CITRON has unveiled its C2 three-door supermini and, even before it goes on sale later this year, reckons it is the "wild child" of the class, with its a purposeful bonnet, squared off headlamps and large wheel arches - providing room enough for 16-inch wheels. In short, the C2 looks a bit of a pocket rocket.

Ensuring that its interior is as dynamic as its exterior, the four seat C2 provides a range of bright, modern design schemes, including orange, blue and green, for the colour-coded trim and matching coloured translucent gear lever knob and armrests.

Clever stuff too from Citron sees the introduction of sliding and folding rear seats, for extra versatility. As well as providing more elbowroom than most superminis, the configuration can provide a choice of either more legroom for those in the back or more bootspace.

Innovation continues in the boot, where the designers have introduced a split tailgate - ideal for tight town situations - with a glass that hinges like a hatchback and a drop-down lower tailgate with its own storage compartment.

Equipment levels are high: from automatic air conditioning, electronic parking assistance, remote stereo controls, multi-adjustable steering wheel and an onboard computer through to light-sensitive headlamps, rain-sensitive windscreen wipers and overspeed warning.

Also the C2's safety equipment list includes anti-lock braking, electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, automatic hazard warning lights, and stability and traction control.

If there is a collision, reinforcing bars in the doors, a retracting steering column and up to six airbags help to reduce the risk of injury.

Under the bonnet, C2 will offer up to110bhp for the 1.6 VTR model - up from the 90hp of the Saxo VTR at its launch.

Citron's own1.4-litre Hdi diesel engine and 1.1-litre and 1.4-litre petrol engines, as well as the company's rally-style SensoDrive paddle-shift gearbox, complete the power plant line-up.

The three-door C2 will join the five-door C3 and the soon-to-be-launched C3 Pluriel convertible supermini, to give Citron three very different small cars.

Updated: 11:14 Friday, June 13, 2003