Citroen C3 Picasso debuts in Paris

There's a real buzz around Citroen's stand in Paris. The home makers always put on a good show and Citroen has pulled out all of the stops. Alongside the show-stopping GT and Hypnos concepts is one of our favourite cars of the show, the relatively humble new C3 Picasso.

What's all the fuss about?

Citroen has long extolled the virtues of the MPV or people carrier and at Paris this year it's adding another to its portfolio. The C3 Picasso is yet another twist on the MPV theme, slotting into the range beneath the hugely successful C4 Picasso. Citroen now boasts the broadest people-carrying line up of any manufacturer, with MPV models to suit every need and budget. The C3 Picasso is arguably the funkiest yet, its striking styling certain to make it a big hit among buyers young and old. Add huge practicality, value for money and excellent economy and Citroen might just have another best-selling MPV on its hands.

Anything that stands out?

Aside from the cool looks the Citroen C3 Picasso majors on all the usual MPV practicalities. There's the ability to seat five, the C3 Picasso offering an extraordinary amount of interior space given its relatively small footprint. It feels big inside too thanks to a massive glazed area, while the soft-touch plastics on the dashboard are a massive step up from its C3 hatchback namesake. Storage space of 500-litres under the parcel shelf - and a van-rivalling 1,506-litres with the seats stowed - make the C3 Picasso a remarkably practical machine. Novelties inside include a removable boot light - it doubles as a torch when you need it.

When can I buy one?

Citroen isn't being specific about dates at the moment, but the C3 Picasso will be available mid-2009. As ever the French firm will claim it's not discounting its new model, but wait a few months if you want to take advantage of Citroen's always generous cashback and financing rates.

Kyle Fortune