Nice New Citroen

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]

2011 Citroen C4 Review – Leading the French Automotive Revolution

Isn’t interesting how things come full circle? Take for example the latest Citroen C4, the dramatic and stylish replacement for the uninspired mid-range Xsara and ZX models. After almost a decade and a half of Peugeot ownership, and the efforts to increase market share by making conventionally-styled cars, Citroen finally realised that the brand really needed to return to the defiant, innovative spirit that characterised models such as a DS, GS and CX from the 50s, 60s and 70s.

There used to be a joke in the 80s and 90s that each new Citroen model had to have a larger double chevron badge than the earlier models because it was increasingly difficult to tell Citroens apart from Peugeots and Renaults. Well, with the C4, this is definitely not the case, even if the double chevron has become larger and incorporated on the grille; this will be the new identity for all future Citroen models. Grille apart, the C4 has bold arching lines, making it look like a stretched and more dynamic C3. From the up turned headlamps in front, to the sloping rear, the C4 looks distinctive and unique, but also well proportioned and stylish. Even while standing still, its mild cab forward stance gives it a thrusting, forward motion. There is no mistaking this new Citroen for another brand of car.

On the inside as well, the C4 recalls the futuristic dashboards of Citroens’ passed. The futuristic digital instrument binnacle is a floating pod located in the middle of a symmetrical dashboard. The speedometer, fuel and temperature gauges, as well as the distance-to-empty reading for fuel, are all displayed in this singular LCD panel, and it is impressively easy to read. More than just a conventional digital display, the panel is actually translucent, and it changes colour according to the amount of light falling on it.

The tachometer, gear selection and warning lights are mounted in a separate pod directly in front of the driver, and the entire assembly moves up and down when the steering is adjusted. Instead of having a red-line, the tachometer display itself changes to red when the engine is over-revved.

Perhaps of the most radical aspect of the C4’s dashboard is the steering boss. Instead of turning with the wheel, it remains in place. This means the switches mounted on it (cruise control on the left and in-car hi-fi on the right) don’t move, and are actually easier to use this way. Having a fixed steering boss also allowed for the mounting of a larger two stage airbag for the driver. Like all innovative designs, one must ask why nobody thought of it any earlier? It is refreshing that Citroen is designing interesting dashboards again through intelligent re-thinking and questioning of the status quo, and not just for the sake of being different.

But unique looks aside, the C4 is also a great drive – the throttle is lively and responsive, and the steering feels positive and tactile, on top of being a wonderfully innovative design. Citroens have always been involving and good to drive, but with the C4, they once again have the distinctive looks to match. Sure, Alfa Romeos sound better, Hondas are more free-revving and the Mini has a sharper steering, but the C4 drives as though its suspension, engine and chassis are perfectly choreographed, each component playing its part so that the whole ensemble gives an outstanding and well-rounded performance.

But probably the most significant, but rational aspect of the C4 is that it is utterly conventional. There is no hydra-active pneumatic suspension, and it doesn’t have a mind-boggling fluid based clutch or powered steering. In fact, mechanically speaking, the C4 is almost entirely identical to the Peugeot 307. Yet, the two cars could not be more different. While the 307 is tall and spacious, the C4 is curvy and feels snug inside. While the Peugeot has a conventional cabin, the C4 is completely digital and avant-garde. In the 307, one rides tall, like in an MPV, while in the C4, the set up is sportier and one feels like piloting a futuristic spacecraft. A true Citroen fan might bemoan the fact that the C4 is mechanically conventional, but does it matter when it is likely to be more reliable because it is made this way?

So yes, the C4 is distinct and dramatic the way Citroen’s used to be. It looks and feels different, and drives better than any of its peers. From the nice details, such as the integrated car-fragrance perfume container, to the striking silk-like textured surfacing over the dashboard, Citroen has shown in the C4 it is still tops for out-of-the-box thinking and design. We wholeheartedly welcome the new breed of Citroen that satisfies both the left- and right-side of the brain.

Kenji Alexis has been writing car reviews for close to 10 years. Come visit his latest website over at http://www.motorstop.asia to check out the in depth Honda cars reviews and all the latest automotive news.