First drive: Citroen C4 Picasso

Not wanting to follow the crowd into the burgeoning crossover market, Citroen is sticking to its guns with this, its fifth compact MPV to wear the Picasso badge. The French marque has shifted its focus for this latest model, aiming to offer more than what it calls a 'mobile cocoon', with avant-garde styling and impressive levels of technology. AOL Cars nipped over to Lisbon to find out what it's like.

What is it?

The 'Technospace' according to Citroen. In laymen's terms that means a striking new design language, which will eventually filter through to the rest of the Citroen range. The C4 Picasso is penned to appeal to more than just parents, with stacks of equipment and an airy interior that features lounge style seats and a 'loft architecture' design theme with vast expanses of glazing.

It is the first car to sit on the company's new EMP2 platform, making it both shorter and a whopping 140kg lighter than the outgoing model, despite offering greater rigidity and cabin space.