FRENCH manufacturer Citroen is trying to steal a march on Ford by rushing its latest family hatchback into the showrooms ahead of the January launch of the latest Ford Escort.
It will go on sale in a couple of weeks' time and its makers reckon that it will bring a breath of fresh air to the market place ... in more ways than one.
For it will be the first ever family car to come with its own in-built air freshener system.
The system, fitted in most versions of the new Citroen C4, uses scent cartridges which slot into a recess in one of the dashboard air vents.
C4 buyers can choose from nine different fragrances, including scents such as Citrus & Passion, Ylang & Mimosa and Lotus Flower, which the company says reflect three different moods: Relax, Escape and Energise.
The scent cartridges last around two months and replacement cartridges will be available from Citroën franchised dealers, although at a cost of around £7 for a box of two they're considerably more expensive than most commercially available add-on air fresheners.
But while the integrated air freshener might be seen as a gimmick, Citroen is sniffing the sweet smell of success for the C4 thanks to its dramatic styling and a number of other first in class features.
On sale on November 15, it will feature an innovative multi-functional steering wheel with fixed, centered controls, a unique translucent instrument display, a speed limiter, laminated glass side windows, a Lane Departure Warning System as well as directional Xenon headlamps.
There are two very different bodystyles - five-door hatchback and three-door coupé - and a wide range of petrol and diesel engines.