Citroen's super-mini concept - the C-AirPlay
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Image Gallery ( 31 images )December 3, 2005 Citroen premiered the C-AirPlay two-seater concept car, at the opening of this year’s Bologna Motor Show in Italy yesterday. Masterminded by Citroen’s award-winning British car designer, Mark Lloyd, the futuristic urban run-around features a bold, dynamic exterior look, as well as plenty of ultra-modern styling cues. Inside and out the C-AirPlay introduces striking design touches, including see-through ‘portholes’ in the lower sections of the doors to increase the sensation of speed. Discreet, touch-sensitive controls for the gears, electric windows and rearview mirror are moulded into the single-piece silicone front seat, whilst the eye-catching steering wheel incorporates two spherical driver information displays.
Even the colour scheme is ultra modern with the iridescent white bodywork contrasting neatly with the bright red cabin. But it’s the massive expanse of glass that creates the bright and airy interior that helps give rise to the C-AirPlay’s name.
Shorter than the Citroën C2, the C-AirPlay is powered by a 110hp petrol engine while, thanks to the SensoDrive gearbox, gearchanges can be made via the steering wheel-mounted paddles. Fittingly, for a futuristic interpretation of a supermini, this versatile concept car also features fuel-saving, emission-reducing Stop & Start technology.
C-AirPlay is the result of exploratory studies in creative design and in-depth research into driving pleasure. It is a perfect fit with the marque's styling references and its values. C-AirPlay returns to the source of automotive pleasure, a pleasure born in movement and sensation rather than in sheer speed.
C-AirPlay is a concept-car of flowing design whose clean body lines and tall, strongly curved features create an impression of agility. The iridescent white bodywork bathes the whole car in light.
Behind the wheel, the driver enjoys dynamic driving sensations based on physical and intellectual perceptions. Air is a key factor both inside and outside the vehicle. At low speeds, the air flow around the driver is perceptible and plays an active role. The air flows in through a ventilation system directly connected with the outside, and through the large air vents on the door panels.
At the same time, light floods in through the roof opening and the porthole windows on the lower part of the doors. These windows offer a direct vision of the road, thus amplifying passenger sensations. Seeing the road close-up enhances the impression of speed.
Contributing to the flowing body lines of C-AirPlay, the tall windscreen extends right up to the wide panoramic roof. This creates a vast glazed area that offers excellent visibility while also letting in maximum light.
The colours used by C-AirPlay – rarely seen on cars – are designed for contrast. The iridescent white bodywork is also present inside the car, alongside the bright red used for the cabin. These two colours enhance the overall brightness of the car, and create an impression of vitality and warmth in the cabin.
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