CITROEN has set its sights firmly on beating the Renault Scenic with the launch of the Picasso in six months' time. Although UK pricing and specification levels have yet to be announced, the company is aiming to meet the Scenic head-on, which means prices from about £13,500 for the 1.6-litre to £16,000 for the HDi on a spec-for-spec basis with the Scenic.

The Picasso will also be competing against the Fiat Multipla, which goes on sale in the UK in January at prices from £13,380 to £16,080 on-the-road. Citroen will produce 180,000 Picassos worldwide during 2000 and the UK is expecting to take between 5% and 10% of this total - between 10,000 and 20,000 vehicles. Across Europe, the HDi will account for the majority of sales (50%), while the two petrol versions will share the remainder evenly between them, according to Citroen.

Standard equipment includes driver, passenger and two side airbags, remote control central locking, electric front windows and mirrors, variable rate power steering, Scotchguard coatings on the seats to repel stains and height adjustable driver's seat and steering wheel. Options include air conditioning, an electric full-length sliding fabric sunroof and a satellite navigation system.

A novelty which is expected to be particularly welcomed by family motorists is a built-in shopping trolley called Modubox. Clipped into the boot, it is a plastic box with wheels and handle which folds out to carry weights of up to 18kg. A Citroen spokesman said: 'The Picasso has been designed firmly with the family in mind, although we hope to target user-choosers wanting something that looks different from an ordinary hatchback or estate car but which still drives in a similar manner.'