First look: Citroen goes off-road – in a drop-top!

JUST when it appeared French automotive concepts couldn’t get much further out-there, along comes Citroen with a convertible off-roader.

Following closely in the footsteps of the bubble-shaped three-door C-AirPlay hatch concept revealed at the Bologna motor show in December, the C-Buggy is yet another take on Citroen’s next-generation C-segment model, the all-new small C3 hatch not due to surface for at least two years.

Pictures and a brief overview of the C-Buggy concept were revealed late last week ahead of the car’s official debut at this year’s Madrid International Motor Show on May 25, when Citroen will also show its new C4-based C-Triomphe sedan (see separate story) for the first time in Europe.

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First released in February in China, Citroen has confirmed C-Triomphe will also be launched in Spain as the C4 sedan in 2008.

Citroen Australia has also put up its hand for the new mini-C5 sedan, which would be positioned above the C4 hatch and coupe, to which it adds a longer 2710mm wheelbase, a larger interior and a 513-litre boot.

As for C-Buggy, Citroen says the compact off-road two-seater convertible is a fresh take on the "leisure supermini" which resembles C-AirPlay but "is more of a fun, go-anywhere type of car".

Citroen’s Madrid exhibit will also showcase the new C1 hatch, new C6 sedan (due on sale here in June), and its new Jumper commercial van (see separate story).

But perhaps most relevant is Citroen’s brand-new 130kW HDi turbo-diesel engine, which makes its debut in Madrid and will be fitted to the brand's large C5 sedan later this year. The new engine comprises a high-performance parallel dual turbo and new combustion and injection systems which, together, are claimed to "set new standards in flexibility, driveability and fuel consumption".

Also on display is Madrid will be a new six-speed automated manual transmission.