Some of you may have already seen this mentioned on XM-L, but there are some pics of the new C5 here:

http://psa.sysconfig.hu/kepek/C5_2007/

After hearing that its actually a fair bit longer than the XM, I was maybe thinking about trying one as a compromise, one sad day when there are no XMs left...

Then I heard that the low to mid spec models will reportedly have steel springs, and no hydropneumatic!!
Yep, you heard right. After that I was like 'Er right.... byeeeeee'.


Ciarán

I heard about the steel spring versions too

Makes you wonder, how different will the chassis be? I mean, how is the rear suspension done with the steel spring version? Assuming the hydropneumatic suspension is the same kind it has been in the hydraulic Citroëns so far.

I guess there won't be very many of these hydraulic C5-models to choose from when I ever can afford one.

Citroen has abandoned the traditional trailing arms rear suspension with the C6, so the C5 will probably have a similar multi-link type system, from Peugeot.

I was reading in a book about the XM that, at the time it was being presented, they planned to put hydractive only in about 30% of the cars, ie the XM was going to be largely a traditional hydropneumatic car with hydractive only as an option. So who knows what'll happen with the C5...

Such a shame though it looks sooo much like an Audi/Passat. At least the interior is far more interesting.

cheers
George

Ah yes, but at least it doesn't look like a big ugly fish with a shocked
expression on it's face after something's just bitten it's rear end off...

Andrew

Audi/Passat, Beemer, Mondeo, Peugeot and now the C5. Euroboxes all of em

Mind you it is an improvement on the old model. Although when I was in Spain this year the C5's over there were a lot prettier than the ones I've seen over here. Did they do a S2 version? Bit of a pronounced boot, rather attractive rear lights and the new corporate grill.

Everyone drives round in Mk1 Fiestas where I live!

To be honest Gelupa I can't really remember seeing any, only the original ugly ones!

I quite like the new C5 in estate guise. Then again I quite like the 407 estate which looks very similar - same floorpan and stylist possibly?

Hi Wirdy.

Got to take issue with you on the estate, if it's like the 407. The 406 was a practical shaped, usable estate --- nothing like XM spec, but none the less sensible. The 407 looks designed to put your handbag (a small one) in and no practical use whatsoever. Result ? So it seems to me, many, many fewer 407 estates about than 406 had sold by the same length of model run. (In fact, it appears to me that the 407 generally isn't really doing the business) Biggest omission from the C6 range -- a big estate -- and we've all talked already about C6 sales. So, I don't have much doubt that if they turn the presently sensible and usable C5 estate into just a stylists exercise, the results will be much the same.
Maybe I'm just becoming too cynical, but while we're on the topic of replacement models -- we presently have a Pug 306 and 307 in the household. The 306 has, particularly for a smallish car, very comfortable half leather seats and is generally not a bad bit of kit to drive. The 307, by contrast, seems to have appalling seats; they've hidden the engine away as much as they can and the body is so bulbous it's not possible to see any of the extremities ! You've probably guessed already which one I prefer.

MIke.

On the topic of big estates, I must say that the current C5 estate is excellent. You can fit more Resusci-Annies into it than any other estate in that price range!

I hope the new one will be as useful. Like onthecut says, substance should be more important than style in an estate car.

That's a good point Mike, quite a few modern designs seem to favour style and looks over functionality, and its not just with cars sadly!
Its all this minimalist and 'less is more' crap, those daft TV shows have a lot to answer for...

Ciarán