2007 Citroen Nemo Concetto

FINDING NEMO…

After presenting Nemo at the Road Transport Show in Amsterdam in October 2007, Citroen is displaying NEMO CONCETTO at the 2007 Bologna Motor Show. Nemo Concetto is a take on a concept car based on Nemo, a compact, practical and intelligent vehicle that lends itself particularly well to this type of exercise.

Nemo Concetto is a nod to Disney's clown fish hero, with its orange and white colour scheme. It illustrates the world and values of Nemo, as well as highlighting the many possible ways of customising this vehicle.

Nemo Concetto illustrates the astonishing closeness between the Citroen Nemo and its clown fish homonym. Like the fish, Nemo Concetto can be considered as "small" among its peers. However, its size is an asset, since it is able to nip in and out of traffic easily.

In a world where it would be tempting to think that bigger is better, Nemo Concetto combines intelligent design with compact exterior dimensions and interior space. It shows that intelligence is the most important asset, whatever the environment. Nemo Concetto does not claim to be what it is not. It clearly states its identity with a new take on conventional automotive cues.

Resembling a small truck with fun looks, bright colours and unrestrained humour, Nemo Concetto is a rich mix with overwhelming appeal. Like the clown fish, Nemo Concetto has irresistible personality and looks. Nemo Concetto reflects Citroen's constantly renewed capacity to design vehicles with character, vehicles that adapt to the lifestyles and world of their owners… like fish in water!

Citroen C5

In many decades' time, historians may look back on 2007 as the Year of the Big Family Car.

We've already seen the stellar Ford Mondeo and the, erm, conservative Renault Laguna, as well as Mazda's new 6, and now Citroen has released the first official pictures of its all-new C5.

The C5 is a big car for Citroen, and it's a big car: larger than its predecessor in every direction. The saloon - there's no hatch version to be offered - is 16cm longer, 9cm taller and a couple of centimetres wider, while the estate is even bigger.

And they both look good. The sleek lines of the C5 owe much to its big brother C6, and it looks like the executive levels of comfort are to be carried over, too.

That means the C5 gets a whole bunch of clever kit, most excitingly an optional massaging drivers seat. Whether it'll come with a 'full finish' function is as yet unclear.

The C5 also debuts the second generation of Citroen's fixed-centre steering wheel, meaning that vital controls will stay where they are no matter how much you spin the wheel.

Cruise control and a speed limiter are also fitted as standard, while top-spec C5s will get, well, just about everything.

Two suspensions set-ups are available: a conventional coil-spring arrangement with double wishbones at the front and multilinks at the rear, or a Citroen trademark hydropneumatic set-up. The Hydractive self-levelling suspension has three modes, ranging from 'Soft' to 'Sport'.

There are plenty of engine options: 1.8- and 2.0-litre petrol engines and no less than four diesels, the most powerful of which is a V6 that develops 208bhp.

The new C5 will go on sale in the UK early next year. The Year of the Big Family Car looks set to run and run...