Citroën’s dancing robot is about to gyrate back onto screens with the launch on June 5 of a follow-up to the original advertisement. The first ad, which used computer animation to morph the C4 into a hip mechanical dancer, won a string of advertising industry awards, the soundtrack became a top 10 single for Les Rythmes Digitales and the robot’s moves — choreographed by Justin Timberlake’s dance tutor — spawned a new craze in London’s clubs.

The follow-up, featuring the same strapline, Alive with Technology, shows the robot ice-skating on a lake in Canada, a skill the carmaker says demonstrates the car’s handling and traction control.

The electro-house soundtrack is by the Egg, but Citroën could not confirm whether the track would be released as a single. The C4 robot is recognised by more than 80% of people in the UK, according to the company’s own market research.

BMW takes top off the M6

BMW is rumoured to be poised to unveil its most expensive car at the British International Motor Show in London this July. The car, expected to cost in excess of £84,000, will be a convertible version of the M6. The priciest car in BMW’s line-up is currently the 7-series 760 long wheelbase at £83,730. The M6 coupé (£81,760) was described by Jeremy Clarkson as “so brilliant it casts a million-gigawatt spotlight on the ordinariness of its humdrum brothers”.

The new drop top will share its V10 engine with the hard top and reach 62mph in 4.6sec with a top speed of 155mph. The seven-speed sequential manual gearbox will have the option of paddles and a power button will lift engine output from 400bhp to 507bhp.

Eco freaks chip their Priuses

Toyota Prius owners are improving the fuel consumption of their cars by reprogramming the engine mangement system. “Chipping” — altering the parameters of the microchip — is usually the preserve of boy racers who want to boost their cars’ performance. But ecologically conscious owners of the Prius — the world’s most famous green car, a petrol-electric hybrid — have found they can extract nearly 100 miles per gallon by tweaking the car’s computer so it spends more time running on battery power and less on petrol.

The trend began among American owners of the Prius and has spread to Britain. Amberjac Projects of Lincolnshire is planning to launch a kit enabling Prius owners to recharge their cars by plugging them into the mains, rather than recharging while driving.

The Prius has an official fuel consumption of 65.7mpg (combined) but many owners complain they achieve barely more than 40mpg.