Who says there's a limit to versatility? Not Citroën - the French marque, well-known down the years for innovative engineering, has broken new ground with its remarkable Pluriel. Based on the five-door C3 supermini, it goes on sale here next month, with prices from €21,000 ex-works.
It's fair to say that nothing like Pluriel has ever come on the market, but no maker has given five configurations in one before. Depending on mood or need, Pluriel is a three-door hatchback, a 2CV-like saloon, a cabriolet, a full roadster and even a pick-up. This diverse persona is clothed in cheerful colours, inside and out.
We've heard it described as the reincarnation of the 2CV but this isn't really the case. It appears to be far too smart - and a bit expensive - for earnest sandal-wearing, lettuce-chewing youngsters. Read on though.
Who or what is a typical Pluriel customer? At the international press launch, the answer was simple and without marketing hype. Just everybody, was Citroën's answer: "We haven't put our customer base into a box. You could be 26 or 66. The emphasis is on fun with practicality and we aren't emphasising sport and performance. It isn't that sort of car." That's apparent, indeed, with the two petrol engine choices of 1.4i 75 bhp and the 16 valve 1.6i 110 bhp. The latter comes with the SensoDrive, Citroën's version of a competition-style clutchless manual transmission. The 1.4i at the aforementioned €21,000 is likely to account for most sales here: the 1.6 retails at €23,500 ex-works.
There's nothing skimpy about the standard specification which includes electric fully retractable roof, electric windows and door mirrors, remote central locking, CD player, power steering, four airbags and ABS brakes with EBD and EBA.
Both engines seemed adequate and competent on hilly Spanish roads. It's very much a car for bowling along and enjoying the scenery, not cooking rubber. Pluriel is 50kg heavier than the C3 because of strengthening material. In open form, with sidebars attached, it was hard to detect shakes or creaks.
With roof fully in place, Pluriel is like a normal hatchback. Unlike its Peugeot 206CC "cousin", it can seat four. There's a reasonable boot and the rear bench folds down for extra storage. Fancy more space, more air? You can electrically send back the roof as far as the rear screen. With all four windows down and no central pillars, there's a lot more space and sky.
With boot empty, the whole folded roof can slide down to cover the rear window, before doing a neat back-flip for storage under the boot floor. Yet another stage is detaching completely the two metallic side bars: these don't carry with the car so fine weather must be assured. Pluriel thus becomes a true four-seater spider. Fold the rear seats and you have the fifth mode, a pick-up.
It could be said that with such versatility, Pluriel doesn't have any rivals. The Peugeot 206CC and the Ford StreetKa are the closest, but with respective Irish prices starting at €23,210 and €25,695, they cost more and offer a lot less.