FRENCH car maker Citroen is expanding its C5 Aircross SUV range with the introduction of a petrol automatic option mated to its PureTech 130 engine.

The new model is available only from mid-grade Flair trim upwards and prices start for £28,335, a £1,600 premium over the six-speed manual model.

With the new transmission the C5 Aircross is said to have emissions in the region of 118g/km which equates to around 47 to the gallon.

The new eight-speed auto Aircross will be on the road in the spring and will replace the current petrol version which has a 1.6-litre engine developing 180bhp and is priced from £29,735.

Citroen has also announced new CO2 figures for its diesel C5 Aircross models which see reductions of three grams per kilometre to 105g/km for BlueHDi 130 manual models while automatic versions are even cleaner at 100g/km - a reduction of eight grams per kilometre.

Diesel C5 Aircrosses are priced from £25,335 for the manual and £26,935 for the automatic in entry level Feel trim.