It"s the French firm"s...

It"s the French firm"s latest show car, a striking two-seater with a targa roof that could be the baby brother to the C3 Pluriel. And as Citroen has such an excellent habit of turning its concepts into reality, it"s likely that this will be the next C2 supermini.

Unveiled at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy this week, the C-AirPlay is based on a chopped-down version of the current C2 - and at only 3.3 metres long, it is shorter than the company"s C1 city car. Penned by British designer, Mark Lloyd, it"s a stunning machine, with a sporty wheel-at-each-corner stance, a sweeping curved profile and a panoramic glass roof.

At the front huge, high-mounted headlights and large air intakes combine to give the C-AirPlay a typically cheeky Citroen face, while along the sides, see-through door panels heighten the feeling of speed on the move. Extended wheelarches, a sloping tail and a single exhaust pipe emerging from the centre of the bumper complete the look.

Inside, the C-AirPlay is even more radical. A bright red, one-piece silicone bench seat features moulded buttons - positioned between the driver and passenger - for the electric windows, an electrically adjustable rear view mirror and SensoDrive semi-auto gearbox.

Mounted on a raised ridge, the arrangement simplifies the cabin and allows the facia to be minimalist in its design. But the biggest highlight is the steering wheel. Taking the C4"s fixed hub idea to a new level, the C-AirPlay"s features twin dials mounted in a central pod. They display the car"s speed, engine revs and other information in a digital format. At the rear, Citroen has maximised boot space - despite the newcomer"s short body length - by equipping the C-AirPlay with two specially designed luggage cases.

Although styled to feel like a convertible, the car is not a conventional cabrio. The full-length glass top lets in plenty of light, and with a removable centre section, it"s possible to create a Smart Roadster-style targa environment. Such a roof could well make an appearance on forthcoming Citroens, offering a simpler, sturdier and more visually pleasing arrangement than that used by the current C3 Pluriel. Rarely for a show car, the C-AirPlay is ready to drive. Under the bonnet is the 110bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine from the C2 VTS hot hatch, which powers the front wheels.

As with the hatch, the C-AirPlay has twin paddles behind the steering wheel for the semi-automatic gearbox. Also present on the newcomer is the company"s Stop-Start system, which saves fuel and cuts emissions by turning the engine off in traffic.

The model is expected to make another appearance at March"s Geneva Motor Show, when Citroen will also release more details on its future.