I really didn't know the difference between a sunroof and a moonroof - I only worked it out yesterday. So I thought I'd share it with you. I had always imagined that a sunroof and a moonroof were exactly the same thing, but now know the rather significant difference.

A sunroof is essentially a large glass panel in the roof of a car, which is almost always heavily tinted (so all the UV rays don't come into the car and sizzle the top of your head). The idea is that you can see through the glass and up to the wonders of blue skies. Sometimes however, it is simply too hot or too sunny for that kind of thing, so you can usually cover the sunroof from the inside with a retractable sheet of plastic or fabric which shields you from the light. Alternatively, if you're diggin' the sunshine, you can (usually electrically) make the sunroof glass slide up over the top of your roof, and let the golden rays of sun in. Hence, this is why it is called a "sunroof."

A moonroof is very similar, except for one important missing feature. With a moonroof, you can't allow the glass panel to slide away and let the sunshine in - it's a fixed panel. I suppose that's why it's called a "moonroof" - you can't let the golden rays of moonshine in, no matter how hard you try.

All this is illustrated with this picture below. On the left of the picture is a sunroof for the front passengers - it's letting the sun in. You can also see a plastic grab handle in the middle of the roof which allows you to cover over the glass (you might need to click the picture so you can see it in a larger format). To the right of the picture is a moonroof for the rear passengers, which has all the features of the sunroof, without the ability to let the sun completely "in", if you know what I mean.Another cool feature you might hear of is a "panoramic sunroof". I've included this picture of one in a Citroen C4. The thing that makes it "panoramic" is that unlike the sunroof and moonroof in the previous picture, a panoramic sunroof spans the entire roof length of the car. It's like one giant sunroof. Except for the fact that it really should be called a panoramic moonroof, because it's one huge big fixed glass panel, and cannot allow sunlight properly "in" - unhindered by tinted glass.Okay, there really isn't a huge difference between these things, but if you're going to splash out such a huge amount of money on a sunroof/moonroof (usually about $2000), I think you might want to make sure it has all the features you want.

LINGO: Sunroof vs. Moonroof

Only 3 days after I reported that Citroen were going to revive the DS nameplate, Citroen have released these first pictures of a DS model. In fact, it is only a concept, called "DS Inside" which will be on show at Geneva Motor Show next month, but it seems suspiciously close to production, and the official line is that the production version of this model will be released only next year. So I can't imagine that they will make drastic changes at this late stage.I had said that the three DS models would be equivalents of the C3, C4 and C5, however this vehicle we have here appears to be C2 sized, which is a little confusing. Or perhaps the pictures are just decieving, and this really is a C3 sized car.

But can I say something I've been dying to say since the start of this article? WOW!!!! I love it already. Finally, I'm looking at a design for a 21st century car that has the attention to detail I want to expect from today's carmakers. I would happily pay quite a price premium over a C3 just to have a car that looks as good as this. The attention to detail is what I believe makes this car look more expensive than its competitors. Does the Mini Cooper look this good? Does a Volvo C30 look this good? Even the Alfa Romeo MiTo doesn't look quite this good. That's quite an achievement.

Although having said that, Citroen won't tell us what the interior looks like yet - it's been blacked out in these pictures, and ironically, even thought it is called the "DS Inside" Concept, it is still unknown whether the car's interior will be shown at the Geneva Motor Show. Time will tell whether it truly deserves to be a DS car - the interior of this car is crucially important, and Citroen will have to set a new benchmark in innovative design for their plan to work. While it's unrealistic to expect new and unseen technologies to debut in this car (it's not a Merc, after all), I think we should expect something rather special nonetheless. What we do now know from these pictures is that the DS models will retain Citroen's regular design language - it's just been pumped up to a new level.

In my opinion, the exterior of what will end up being the DS3 has definitely delivered. Of the many standout delicacies of this car, those bold alloy wheels hit the spot with me the most. It's reflective of the design talent at Citroen that they can create a design theme in their cars that can make their cars sexier than Alfa Romeos. That deserves applause.

NEWS: Citroen DS Inside Concept For Geneva 2009

Yes, you heard right. Citroen are going to revive the iconic DS. Well, at least the name of it, anyway. Here's the plan - they're basically just going to take existing C3, C4 and C5 platforms, jazz them up, call them the Citroen DS3 DS4 and DS5, and sell them alongside their "C" couterparts at a price premium. That sounds like a marketing dodginess, but I'm actually quite excited, because the idea is that these new DS models will have the same values and focus as the original DS of the previous century.I have to explain to you all why I love the DS - it's probably my favourite car of all time. That's right, no Bugatti Veyrons or Ferrari Enzos for me, just a shiny DS. And yes, before you wonder, this was the graphic in the original magazine advertisement of 1955. But comparing the DS to a spaceship was, at the time, not all that bizarre. First of all, look at it! It's a work of art, and has even inspired art exhibition in its honour. Secondly, it was designed by an artist - Flaminio Bertoni, an Italian sculptor. Such is the appeal of it's artistically space-age looks, that the DS has been used in no fewer than 638 movies.But the main reason why the DS remain such a classic is because of its technologically advanced and futuristic features. For instance, in conventional cars, hydraulic systems were only used for brakes and power steering. The DS used hydraulics in the suspension, clutch, and transmission systems also. Its hydropneumatic suspension became the hallmark of Citroen, since the system could automatically level the car over potholes and road bumps, giving it legendary status as the car with the best ride quality ever made. In fact, the Citroen DS was compared to a magic carpet - I'm not joking. This is the car that cemented Citroen's reputation for impeccable ride quality. It could increase or decrease ground clearance depending on what kind of terrain you were travelling over. And the hydraulic clutch meant that this car could be driven as a clutchless manual - which is still all the rage among supercar makers 50 years later. It also had four-wheel independent suspension, which although doesn't sound like much to people like me, basically meant that it was infinitely lighter and more agile than any of its competitors.

It also featured many world firsts, such as disc brakes, which are now common on our modern road cars. Another first was swivelling headlights (right), which turned with the steering wheel to help you see around corners at night. Even now, so many years down the track, this is a luxury feature not present on the vast majority of vehicles. The roof was made of fiberglass to keep the centre of gravity down closer to the ground, therefore helping the handling of the car. And the interior looked like something designed by a martian, which was highly desirable to a world which at the time was ingrossed in the space race.
They made 1.5 million of these things, including 1365 convertibles like this one (right), and the DS has been sorely missed ever since. It wasn't exactly perfect - hydraulic fluid leaked from everywhere, and Citroen couldn't hire enough mechanics to fix all the broken cars. But a good DS is still a legend, and so it should be. After all, Citroen spent 18 years developing this car in secret before its 1955 launch. Here was a car that was truly, and in almost every single way, ahead of its time.

Which brings me back to this modern day DS revival. Does it sound like a sell out? Yeah, probably, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't give Citroen a chance. They've surprised us before, as the original DS points out. Citroen weren't really known for anything up until 1955 before they rocketed into exclusivity (and have since become progressively more mainstream and boring, until very recently). Heck, even the classic 2CV wasn't popular until after the DS took the world by storm.

I think for a long time, Citroen have had divided priorities. Citroen of old was reknown for wacky vehicles, futuristic designs, new technologies, and… poor reliability, but never mind, that part isn't important. Then for ages, we started to see a more and more mainstream Citroen. Boring, characterless designs that appealed to the masses. They may have sold better, but were never instant classics like the DS.

But the point is, these two ideas have never been reconciled. Instead, Citroen has been constantly struggling with itself, trying to juggle lunacy with common-sense, which doesn't work in any universe. Citroen is releasing a DS lineup so that they can make models that are truly “Citroen” as we want them to be - wacky and futuristic and all that. In this way, they can make their C1/2/3/4/5/6/8 models - I can count!!! - more mainstream, and hopefully satisfy both streams of buyers.

So I'm going to try and preempt the new technologies in these modern day DS cars... but I just can't think of anything that Mercedes or Rolls-Royce or posh makers like that haven't already done. So, if these new Citroen DS cars are going to swing with me, this is the one world-first feature they must all have.

They must be able to transform into a dancing robot.

NEWS: Citroen Bringing Sexy Back With Revived DS

When Mitsubishi made the current Outlander, both Citroen and Peugeot were involved, and so, it was announced that they would be making their own versions of the Outlander platform. The Citroen C-Crosser was quietly released in 2007 - I say quietly because aside from the more Citroen-esque nose, the shape of the car was pure Outlander. Even the interior was identical to the Mitsubishi. Peugeot then released the 4007, which again, was virtually identical, except for the face. So don't say anything about the Mitsubishi Outlander in front of people that work for Peugeot or Citroen. And no-one's really buying the C-Crosser or 4007 because we can all see through their lies - they're not new cars in their own right, merely copies. So Peugeot didn't want that to happen again with their latest attempt at a Compact SUV. It is all new, based on the 308 platform, and got an extra 0 to its name.

Actually, I'm reasonably impressed by the 3008. The overall shape of the car is quite pleasing, if a bit bulky and chubby. Of course, because this is a Peugeot, the face of the car is horrible - how hard can it be to make a car with a nice nose? Oh, wait a minute, I forgot - the French have no inspiration for nice noses. The domestic trend is quite the opposite. On the other hand, because this is a Peugeot, it will look much better in real life than it does in pictures. Hopefully. Well, I hated the 407 in pictures, but when I see them out on the road, they somehow look elegant. This had baffled me for a long time, until I realised the truth - Peugeot have invested a lot of money in the paint finish of their cars. Have you ever seen a 407 with a boring looking paintjob? They're always sparkly and stunning, or glossy and classy. Perhaps this is what is blinding me to the true ugliness of a Peugeot.

Anyway, the 3008. In Europe, the 3008 will be offered in a vast range of petrol and diesel engines, but when it arrives here in 2010, the story will be a bit different. The petrol range of the 3008 only reaches 1.6 Litres and 115kw, so it is most likely that we'll only get the top-of-the-range 2.0Litre diesel engine, producing 120kW and 340Nm. In 2011, Peugeot plan to introduce a diesel-electric 3008, like the Prologue HYbrid4 concept shown last year. Don't expect that to come here though, sadly.

The new 3008 will be offered in 5-seat and 7-seat configurations, and Peugeot want the 3008 to fill the roles of SUV, people mover, and family hatchback. I personally think it will join the Nissan Dualis in a new market segment - a sort of 4x4, sort of hatchback kind of car. Perhaps then it would be a good idea to create a front wheel drive version of the 3008, Peugeot? In this way, the 3008 will save weight (increasing performance, economy, etc.) and hopefully also make some gains in the handling department. It's not like people who want a 3008 will want to go off-road, by any stretch of the imagination.

Like when they launched the 308, Peugeot are harping incessantly on about how their new cars are of vastly better quality. And though I'll admit that the interior looks pleasant, in an Audi R8 kind of way, time will be the judge of their claims. Wouldn't it be great if other car makers could make their more interesting cars as reliable as a Toyota?

But do you think that Peugeot really is purposely entering their car in a new market segment? Does the 3008 really compete with the Nissan Dualis? You know what I'm talking about when you see them next to each other. They both share the same low ride height, anyway. Let me know whether you think the concept will take off - I believe, providing the price is right, that it will.

NEWS: Peugeot 3008 Officially Launched into a New Market Segment

I like the Mitsubishi Lancer - it's a car that is pretty much at the top of it's game, up with the class competitors, and selling well. It's exactly the thing Mitsubishi Australia needed to increase profitability in our market. Then they introduced the Sportback.

In one rather memorable story, I remarked that you're usually pretty safe with any small car that has the word "Sport" added to it. I was pretty much right, but only because in that case, the "sport" referred to a level of specification (tuned suspension, bodykit, etc.), and not the rear end of a car. It's becoming a growing trend. Audi named the four-door version of their A3 the "Sportback", then Holden decided that the new Commodore wagon should be called "Sportwagon" (what the frick is sporty about a 5-metre long Commodore Omega wagon has got me beat), and now we have the Lancer Sportback. The reason why I'm really annoyed by the Lancer is because, unlike the Audi and the Commodore, it looks absolutely hideous.

I couldn't find a picture on the internet that hadn't been cleverly angled to hide the wierd shape of that rear hatchback - it looks pretty unloved, doesn't it? Nevertheless, I will assume that it broadens the Lancer's appeal further, and can probably carry heaps of stuff. Why I'm really mentioning it is because usually, the transfer from hatch to booted sedan comes up with some hideous cars. Think about when they made the Toyota Echo sedan! That was a shocker. Thankfully, car makers have realised that we tend not to buy ugly spin-offs of good cars, so we don't get some of these hatch-to-sedan blunders. Elsewhere however, they have. Often, these are travesties that are best represented in profile - the Citroen C4 sedan. Nowhere near funky enough to be a dancing robot (tell Tsoukinator). Another example I'd like to show you is the Mazda2 Sedan - horrible!

I want to have a dig at it not because I think it is ugly (even though I do think so) - Imprezas, and Subaru's in general, are meant to be ugly. It's reassuring. It tells you: "Don't worry. I haven't changed. I'm still ugly - I'm still good quality Subaru inside." Instead, I hate it because in profile, or side-view, it has basically copied the proportions of the current (and outgoing) Mazda3. Tut, tut, tut.

Alright, now it's the sedan's turn. The front half of the car is actually bearable, but only once you've seen the rear end. Subaru have done even more copycating here - although this time, they've copycatted something really bad to start with.

What would you think if I told you that you're new "fooli sik" WRX looked like a Suzuki SX4? Well, I'd be right, and you'd be fuming - "how dare you compare my fooli sik WRX with that heap of sh**!" you will say. But I will walk away and laugh, because the arse of your $50,000 sports car, with rally credentials, street savvy, and a youthful image - looks identical to the arse of your grandma's little runaround.

RANT: I Don't Like That Arse, I Don't...

You know what? I really like the Citroen C5. First of all, it looks like a luxury sedan should - a classy car, but not about to blend in with the scenery either. Even the wagon looks rather nice, and seems to have a point, because it is rather practical, and doesn't look like a hearse. However. Citroens drop in price like clothes on boxing day, so don't buy one new. Hunt out a sucker who bought one new, and buy his. They may not be that reliable, but they will be reliable enough. It's parts are 80% shared with the Peugeot 407, but you wouldn't know it - this is much better. The engines are all diesel, however, and you need to buy the top model (Exclusive) to get the really good one. But look at it!!! It makes the Volkswagen Passat look like my microwave, and has an elegance and technicality about it that I definitely like. Interior appearance also, is highly commendable - it looks fantastic, like the cockpit of the Airbus A380, and with more than enough buttons to make you look high-tech. If you can see the steering wheel in the picture of the interior below, just check out how many buttons are on it - who needs that many buttons? On the steering wheel? Evidently, the C5 does. Why? Because it is absolutely loaded with features. There almost isn't enough space on the dash to fit enough buttons for all the features. That's why the C5 looks the way it does. But I love it. It's different - apart from the crowd. And the badge isn't snobbish enough to be keyed in the shopping centre car park - it's not too good, but it's well and truly good enough for me. And it's an honest kind of car - and likeable, with a fresh personality all of its own.

As a used car? Much better value option that buying it new, but don't get the old model. The old model looked hideous, drove very poorly and looked tackier inside than your grandma's tea set.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Style: 8.5/10 Value For Money: 8.5/10
Practicality: 8.5/10
Safety: Rating Unavailable
Average Real Owner Reliability: New Model Unavailable - Old model: 6.8/10 (www.carsurvey.org December 2008)

Engines:
Please see the image in "HOW MUCH MOOLAH?" for this information.

Features:
Alloy Wheels: YES
Leather: YES
Cruise Control: YES
Air Conditioning: YES - Climate Control
Steering Wheel Audio Controls: YES
Power Windows and Mirrors: YES
Stability Control: YES
Airbags: SEVEN or NINE, depending on model
Foglamps: FRONT and REAR
CD Changer: SINGLE DISC
Speakers: SIX
Bluetooth: OPTIONAL
MP3 Compatibility: YES
Metallic Paint: OPTIONAL ($750)
Sunroof: OPTIONAL ($2,000) Alfa Romeo 159
Audi A4
BMW 3-Series
Jaguar X-Type
Lexus IS
Mercedes C-Class
Peugeot 407
Renault Laguna
Saab 9-3
Volkswagen Passat
Volvo S40
Volvo S60

YOUR CAR IN BRIEF: Citroen C5