Fractionally larger than its forerunner, the new Citroën C4 measures 4.33m inlength, 1.79m in width, and 1.49m in height. As well as the extra space for passengers, there is a class-leading boot volume of up to 408-litres VDA.
The new C4 is designed with a range of new convenient technologies, a number of which are unique to the segment. There is a new blind-spot monitoring system, a cornering light function, cruise control and speed-limiter with favourite speed settings.
Selected models feature a new raised centre console which houses a cooled and illuminated storage area that can take four 0.5-litre bottles. Other available equipment includes a Connecting Box that provides Bluetooth® and a USB socket; front and rear parking sensors and parking space ‘gap’ measurement.
The C4’s interior features soft-touch material on the top of the one-piece dashboard and a generous amounts of chrome around the dials and vents.
Users are able to adjust the colour of the instrument display, select their own ‘polyphonic’ sound alerts and even set the intensity of the automatic air conditioning to one of three different settings. And, for maximum comfort, the new C4 Exclusive is fitted with massaging front seats – the first time this has been offered in this sector of the market.
The new C4 is powered by a choice of two powerplants co-developed with BMW and a fuel efficient HDi diesel unit with micro-hybrid tecnology. Power output ranges from a refined 82kW to 115kW. All variants are fitted with self shifting gearboxes, an adaptive automotive unit for the 88kW engine and a six speed EGS robotized manual for the 115kW turbocharged engine and the HDi Turbo Diesel.
With the 1.6 litre Turbocharged engine, the Citroën C4 covers the 100kmh dash in 8.7 seconds and has a combined fuel consumption of 6.4L/100km.
The top version, the 115 kW C4 Exclusive, offers a CO2 emmission benchmark of 148g/km, while the HDi can boast a CO2 figure of 114 g/km and an open road fuel figure of 4.0L/100km.
The HDi is able to achieve this thanks to its micro-hybrid drivetrain that includes a combination of several environmentally considerate technologies – including a second generation Stop & Start system with regenerative braking – which help the HDi to improve fuel efficiency by up to 15% in city driving conditions, with CO2 emissions reduced by around 5g/km.
The HDi powertrain consists of a refined and efficient 1.6 HDi 82kW diesel engine fitted with a Stop & Start system featuring a second generation reversible alternator.
Citroën says an e-booster system allows instantaneous engine restarts in just 400ms – twice as fast as a manual key restart and 30% faster than with a reinforced starter. The electronically controlled alternator uses regenerative braking to recover energy and the EGS gearbox features optimised gear ratios. The system even stops the engine before the car comes to a complete halt – from 6 kmh during deceleration. The e-HDi system can improve fuel efficiency by up to 15% in urban environments and reduces CO2 emissions by around 5g/km.
The use of 15% ‘green’ materials add to the new C4’s environmental credentials.
C4 has been awarded the maximum 5-star Euro NCAP rating.
The petrol varients arrive in New Zealand in August 2011 and the diesel varient in November. The new Citroën C4 will be offered in two trims – VTi and Exclusive – and prices start at $32,990 for the VTi, rising to $39,990 for both the range-topping 1.6 Turbo 115 kW Exclusive and the HDi Exclusive. Prices are exclusive of dealer costs and delivery.
