Citroën dares again and presents the new flagship C5 X Hybrid Plug-in, the most advanced and unconventional soul typical of the brand.
It is well known that the Double Chevron has left a unique imprint on design and the entire automotive industry, often leading the way.
With the new C5 X, in all likelihood, this is exactly the case.
It doesn't seem paradoxical, there is a common thread that unites the Due Cavalli and the latter born, passing through the historic DS and - for the times - the futuristic XM: comfort on board.
And so, decades later, once again the goal is to make those in the car travel comfortable, almost detached from the rest of the world.
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Citroën C5 X Hybrid Plug-in
First of all the lines, unique and absolutely out of the ordinary: a sedan of over 4.80 meters designed with a single stroke, like a coupé, but which reveals station wagon spaces on board.
The front seems to have been chiseled by skilled hands, with sharp luminous gems that arise from the extreme extension of the Double Chevron on the grille.
To illuminate the road, the light clusters as large as they are hidden in the front slits.
And in the large lower air intake there is space for the radar that governs autonomous driving.
Seen from behind, everything changes: the rear window is set back and decidedly inclined, the tailgate is wide, the loading sill is very low and the light clusters shaped by the wind slide from the rear towards the pillar.
From the side, still different: with solid sides,
But it is in the interiors and in the quality of life on board that Citroën's technicians have expressed the maximum of their inspiration, without following fashions and impressing their way of conceiving a flagship.
The wide and welcoming front seats have a low seat, like a sports car.
Although widely adjustable, in fact, the position is almost obligatory to avoid contortions when overcoming the inclined front pillar as on a sports car, which moreover has high wheels.
Great attention has been paid to the finishes and details, as expected from a flagship.
In developing the flagship, Citroën also completely changed the concept of dashboard and infotainment (compatible with Apple Car Play and Android Auto).
On the first, in fact, some of the fundamental indications appear - you can choose which ones - but not all.
The others, in fact, are left to the large space of the head up display.
A revolution: usually, in fact, the main information is found on the virtual visor, the accessory information on the dashboard.
Even the menus follow a new, unprecedented logic that requires adaptation: everything is on the central panel, manageable in touch mode.
The C5 X plug-in hybrid is powered by a powertrain that develops 225 HP: a 1,600-liter 180 HP internal combustion engine and a 110 HP electric motor for a combined power of 225 HP and a combined torque of 360 Nm. battery is 12.4 kWh.
The electronically controlled 8-speed automatic gearbox adjusts according to the driving mode used.
Four are available: electric, hybrid, comfort and sport, for a range of up to 55 km, capable of reaching 135 km/h in fully electric mode.
The car, which measures 181 cm long by 187 wide by 149 high, weighs almost 1.8 tons but seems to float on the asphalt thanks to the Citroën advanced comfort active suspension, which combines the suspension with progressive double hydraulic dampers electronic shock absorber control.
The aim was to increase the softness typical of Citroën suspensions - the flying carpet effect - to ensure a smooth ride, while offering extreme body stability.
The driving sensation certainly requires an adjustment period,
Consumption varies greatly depending on whether the battery is charged or not.
In the WLTP cycle it is 1.6 l/100 km.
In reality, regeneration comes into play in the city and you can count on the electric motor, while on long motorway journeys it is easy to run out of battery reserve and at that point - relying on heat alone - the surge in consumption is inevitable: little more than 12 km/l.
Citroën C5 X Hybrid Plug-In has a starting price of just under 40,000 euros, around 50,000 for the car being tested.
