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The new Citroën C5 Aircross has been revealed with concept car styling and the option of electric power for the first time, as the French brand renews its assault on Europe's crucial crossover market.

Based on parent company Stellantis's new STLA Medium architecture (like the Peugeot 3008 and Vauxhall Grandland), the second-generation C5 Aircross is the flagship of an overhauled Citroën line-up, sitting above recently refreshed and renewed versions of the Ami, C3 and C4.

As promised to Autocar by designer Pierre Leclerq, the production version of the new C5 Aircross stays true to the bold concept car revealed last year at the Munich motor show, retaining the minimalistic two-box silhouette of the outgoing C5 Aircross but with a wide-reaching focus on aerodynamics in a bid to increase efficiency.

It's bigger than the Mk1, having grown 150mm in length to 4652mm to facilitate a huge 600mm increase in wheelbase - "almost all of which is in the rear leg room", according to Citroën.

Citroën has exploited the more substantial footprint to create what it calls a 'C-Zen Lounge' inside, where "occupants are seated as if in a living room".

The dashboard in particular has been designed with influence from traditional living room furniture, with distinctive foam fabric padding reminiscent of a sofa and available in a choice of light or dark colours. So too can the ambient lighting be configured in eight colours.

At the centre of this new dashboard is an expansive 'floating' touchscreen that Citroën says is the largest yet fitted to a Stellantis car. It largely replaces physical controls but has been designed for ease of access on the move, with fixed status and control bars, programmable widgets and direct access to the climate control.

Smartphone mirroring and a 10in digital display are equipped as standard, and drivers can use the 'Hello Citroën' voice control function to control various in-car functions - with AI support from ChatGPT.

A head-up display – 30% larger than that of its predecessor – is available as an option.

Meanwhile, the 'Advanced Comfort' seats have been upgraded to give "a level of comfort never seen" in the C5 Aircross, with thick lower padding on the backrest and bolster and an upper portion that "wraps around passengers' shoulders like a shawl". The side bolsters are now electrically adjustable too.

In the back, passengers are said to have 51mm more knee room and 68mm of head room than before, plus extra adjustability courtesy of a backrest that can be reclined between 21deg and 33deg - "adding to the sensation of travelling in comfort class".

Rear passengers can also make use of a pair of cupholders in the centre console, together with a pair of USB-C charging ports.

The increase in footprint also makes for a much bigger boot: there's now 651 litres of load space behind the back seats, almost 150 litres more than in the Nissan Qashqai, rising to 1668 litres with them folded.

There's a 75-litre hidden space beneath the boot floor, too, where the EV's charging cable can be stored.

There are two hybrid options available from launch, one mild and one plug-in. The former pairs a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with a small electric motor in a dual-clutch gearbox, powered by a 0.9kWh battery under the driver's seat. The PHEV uses a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in tandem with a 123bhp electric motor for a combined 193bhp and a 21kWh battery that's good for an EV range of 53 miles.

The electric C5 Aircross can be had with either a 73kWh battery giving 323 miles of range or a 97kWh pack giving 422 miles and a 207bhp or 227bhp motor on the front axle.

Prices for the new C5 Aircross haven't yet been announced, but it will be cheaper than the 3008, so expect a sub-£35k starting price for the hybrid and to pay around £40k for the EV.

Deliveries will begin in the second half of this year.

The next-generation Mercedes-Benz V-Class will gain an ultra-luxurious range-topper badged VLS, which will provide the same level of luxury as the S-Class limousine in a much more spacious cabin. 

As previewed by the radical new Vision V-Class concept at the Shanghai motor show, this new top-class MPV will be designed to “provide luxury car buyers with a true penthouse-style ‘third space’”, according to Mercedes design boss Gorden Wagener.

Talking to Autocar at the show, Wagener said the VLS – which is expected to launch next year and could cost nearly £100,000 – will effectively be “an S-Class van”, aimed at expanding Stuttgart’s coverage of the luxury car market, following on from the GLS SUV and CLS four-door coupé. 

“We call it VLS, and that name emphasises that it could be S-Class-like transportation or potentially something that could even offer more than an S-Class,” Wagener said, highlighting the added comfort and luxury appeal that comes with an MPV’s larger interior.

“A van is an underrated thing, especially when you look at the chauffeur market and the luxury segment. What do people want when they are chauffeured? They want to have space, and in a van you can offer something that a sedan never can, because you have more space. 

“So you can do something that is more like what people are used to: first-class seats like on an airplane, that you can recline or even sleep on, and then you have the passenger compartment which is shut off by the big-screen monitor, so when you sit in there it’s actually no different to sitting at home on your sofa and watching TV. That makes that car what is known as the 'third space'.”

Mercedes already sells a premium high-spec version of the outgoing V-Class, but the VLS will be tangibly better equipped and more lavishly appointed, as previewed by the concept, which is “very close to production”. 

Asked if there was still a space for the Mercedes-Maybach brand when future Mercedes-Benz models are so luxuriously outfitted, Wagener said that perhaps “you can imagine something like [V-Class] as a Maybach as well”.

He added: “Maybach was always about space, first-class seating, offering more space.”

The standard version of the new V-Class will be badged VLE, Mercedes has confirmed, although it hasn't given any further details on powertrains and specifications.

Petrol and electric options are expected to be carried over to the next generation, which will be based on Mercedes’ new Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA) platform.

The concept's striking exterior “marks the next step” of Mercedes’ design language, the company said, especially in terms of making it as aerodynamic as possible - key in terms of maximising range for the production EV, which will likely be a heavy machine.

Notably, the brand points to the concept's new grille (similar to that found on the EQS), headlight design and illuminated standing star, suggesting these could make production, but the futuristic-looking rear light bar will likely be toned down before it hits showrooms.

The dramatic four-seat cabin, however, is where most work has been done, said Mercedes.

The main focus has been on creating a “private lounge” for the rear passengers, extensively clad in white Nappa leather. Features include a retractable 65in cinema screen (that when up also acts as partition wall), a 42-speaker sound system and two airline-style seats (made with tubular cushions) that are fully reclinable.

Seven projectors are also fitted to create different ambiences, the rear windows can be switched from transparent to opaque for a “unique cocooning effect” and there’s even a karaoke mode (one of seven that range from “gaming” to “relax”).

The concept showcases the “dawn of a new era” that “sets standards in design, comfort and an immersive user experience,” said Thomas Klein, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.

Up front, the elements that could carry over the real machine are clear to see, such as a production-spec steering wheel, the tri-part Superscreen (making its debut in the new CLA) and crystal-look air vents.

The extensive interior space is made possible by the new modular VAN.EA platform. While no details have been revealed on what powers the concept, the platform is fitted with 800V electricals and will be offered with front- and four-wheel-drive powertrains. The longest-legged variants should top 311 miles of range.

Multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) are among the most versatile forms of transport you can find, majoring on space, practicality and people-carrying. 

One of their biggest selling points is their extremely efficient use of space, which means they're often better value than vehicles with a similar footprint.

But don't think MPVs are lacking in other areas. They're packed with clever and handy features that reduce the stress of transporting families, often to better effect than some of the best SUVs. 

Generally speaking, MPVs feature up to seven seats, but the sector also includes five-seat models. Some even go up to nine seats.

With SUVs continuing to surge ahead in the sales charts, though, the number of people carriers on sale in the UK is dropping.

We've lost the Ford S-Max, Ford Galaxy and Volkswagen Sharan in the past few years, but don't worry: the MPV hasn’t slipped into obscurity just yet.

Our top MPV pick is the Dacia Jogger, which offers by far the best value for money and supreme practicality. But which other models should you consider buying? Read on to find out about the top 10 MPVs and people carriers...