I'M NOT much given to emotion, but when I leapt into the C8, I felt like offering my own personal round of applause to the designers.
I had to take five minutes just to drink in what was around me and in front of me. Before I even drove it, I knew I wanted one. So much so that I instantly looked for the price in the press pack.
Sadly, at £24,595, the 2.2i test vehicle is out of my league, but if I had that kind of money, this would be the vehicle for me.
It's spacious - I'm talking American-style spaciousness here - looks good, and the interior, well surely it's the blueprint that other manufacturers will follow.
The eye-catching dashboard features an arch which sweeps across the width of the windscreen and frames the centrally located instrument cluster with its three luminescent dials.
The gear lever is conveniently mounted on the raised central console, freeing up space in the cabin, while the use of high quality tactile materials on the dash combines with attractive 'aluminium' effects which add to the general feeling of refinement.
The new C8 has a simply cavernous interior that can take up to eight passengers with generous amounts of head, shoulder and legroom, while an instant seat anchoring system helps increase interior flexibility. And by removing the rear seats the load area can be easily extended.
My children are aged seven and 11, they seem to grow weekly, as does the amount of luggage/baggage we accumulate as a family. But if ever a car were built for a growing family, it is this one.
There are a selection of petrol and diesel engines in the nine-strong range which come in a choice of four trim levels.
My 2.2i 16v was the top-of-the-range petrol unit, powerful enough to propel it from rest to 62 mph in just under 10.7 seconds and achieve a top speed of 122 mph, which is moving for a vehicle of this size. In the economy stakes, it manages just under 30mpg on the combined cycle.
For the stats anoraks, incidentally, it is the first time a 2.2i 16v unit has been used in a Citroen.
Anyone getting into the C8 cannot fail to be struck by the space - it's probably almost as big as some folks' front rooms. The huge 2m panoramic windscreen contributes to making the interior extremely bright and airy.
With up to 7cms more headroom than its predecessor, the Synergie, even the tallest occupants have plenty of space, while the overall headroom is significantly greater than its rivals, say Citroen.
With the interior of the cabin measuring more than 3m long and 1.6 wide, there is ample elbow and legroom, all of which is helped by the versatility of the new Quickfix seating system. It allows users to choose how they want to use the extra space - for passengers or for luggage, or a combination of the two.
To maximise practicality, it allows each individual rear seat to be slid along rails, while the anchoring function allows them to be easily removed or re-installed.
All the outer rear seats have an easy-to-use one-touch folding facility to provide more space for other passengers or loads, while the backrests can be folded flat.
By placing the gear lever on the raised central console and moving the handbrake to the right of the driver's seat, the C8 is able to offer a completely flat floor, facilitating access throughout the cabin, as well as allowing the front two seats to be rotated to face the passengers in the rear.
And the cabin area is littered with some 50 storage areas, including lidded compartments on top of the dash which can hold coins, CDs, pens and sunglasses.
FAST FACTS
Citroen C8 2.2i Exclusive
Price: £24,595
Mechanical: 160bhp, 2,230cc 4 cylinder petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 122mph
0-62mph: 10.7 secs
Combined mpg: 29.1mpg
Insurance group: 13
CO2 emissions: 231g/km
BiK rating: 30%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 12yrs anti-rust; 3yrs paint