Autoblog UK

The VW Beetle, the Mini and the Fiat 500 are all brilliant examples of small cars from the good old days that have gained an ever-increasing number of new admirers and buyers after relaunch. The retro trend has been a resounding success for those manufacturers. The next cult car is now in the pipeline. Citroen are to resurrect the 2CV, better known as the 'Duck'. Around five million examples of the Duck sold worldwide between 1948 and 1990. In truth, there's not much left of the old body shape but at first sight, the car looks very zippy. The Citroen DS2's design is largely based on the REVOLTe concept car that so fascinated visitors to September's Frankfurt Motor Show. The treatment of the rear holds the greatest nostalgia value for former fans – it's very accomplished. The lack of a roll-up roof is sure to be addressed in a future model. Expected price is a not unreasonable 13,000 euros, (around £11,700).

Mitsubishi launched their i-MiEV e-car in Japan during the summer 2009. An agreement was signed this autumn with the French PSA Group to build two sister models based on the i-MiEV for the European market. Peugeot's iOn will get its chance towards the end of 2010. Citroën has dubbed its version the C-Zero.

Some details about the C-Zero have now been released. Designed primarily for urban use and purely electric driven, it doesn't use petrol nor emit CO2. The vehicle simply glides quietly along the road. Citroën's e-car has a state-of-the-art, lithium-ion battery pack stowed amidships providing juice for a 64bhp synchronous motor. The C-Zero has a range of around 80 miles (130km) on a fully charged battery.

Citroen have stuck their neck out once again with the new DS3. Admittedly, this latest version is not as avant-garde as the old 'Déesse' (French pun on the word Goddess). Even so, it still makes a pleasant change from the carefully cultivated uniformity of the small to compact class and should stand out amongst a crowd in the same way the Mini does. So what about the price? At €15,200 (£14,000) for the entry model, it is affordable and by no means overpriced. And the many options for individualising the DS3 make for interesting speculation about the format in which this new model will start rolling off the assembly lines next March to populate Europe. Citroen seem set on restoring their traditional reputation as automotive innovator. Good luck to them!

Autoblog's Will Powell reports from the Frankfurt Motor Show

The new Citroen C3, on show today in Frankfurt, looks a quantum leap ahead of its hopelessly dated predecessor. Sharp and modern, the premium models feature a futuristic panoramic windscreen that curves round the body, finishing over the driver's head. The dashboard also has a real quality feel -although it has been paid for by using very cheap plastics in some of the more out-of-the-way places.

The Citroen stand itself made us smile too. Twenty years ago, Citroen was in denial about its history. It wanted to be a modern car company and all references to classic Citroens were banned, for fear it would remind people of eccentric, unreliable engineering.

One UK employee who came to work in his beautiful 1972 Citroen SM was told he should not bring it into the company car park. It was amusing therefore to see the Frankfurt Citroen stand selling "90 years of design" for all it was worth. On displays all around the stand were photographs of great Citroens of the past - including the SM.

The company's latest concept car - unfortunately christened the Revolte - continues the French history lesson by borrowing design cues and references from the iconic 2CV. But insiders admit that this C2-sized concept car is unlikely to reach production in any form. It's been conceived only "to make an impact at the show," according Carlo Bonzanigo, head of Citroen's concept cars. But it could still point towards a future direction for Citroen design, giving the brand an exciting new direction.

Citroen have been producing vehicles bearing the firm's double chevron logo for some 90 years. France's third biggest car manufacturer can look back on an illustrious past. The little Citroen 2CV (who couldn't love this swing on wheels?) is probably the best-known vehicle throughout the world and became the cult car for a whole generation. Better known as "The Duck," it was the French counterpart to the VW Beetle. The car was first built in 1948 and production finished in 1990 after more than 3.8 million units had been sold. The company was bought in 1975 by French competitor, Peugeot. Since then, vehicles have been jointly developed and produced under the PSA banner. Citroen have recently announced the introduction of a new emblem.

The French manufacturer has now allowed a glimpse into the interior design of the new Citroen DS models. The new DS specification will take pride of place in the range of each respective model, and its individual bodywork design and special equipment level should certainly pull in the punters. The first model in the DS range will be based on the C3. Known as the DS3, it should reach the dealers some time next year.

On the inside, the concept car is notable for its use of high-grade materials. Chrome details, luscious carpets and light-coloured dashboard create an impression of real quality. The special seats are unusually deep and boldly contoured, and there is a light, lustrous look to their leather covering. Together with the small, tilted steering wheel, this gives the interior a definite sporty feel.

This season, rather unusually, Ferrari have found themselves trailing the likes of Brawn and Red Bull in Formula One and they have desperately been searching for the reason why. Is the whole F60 concept flawed? Is it simply a problem of the new KERS system or the other teams' use of a double diffuser? Perhaps an aerodynamic solution is the way forward? And in this department, the French might have an idea. The shell of this Citroen 2CV has had a makeover (albeit without the benefit of a wind tunnel) and has been beefed up with Ferrari power under the bonnet. The result cost somewhere between 180,000 and 250,000 euros. This would at least solve Ferrari's difficulties with the proposed budget cap for 2010 and perhaps persuade them to sign up for next season after all.

Summer 2009 will see the new Peugeot 3008 arriving at dealers. Citroën describes its vehicle as a blend of variable van, sporty SUV and classic saloon. The cheapest version of the 3008 will cost 21,500 euros and is the 1.6 litre VTi petrol engine with 120 bhp. With its 5-speed gearbox, this engine is within the EU5 emission limits and in fact PSA Peugeot Citroën is already preparing its plants at Mulhouse and Sochaux for series hybrid diesel drive construction. At Sochaux, the first Peugeot 3008 prototypes have been constructed with the so-called "Hybrid4" technology. This involves a diesel engine in the bonnet and an electric motor positioned on the rear axle. The Peugeot 3008 is supposed to be ready as a hybrid by 2011.

Originally, this car was the unique preserve of car game punters. But then, the guys at Citroën shoved their game controllers to one side to play on with their CAD programs instead. With the "GtbyCitroen" concept car, the marque with the well-known double chevrons is showing a really different sports car. As the name suggests, this vehicle is conceived as their interpretation of a Gran Turismo. A model of the same name is to be found in the "Gran Turismo 5 Prologue" game which enjoys great popularity among joystick jockeys. The game version of the car has electric drive with a fuel cell, but what is concealed beneath the bonnet of the actual concept car has not been revealed yet.

The design follows a new direction with its length of 4.96 metres and 2.08 metres and the exaggeratedly long tail fin is supposed to contribute an optical illusion of higher speed for the car, while the driver himself is provided with the true facts from a head-up display. It is said that a diesel hybrid drive by the name of HYmotion4 will be used, providing a fuel consumption of almost 63mpg.