This is the car Peugeot needs: a desirable car that compounds the styling found across the rest of the range and stays faithful to the show car exhibited two years ago. Then, the RCZ was compared to the Audi TT, but it hardly needs be mentioned now. In the more expressive fenders, rail trim and double-bubble roof, the RCZ has an identity that is its own; the only comparison that may interest customers now is the €6000 separating the two.

CDN spoke with the designer, Boris Reinmoller, who pointed out the few changes over the concept. First of which is the roof volume, the trough between the bubbles is 15mm shallower owing to the glass mold - but how wonderful they kept them at all. The front, too, is close to the concept and features an impressively engineered hood that falls to the C-line; only at the rear are the differences clearer with a central fog lamp pushing the tailpipes to one side within a diffuser graphic.

Move to the side and the rocker section has lost its mass while the trunk deck has gained a retractable spoiler. Inside the unlocked car on the stand, stitched grey leather covered the upper IP and door graphic. The instrument panel also keeps the central clock inspired by Bell & Ross, with the numeral graphic carried over to the dials.

With Jean-Pierre Ploue assuming management of design at Peugeot as well as Citroen, the styling that has lead to the RCZ risks being at odds with his new direction, but for now the brand has the halo it has long deserved.

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The DS3 was presented as the DS Inside concept in Geneva this year and, as CDN predicted, there are few changes for the production model. Essentially a three-door version of the new C3 also launched at the 2009 IAA, Citroën's aim is to capitalize on the three-door format to market a sportier, higher quality fashion car to a younger buyer than the C3 and to muscle in on the Mini and Fiat 500 scene.

Changes from the C3 include a new front bumper with vertical LED running lamps, a faster windscreen and extensive use of chrome on the lower door protectors and mirrors. It wouldn't be a Citroën unless it did something quirky with the beltline and here it kicks up into a shark's fin that breaks up the side view. It's not unattractive as a device but, given that a large part of the exterior is the floating roof, it's a pity Citroën haven't invested in proper glossy polycarbonate finishers for the A-Pillar (as on the Mini) rather than cheap PVC film to complete the execution of the wraparound theme.

Examples displayed included a dark gray car with maroon roof; graphite gray with a white roof and a pearl white car with pale blue roof that incorporates a matt finish African safari pattern as well.

Inside, the basic IP is carried over from the C3 but makes extensive use of fashion materials and color inserts for individuality. Top versions even have a leather covered IP plus two-tone sports seats featuring a watch bracelet pattern first seen on the C5 Airscape concept in 2007. Note the interesting use of sub branding here for the DS Line: there's no Citroën logo at the rear of the car, just a stylized DS3 emblem, plus an abbreviated ‘S' logo used on the nose and steering wheel.

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Citroen DS Inside concept - Geneva 2009

This is a new lower-medium SUV from Hyundai that replaces the Tuscon and shares its platform with the Kia Sorrento also debuting at the Frankfurt motor show.

The Korean automaker uses the term ‘fluidic' to describe the form language of the ix35, which is notable for the way it uses dynamic surfacing to add a sporty character to an otherwise orthodox SUV package, much like the Ford Kuga. The Hyundai has some similar graphics to the Ford too, notably its DRG. But there are several unique aspects to the ix35, such as the three separate bodyside creases that break up the surfacing of the flanks.

The prominent dark grey rocker area that kicks up behind the front wheel is also unique. This is a useful device to visually reduce the height of the car and it ingeniously uses the fog lights to reduce its depth as it wraps around into the rear.

The interior is a little more conventional but has some nice touches, such as the way the vertically orientated air vents sit in a high quality metal effect surround outside of the main center stack area.

The Hyundai ix35 does not particularly move the European market lower-medium SUV sector forwards, but it is a marked advancement over its predecessor and an impressive design in its own right. The one aspect we find hard to understand is why the design is so sporting relative to the new Sorrento when Kia purports to be a sportier brand than Hyundai.

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Kia Sorrento - Frankfurt 2009