The styling is cutting edge. The technology is on point and beyond. It is Citroën’s hint at what might incorporated into the next generation C5. And its name, Cxperience, is designed to rekindle the spirit of the CX (the successor the original DS). The company plans to formerly unveil this concept in late September at the 2016 Paris Auto Show.
At 190 inches in length, the Cxperience is roughly the same size as the current C5 that has been on sale since 2007. However that’s where the similarity ends. The two vehicles have nothing else in common.
Cxperience is a a plug-in hybrid with exterior design inspired by modern architecture. It can drive up to 60 km in zero emission mode, after connecting for 4.5 hours to a household outlet with a standard charge or 2.5 hours with a fast charger that draws 32A. Electric only engine power varies between 150 and 200 hp, and when the gas motor kicks in, contributing another 80 kW of power, horsepower increases to 300.
Citroën claims the interior is all about comfort, with its light and airy feel plus its plush, lounge-like seats. It’s doubtful just how much of the interior design will make it production. The single-spoke steering wheel gives a nod to the brand’s history and the fold-over clamshell style floating dashboard, flowing in a single piece from the right rear door to the left rear door is as innovative as the original DS and as futuristic as the CX i9n its day. And Citroën has reverted to the single-spoke steering wheel giving another nod to the innovation introduced on the DS and carried forward in the CX.
The powertrain of the Cxperience concept combines a small gasoline engine with an electric motor and has a peak output of about 272 horsepower. The gas engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and drives the front wheels, while the electric motor drives the rear wheels helping to create a “through-the-road” hybrid all-wheel-drive system. A 3.0-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery provides a claimed electric range of about 37 miles
It wouldn’t be a modern concept without the latest in connectivity flat panel displays replacing conventional dashboard dials. The infotainment dashboard display is 19-inch touchscreen that provides access to everything from operational controls of climate, media, on board camera displays, navigation and services such as restaurant booking and monitoring the home. A smartphone (for those up front) and tablet (for those in the rear) can also be integrated to provide additional means of control. For when the driver does need eyes on the road, there is a heads up display, of critical data.
The powertrain of the Cxperience concept combines a small gasoline engine with an electric motor and has a peak output of about 272 horsepower. The gas engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and drives the front wheels, while the electric motor drives the rear wheels helping to create a “through-the-road” hybrid all-wheel-drive system. A 3.0-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery provides a claimed electric range of about 37 miles.
It wouldn’t be a modern concept without the latest in connectivity flat panel displays replacing conventional dashboard dials. The infotainment dashboard display is 19-inch touchscreen that provides access to everything from operational controls of climate, media, on board camera displays, navigation and services such as restaurant booking and monitoring the home. A smartphone (for those up front) and tablet (for those in the rear) can also be integrated to provide additional means of control. Each headrest has its own built in speakers. For when the driver does need eyes on the road, there is a heads up display, of critical data.
Interesting ideas and design. Let’s see if it actually comes to market relatively intact, before the Asian auto manufacturers start cloning it.
The 2016 Paris auto show opens its doors to the media on September 29 and to the public August 30.
