Paris concept: Citroen Hypnos

The French car makers pull out all the stops for their home show with new production cars sharing stand space with multiple concept cars, some more fanciful than others. We're still not quite sure what to think of the Citroen Hypnos concept.

What's all the fuss about?

Style more than anything. The Hypnos was created to test the waters for a luxury crossover by Citroen, which explains the car's big dimensions. In concept, the Hypnos isn't too far removed from BMW's X6, with the remit to the designers being to create a car with the dynamism of a coupé, the elegance of a saloon and the practicality of an SUV. Citroen's stylists have certainly managed that, as you only appreciate the sheer size of its show car when you stand next to it. Pictures don't do the concept justice though, as its surfacing and detailing is exquisite. The lights at the rear echo the upright air intakes at the front and the proportions are spot on. The interior is even more spectacular, with four individual seats moulded together and finished in the vivid colours of the rainbow.

Any new technology?

The Hypnos features the PSA Group's new diesel-hybrid technology called HYmotion4. A 200bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine is mated with an electric motor-generator and a six-speed automated manual gearbox, resulting in decent performance yet at the same time returning over 60mpg on the combined cycle and CO₂ emissions of just 120g/km. The concept is four-wheel drive too, using an electric motor to drive the rear wheels. Although it's only a concept and the figures are largely theoretical, they still point the way to a new generation of Citroens powered in this way.

Will it ever see the light of day?

Given that both Citroen and Peugeot revealed crossovers in Paris based on similar diesel-hybrid technology, we suspect that the PSA Group has something along in the vein of the Hypnos in the pipeline for the future. The drivetrain, or something very similar, is a certainty for production, though we doubt that Citroen, even with its quirky design past, will put the colourful Hypnos interior into its showrooms.

Shane O' Donoghue