Nice New Citroen

RATING insurance groups are evaluations of risks faced by cars and light commercial vehicles in the United Kingdom. These ratings are decided by discussions between automobile manufacturers and representatives of the insurance industry, particularly the Association of British Insurers.

STRUCTURE OF THE GROUPS: Rating insurance groups are alpha-numeric, i.e., they have a number and a letter of the alphabet. The numbers range from 1 to 20, while the letters are: A, D, E, U, P, G.

MEANING OF THE GROUPS: The assessed risk facing a car is proportional to the numeric component of the group. A car in a group whose numeric component is ‘1′ faces the lowest risk. The assessed risk increases with the numeric component and is the highest at 20. Given that the premium prices too are proportionate to the assessed risk, cars in groups with the numeric ‘1′ attract the lowest premium. Premium increases with the numeric component of the group, it being the highest at 20.

Examples of Group rating 1 cars: As mentioned earlier in this report, representatives of the automobile industry and insurers meet from time to time to assign group ratings to cars and light commercial vehicles. Ratings may change with time, just as new models of cars may join existing models in a specific group rating. At the time of writing, however, the following car models were among those with group rating 1:

* Citroen C2

* Vauxhall Corsa 1.0

* Smart Fortwo

* Ford Ka

* Ford Fiesta

* Citroen Saxo 1.0

* C1 (from the Citroen car family)

Finally, please note that the group ratings are only indicative in nature and most insurers follow these ratings, though they are legally fee to deviate from them. If you are busying anew car, and insurance cost is an issue, get the insurance group rating of the car and check with an insurer the premium you would have to pay for the type of insurance you need.

Citroen has had great success with its C2 model that comes with a quality engine of 110 hp c2 1.6HDI VTS. It is a diesel consuming car whose market price is lesser than 11,000, which turns out to be quite affordable than any of the car with the same specs. This car is a combination of a number of plus points including better fuel economy, low emissions and effective performance. The interior and exterior looks of the car is just like a sports car. This car looks like wearing a coat of another sports car namely Citroen’s VTS badge. The market price of VTS badge is around 10,995.

The torque laden C2 1.6HDI VTS is used in this car. Because of this great success of these petrol engines, the company later on produced its first diesel consuming supermini car namely the VTS insignia. Insignia has an engine power up to 110 hp with 1.6HDI engine. It has a manual gear box of 5-speed and its top speed is 120mph.

Insignia takes about 9.4 seconds to accelerate up to 0-60mph. The torque of this car is pretty good even at around 2000 rpm. Because of some of its special features like fun-to-drive handling, environmental friendliness and sporty looks, it performed well in the market just like the petrol version cars. Some more features that are included in these cars are four air bags, ESP system, standard ABS with EBD, 16” ‘cheetah’ alloy wheels, an alarm, and the air conditioning.

With loads of features, a trendy design and high fuel economy, the Citroen C2 simply turns out to be one of the best deals under the 11,000 mark.

CITROEN is a pioneering car manufacturer, with a long line of original, advanced designs and a tradition of engineering excellence and innovation. The world’s first front-wheel drive car, the Traction Avant, was thanks to CITROEN. Perhaps the company’s most recognised car of all time is the 2CV, which came to be regarded as an automotive icon.

CITROEN’s current crop includes the C1, C2, C3, C4, C4 Picasso and Xsara Picasso, with new models such as the C6, which replaced the XM.

CITROEN HISTORY

In 1914, Andr CITROEN set up a company that made munitions for the war. This venture proved to be a success, and by the 1920s the company became known as CITROEN.

The company shocked the world in 1934 with the Traction Avant, a revolutionary car with features such as front wheel drive. In 1934, CITROEN was taken over by Michelin tyre company and in 1976, CITROEN became part of PSA Peugeot CITROEN.

CITROEN FACTS

* Type: Subsidiary of PSA Peugeot CITROEN
* Founded: 1919
* Headquarters: Paris, France
* Industry: Automotive
* Products: Cars

CITROEN FEATURED MODELS

* Citroen C2 – the first CITROEN with a Stop & Start environmental system, and five speed semi-automatic transmission.
* Citroen C3 – a larger family friendly car, the C3 has five doors and is a “supermini” intended to replace the Citroen Saxo.
* Citroen C4 – a small family car produced since 2004. The C4 was designed to be the successor to the Citroen Xsara.
* Citroen C5 – a large family car produced since early 2001. The C5 replaced the Citroen Xantia in the large family car class.
* Citroen SAXO – a supermini manufactured from 1996 to 2003.
* Citroen XSARA – a small family car produced since 1997 in five-door estate, three- and five-door hatchback styles.
* Citroen XSARA PICASSO – an MPV produced since 1999.

DID YOU KNOW?

* The 2CV was affectionately known as “The Duck”. Citroen realised that there was an urgent need for a cheap and reliable car, and first introduced the 2CV to the public in 1938. Because of WWII, the production started in 1948. Since the car was such a success the production continued for over 40 years. The design underwent only a few minor changes in all those years.
* At the 1950 Paris Motor Show, the 2CV van was introduced. Between February 1951 and March 1978, 1,246,306 2CV vans were made. Demand was so great that there was a six-year waiting list for delivery in the 1950s.
* Citroen held the constructor title in the World Rally Championship in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
* In 2000, Citroen built a heritage centre in Aulnay, Paris. These premises of 6,700 m2, house almost 300 vintage cars and concept cars, but are not open to the public.
* The Citroen won the bronze lion award at the Advertising film festival at Cannes in 2005. This was for the Citroen C4 film “The Dancer”.

Auto Trader World of Cars [http://cars.autotrader.co.uk], Main Fact Finder Index [http://cars.autotrader.co.uk/fact-finder]