The exterior channels the Mazda CX-9 and Nissan Murano, and aside from the suicide doors is actually pretty tame by the standards of French concept cars. Judging by previous efforts, Citroën's current lineup should be made out of exhumed human skeletons, the AIDS virus and lightning. It isn't until a prospective driver opens the doors (or in this case, The Doors) that he's treated to a Coleridgian fantasy of colors, rainbows and hallucinatory textures. It's as if one of their pompous designers mistook psilocybin for a chanterelle while preparing fusty French food for his three-hour paid lunch break.
Citroën says the interior is meant to make "technology more human and approachable" and take passengers "into the realm of pure magic." But one can only think "WTF?"
According to AutoWeek, if the Hypnos were ever to be produced its hybrid diesel engine would make 200 horsepower and deliver a steady 53 mpg, all while making Bill O'Reilly nauseated. The Europeans seem to be betting on diesel hybrids, partly because of their increased efficiency, and partly because diesel is the European fuel of choice. If Citroën brings back ads with Grace Jones scaring the bejesus out of us, Volkswagen's familiar 70-mpg Golf TDI Hybrid and Mercedes' staid E300 46-mpg BlueTec Diesel Hybrid will probably catch on a little faster than Citroen's psychedelic people-mover.
PSA/Peugeot-Citroën research and engineering chief Pascal Henault told Automotive News Europe (sub. req.) that hybrid diesels will start appearing on high-end products from Peugeot and sister company Citroën. "Depending on how the market develops, we hope to also use the hybrid technology on more conventional products," he said, though we wonder how he defines "conventional."
Luckily, our American eyes will never have to see such a beast, as PSA/Peugeot-Citroën's return to the U.S. market is about as likely as George W. Bush receiving the Légion d'honneur. At the very least, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will require registered Hypnos importers to install a '70s-era hydropneumatic suspension and re-badge it as the Freedom Van.
