According to Jean-Arthur Madelaine, head of Citroën Interior Style, “At Citroën, well-being is primarily about the feeling you get from smooth and seamless driving. It is also expressed through the shapes, space, colors and materials used in the passenger compartment, which provide the feeling of traveling in a protective cocoon.”
With this remit in mind, roominess was one of Citroën’s main concerns when designing its latest C5 X model. The company says that particular attention was paid to the comfort of the rear passenger seated behind the front passenger seat. For example, these passengers now have direct access to controls for the longitudinal adjustment and tilt of the front passenger seat, which are located within easy reach on the side of the front seat backrest.
Citroën says the C5 X is also fully aligned with the company’s Advanced Comfort program, with Advanced Comfort seats now offered in the front and rear. This system uses a high-density foam at each seat’s core and 15mm of thicker, textured foam on each seat’s surface. The driver’s seat also offers a welcome feature when entering the vehicle, as it automatically moves back for easier access before returning to the stored driving position. The front seats are fitted with height- and depth-adjustable headrests and also come in heated, ventilated and massaging form.
The manufacturer has also harnessed the latest surface finishing techniques to design brand identity into the interior trim. This comes in the form of a 3D ‘grain’ on the dashboard panel, superimposed on the wood-effect decoration, and in the stylized, continuous stitching on the top of the backrests and on the door panel inserts. The brand’s chevrons also feature in screen-printed form on the strips across the top of the backrests, are engraved on the main controls (air-conditioning knobs, automatic gearbox lever and radio controls), and appear in the form of oversized chevrons on the bottom of the storage compartments, as well as perforations on the leather seats.
“The very generous amount of light on board new C5 X helps to make the interior most welcoming. The generous glasshouse around the car is also an invitation to enjoy the outside world while being protected from noise pollution thanks to the enhanced soundproofing of the passenger compartment,” added Madelaine.
To achieve this, light transmission through the extensive glasshouse is augmented by white ambient lighting (with adjustable intensity). Meanwhile, some of the storage compartments are also illuminated – including the glove box, the boot and the center console compartment, as well as the door handles and footwells.
