the 50-75mph sprint claimed to take just 4.2 seconds. Despite such capability, Citroen calculated the Combined Cycle fuel economy at around 45mpg, with respectable CO
2 emissions of 174g/km.
Don't forget that this is a show car only and its real purpose is to attract visitors to the Citroen stand at the
Paris Motor Show. The C-Métisse certainly scores high in this respect with a sleek, low-slung body that could only be a Citroen. Wowing the onlookers will be the operation of the doors. The fronts rotate up and out of the way while the rears spin away from the car, taking a section of the roof with them, which should aid access into the snug interior, despite the ludicrously low roofline.
Just as much attention to detail has been paid on the concept's interior. Four individual bucket seats are trimmed in exotic white leather and aluminium, with each occupant getting their own climate control and lighting controls. The sharply sculpted cockpit features unusual illumination and even sound effects to convey what propulsion mode the concept is driving in.
This concept is no dog, but unfortunately will we ever see it on sale in a Citroen showroom.
Shane O' Donoghue - 6 Sep 2006