Citroën's Paris concept promises a feel-good factor

The Citroën CXPERIENCE CONCEPT © Citroën

Thanks to its recent focus on building up brand loyalty in the mass-market sector, it can be easy to forget that Citroën, a marque as eccentric as it is innovative, once represented the pinnacle of French automotive luxury. So at the Mondial de L'Automobile Paris 2016, which opens its doors to the world's motoring press on September 30, the company is hoping that the CXPERIENCE concept, a bold new take on the executive car, will help jog people's memories.

The 4.85-metre-long four-door hatchback looks decidedly sporty, yet never aggressive (a hallmark of French automotive design) thanks to keeping the wheels as close to each corner as possible and keeping the car's height to just 1.37 metres.

Citroën says that the exterior, which features a glass roof plus a concave rear window as well as minimal visual clutter -- wing mirrors have been ditched for cameras and headlamps are hidden within the car's wraparound front grille -- is inspired by current high-tech trends. Meanwhile the interior, which blends breathable natural fabrics with wooden paneling, takes its cues from the latest in furnishing and travel.

"[The car] challenges convention to express a new vision of executive hatchbacks," said Linda Jackson, Citroën Global CEO. "CXPERIENCE CONCEPT illustrates the brand's capacity to deploy its "Be Different, Feel Good" promise in this segment."

The cabin is meant to represent a cocoon with each of its four welcoming seats intentionally oversized so that they wrap around passengers. Speakers and microphones are integrated into each headrest so that voices never have to be raised. The flat floor is padded and trimmed in a dark leather to contrast with the citrus yellow seats while walnut is used on the dashboard -- which appears to float, door panels and seat backs.

This sense of space and de-cluttering is emphasized further by the rejection of many knobs and dials in favor of touch screens -- a central display in the front and a shared tablet for rear-seat passengers, both boasting an interface developed for ease of use.

As for propulsion, the concept is a plug-in hybrid, capable of covering 60km on battery power alone.

"The whole Citroën Style team pulled in the same direction to create a new executive hatchback with international reach, breaking conventional codes to express the brand's values: Optimistic, Human and Smart," said Alexandre Malval, Citroën Design Director.