Citroën is now Europe's biggest seller of MPVs and it will be hoping to stretch its sales lead even further when it launches its latest people carrier, the Citroën C3 Picasso. Styling-wise, the new mini-MPV is not as sleek as the C4 Picasso duo, with designers opting for a boxier shape with more rugged detailing in keeping with its role as an urban-based people carrier. It's based on the next-generation C3 platform (shared with the Peugeot 207) which bodes will for its dynamic abilities and it's roomier inside than any of its current rivals too, according to Citroën, although it will be interesting to see how the new suicide-door-equipped Opel Meriva will compare.As you'd expect, the five-seat C3 Picasso offers a uniquely Citroën driving environment, with a tall driving position, centrally-located dials and extremely thin A-pillars to maximise forward visibility. A full-length panoramic roof will also be available. The C3 Picasso offers three rear sears which split, fold and slide independently and the rear seats can be folded away in one motion using simple seatback-mounted controls. The boot floor can be set at various different heights depending on requirements, and the front passenger seat can also be folded completely flat to increase the load length and to create a tabletop.A choice of four engines will be offered in the C3 Picasso, kicking off with the 95hp, 1.4-litre and new 120hp 1.6-litre VTI petrol engines. The two diesels will be the big sellers, though, with the 90hp and 110bhp 1.6-litre HDi engines pumping out just 128g/km and 137g/km of CO2 (both Band B) respectively. The C3 Picasso debuts at the Paris Motor Show in October and goes on sale in right-hand drive in the middle of 2009.
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