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By
DEREK OGDEN
24 October 2011
Citroen
is about to clear out the cupboard. The French marque is revising
every car in its range for 2012, with new trim and equipment, a
new DS identity and, above all, new and more attractive prices.
Existing vehicles involved include the Citroen C3, DS3, C4
Picasso, C5 sedan and Tourer (wagon) and Berlingo van, while new
DS models – DS4 and DS5 – will be wheeled out in the first
half of the year, with the C4 Aircross crossover vehicle later in
2012.
The first vehicle to feel the effects of the stiff bristles of the
Gallic broom is the Citroen C4, which is virtually all-new. It
comes Down Under with a choice of four petrol and four diesel
versions and three trim and equipment levels – Attraction,
Seduction and Exclusive.
Inside
and out the design is completely new. Nothing has been carried
over from the model it supersedes. The new Citroen C4 comes to the
market starting at just $22,990, excluding statutory and dealer
costs.
This variant is powered by a 1.6-litre 88 kW diesel engine with a
standard automatic transmission, central locking, power front
windows and cruise control.
Other vehicles in the range boast a blind spot warning system and
front massaging seats. New powertrains offer fuel economy as
impressive as 3.8 litres per 100 km.
Also available is a micro-hybrid e-HDi system that includes a
1.6-litre 82 kW diesel motor fitted with a second-generation
engine stop-start function and regenerative braking.
Engine
start-ups take a mere 400 milliseconds; it cuts the engine even
before the car comes to a stop, at about six km/h, with the
overall result of improving fuel efficiency by up to 15 per cent
and reducing CO2 emissions by about five grams per kilometre.
Every little bit helps.
An electronically controlled alternator uses regenerative braking
to recover energy when the car slows. The EGS gearbox incorporates
optimised gear ratios.
Aimed at meeting the needs of mid-size five-door hatchback
customers, the Citroen C4 offers a purposeful front, is
aerodynamic amidships, business-like back yet with a rear spoiler
adding a touch of sportiness.
At 4.33 metres long, 1.79 metres wide and 1.49 metres high, it’s
a tad larger than the model it replaces. The new C4 has a cargo
carrying capacity that leads the class. It swallows up to 380
litres of luggage with the rear seat backs up, or 1183 litres with
them folded.
Interior finish too is up there with the best in class. The soft
finish upper surface of the dashboard and chrome rims on dials and
vents presents a touch of class to a driver-focused layout.
The
latest in automotive technology, some of which is unique to this
market, is within reach of the driver. There is blind spot
monitoring; cornering lights that guide the driver on sharp bends,
and cruise control with speed limiter that can be set to
driver’s choice speeds.
Comfort can be ‘cut’ to individual tastes with colour
adjustment of instrument display, a selection of ‘polyphonic’
alerts and three intensity settings for air-con. The top line
Exclusive model is fitted as standard with front seat massage
facility, the first in this market sector.
Citroen C4’s use of 15 per cent ‘green’ materials adds to
its environmental credentials.
In a compact cruise around Sydney’s north shore in a petrol and
diesel variant, the C4 showed itself to be versatile enough to
suit a range of customers from the green leaners to those who
demand a touch of luxury no matter what size of vehicle.
The 88 kW petrol with six-speed manual transmission tended to run
out of puff under load unless revs were maintained in the upper
regions, while a diesel powered ‘mate’ produced a more relaxed
drive with a surprisingly quiet cabin atmosphere for an oil
burner.
While light and spacious in interior feel, the seats turned out to
be flat and on the hard side of firm. The large digital speedo and
expansive windscreen meant flicking between ‘clock’ and road
was easy on the eyes.
With a range of vehicles presenting something for everybody, the
C4 sets the standard for other Citroens to come. It could be a
happy new year for the marque.
MODEL RANGE
C4 Attraction 1.6 petrol automatic: $22,990
C4 Seduction 1.6 petrol six-speed manual: $22,990
C4 Seduction 1.6 petrol automatic: $24,990
C4 Seduction 1.6 HDi six-speed manual: $26,990
C4 Seduction 1.6 e-HDi six-speed EGS $27,990
C4 Exclusive 1.6 turbo-petrol six-speed EGS: $31,990
C4 Exclusive 1.6 HDi six-speed manual: $31,990
C4 Exclusive 1.6 e-HDI six-speed EGS: $32,990
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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