THE French are taking on the Germans at their own game by producing a large family car with a definite Teutonic overtone.
Citroen has conceded Germanic quality is what the public wants and decided if you can't beat them it's time to join them.
The result is an all new C5 saloon which looks much more like an Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series than anything you would expect from a company renowned for its futuristic French approach.
While the new car retains Citroen's characteristic chevron grille its profile and rear end especially are much more conventional.
Gone are the fancy rear light clusters which were so much a feature of the current C5 and overall the new model looks quite chunky.
The same is true inside with a straight up and down approach to the instrument panel instead of the space age layout which was threatening to make Citroens too advanced for the average motorist.
It's a bold move for a company which prides itself on innovation - don't forget Citroen had a car with adaptive headlamps 50 years ago - but nevertheless there is still plenty of high technology in the new C5.
Electronic stability controls are standard across the range, so is air conditioning and cruise control while options include a driver's seat that can massage your back.
Fit the lane departure warning system and the driver's seat must be the most vibrating in the business since that device works by pummelling your backside should you stray out of your lane.
The new C5 goes on sale on April 2 and will be priced from £15,995 for a 1.8-litre petrol version to £24,395 for a top range 2.7-litre V6 diesel.
The line up features two petrol engines and four diesels including the very impressive 1.6-litre HDI priced from £16,595.
Averaging a claimed 50.4mpg it is the most economical version and the greenest with CO2 emissions of 149g/km.
Couple that to plenty of mid-range power from the 110bhp engine and it belies the official statistics of 0 to 60mph in 13.4 seconds with a top speed of 119mph. It is lively and satisfying to drive with no bad habits.
The best performance comes from the V6 diesel which, at 9.6 seconds, is the only C5 to fall below 10 seconds 0 to 60. However CO2 emissions are high at 223g/km and average fuel consumption is down to 33.6mpg.
Five speed manual gearboxes are fitted on the 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol versions and on the 1.6-litre diesel. The larger 2.0 and 2.2-litre diesel engines are mated to six speed boxes.
Automatic transmission is standard on the V6 and optional on both the 2.0 litre petrol and diesels. Higher specification models also feature an electronic parking brake.
Another shift away from Citroen convention is the availability of coil spring suspension on the petrol versions and the smaller diesel although the 'magic carpet' Hydractive air suspension remains standard on the other C5s.
The spring suspension is designed to make the C5 appeal to fleet buyers as it is cheaper to maintain but will also boost the car's chances of success with drivers who don't like the gliding feel of the self-levelling suspension.
On the road, in either set up, the C5 is well behaved although not quite as sharp when it comes to handling as its German rivals - or the Ford Mondeo for that matter.
It's roomy and comfortable front and back although I am no fan of the fixed hub steering wheel which houses secondary controls for the entertainment and phone system. I prefer such controls to move with the wheel.
Boot capacity at 439 litres gives plenty of luggage space while there is a 'ski hatch' behind the rear seat armrest for longer items.
The C5 has already been awarded top safety marks by NCAP and comes with a maximum of nine airbags for all round occupant protection.
It's well built, is an accomplished performer and with the shift away from Gallic excesses has wider appeal than any previous Citroen family model.