Citroën has revealed the first images of the C3 Picasso, that will debut at the next Paris Motor Show. The compact MPV has a bold styling and an interior focused on passenger comfort with high-set seating, enhanced visibility and modular design.

With the C3 Picasso MPV body style variant, Citroën is expanding the C3 model range into the B2 MPV segment.

The interior is characterized by high-set seating, modular design and a three-part windscreen that allows for a wide-angle vision.

The range of engines will include two gasoline units – the VTi 95 and VTi 120 – and two diesels, the HDi 90 and HDi 110 DPFS.

The C3 Picasso will be officially presented at this year’s Paris Motor Show, and will go on sale in first-quarter 2009.

Design

The goal of the C3 Picasso’s functional body styling is to express its fundamental purpose: "passenger comfort at all times in all situations."

According to Citroën, designers have "played off the opposing qualities of round vs. square, strength vs. charm, modernity vs. retro, and large volume vs. flowing lines to design a vehicle with breakthrough styling and an appealing, impish personality."

The vehicle architecture allows for a very spacious interior. Measuring 4.08 m long, 1.73 m wide and 1.62 m tall, it has a surprisingly compact front end and a strictly vertical rear end.

These original proportions provide a very high amount of cabin room. The trunk is equally capacious, boasting up to 500 litres VDA under the parcel shelf with all five seats in place.

Interior

Inside, the modular design allows owners to optimise interior space in very short time.

The split-fold rear seats slide independently over 150 mm for the comfort of all passengers.

The seats can be folded away with one hand in one simple movement using controls on the upper part of the rear seat backs.

Combined with a mobile boot floor, this function provides a completely flat loading space right up to the seatbacks in row one.

Load length can be further extended by folding the front passenger seat back down into desk position.

The driving position offers a wide-angle vision thanks to the innovative, three-part windscreen with slim pillars and the high seating position that gives drivers a commanding view of the road.

Wrapped in a striking glass envelope, the cabin is flooded with light. At up to 4.52 square meters with the panoramic roof, the glazed surface on the C3 Picasso is one of the largest in the segment.

(Source: Citroen)