Citroen C5 Aircross SUV teased

Citroen used the recent Geneva motor show as an opportunity to show off two images of an all-new Nissan Qashqai rival.

The two renderings were shown moments after the near production-ready C-Aircross had been unveiled, coinciding with an address from  the French car-maker's boss, Linda Jackson.

The radical-looking SUV has been created to replace the slow-selling C5 sedan in Europe and been developed in cooperation with Group PSA’s Chinese alliance partner, Dongfeng.

Inspired by the 2015 Shanghai Aircross concept, the production C5 Aircross draws heavily from that design.

It will initially go on sale in China before its global launch in 2019.

Focusing on comfort rather than outright dynamics, the new SUV is set to get Citroen's advanced replacement for its old pneumatic suspension. The new system, says a Citroen insider, combines far softer springs than its rivals with hydraulic bump stops and active dampers. The result is a ride that's said to be reminiscent of an old American car, but with far better body control and damping.

Under the bonnet, a new range of petrol PureTech small capacity turbos are expected to dominate.

All will be combined with the car-maker's new eight-speed automatic.

The C5 Aircross will also come with a plug-in hybrid option and will be one of the first models in the Citroen range to offer a semi-autonomous cruise control that will steer, accelerate and brake in traffic and at highway speeds.

The C5 Aircross hasn't yet been confirmed for the Australian market but as Citroen sales decline Down Under its fate will be linked the success, or failure, of new products like the C3 supermini.