The Citroën C4 has proved to be a breath of fresh air in the family hatchback sector of the market. Its futuristic looks and innovative design coupled with a host of technological gadgets have made it a firm favourite with the British motoring public. But there's ever-tougher competitor from rivals, so Citroën have now added a special edition to the range called the C4 Cool offering customers addition equipment at no extra cost.

The C4 Cool models are based on the VTR and SX trim levels and in addition feature automatic dual zone air conditioning, automatic wipers and automatic headlamps. A smart new grey upholstery and, on 5-door models, electric rear windows complete the package. Two distinctly different body styles are available with these special editions, offered both in five-door hatchback form and three-door Coupe formats. Prices start from £13,195 and £13,795 depending on your choice between the two.

Three engine choices are available with the C4 Cool - two petrol the other diesel. There entry-level 1.4-litre unit has 90bhp to its name while the 1.6-litre 16-value petrol unit develops 110bhp and returns an average economy figure of 40mpg. The 0-60mph sprint is accomplished in 10.6 seconds by the 1.6 and the car tops out at 110mph. This high-revving petrol unit is not without its charm but many buyers will be swayed by Citroën's impressive HDi diesel.

The 1.6-litre HDi oil-burner is remarkably quiet and clean. In 92bhp form as offered with the C4 Cool, it will reach 62mph from standstill in 12.5s and go on to a 92mph top speed. These figures might look less impressive than the petrol option given the premium you pay for a diesel but in real world conditions, the punchy nature of the diesel's power delivery makes it feel faster. Better still, the 1.6-litre HDi unit returns outstanding 60mpg fuel economy.

And the C4 itself? Well, with this car, Citroën have taken a leaf out of Vauxhall's book in their product development plans. By introducing plenty of MPV-style models, Vauxhall left themselves free to design sportier and more dynamic versions of their 'regular' cars. Citroën followed suit and, divested of the need to seat seven people and their 1.5-litre bottles of pop (a job handled adroitly by the new C4 Picasso), the ordinary C4 looks extremely svelte,

"The Citroën C4 Cool looks to be a good value for money proposition."

There's an element of Ford Focus to the rear window line but the C4 is more extreme still, even the hatchback boasting a coupe-like silhouette. Early shots of a C4 rally car mock-up left many with moistened palms and the sporty VTS version of the Coupe will be the model for them. With big alloys and spoilers, this car looks great. Citroën claim class-leading aerodynamics for all C4 Coupe models, the drag coefficient of just 0.28 paying dividends not only in performance and economy but also in keeping the all-important CO2 emissions in check.

This being Citroën, we can take a whole host of innovations for granted and the C4 doesn't come up short. An involuntary lane departure warning system has been developed that aims to prevent drivers from losing concentration or dozing off at the wheel. Moving dual function Xenon headlamps offer improved lighting when cornering and provide a neat historical throwback to the DS model.

No car in this class can shift serious numbers unless it scores well on the safety front and Citroën has achieved a full set of stars in the EuroNCAP safety tests. The multi-function steering wheel houses a whole host of the controls from the centre console, ensuring that the driver is in touch with the control of the vehicle at all times. Despite the multitude of functions marshalled by the tiller, there's still room for an airbag that Citroën claims offers better protection than any of their prior designs.

Building in features more often seen on luxury cars is an ongoing theme, the C4 featuring laminated side window glass. Not only does this aid safety in the result of an accident, it also provides enhanced protection against crime and even boosts the cabin's acoustic qualities. Manufacturers of car stereos have long lamented the fact that with a high proportion of echoing surfaces, the car's interior is one of the most acoustically challenging environments in which to create great sounding music reproduction. It has been found that the insulating layer of clear plastic inside a laminated windscreen produced less acoustic scatter than the harsher echoes that rebounded off a more brittle toughened screen.

The innovations don't stop there. The C4 even features a scented air freshener built into the dashboard to prolong that fantastic new car smell. One of the nicer detail touches is a translucent instrument cluster that adjusts to ambient light levels, giving a clear readout whatever the light conditions. Many cars offer LCD screens that are virtually impossible to read in daylight and if you switch your headlamps on so that other cars can see you coming, the problem can get worse. Thankfully Citroen have spent some time and money coming up with a solution.

The Citroën C4 Cool looks to be a good value for money proposition. This French family hatch has captured a significant number of sales and is building a loyal following of fans. Special Editions like the C4 Cool can only help to cement the car's growing reputation even further. It looks like Citroën are on to a winner.