Displaying items by tag: Citroën

Citroen has enriched the range of drive systems for the C5 Aircross and improved the autonomy of the existing plug-in hybrid versions of the C5 X and C5 Aircross models by 15 percent.

For starters, the C5 Aircross gets an all-new plug-in hybrid powertrain option called the 180 e-EAT8. This version comes as a replacement for the PureTech 180 model with a gasoline engine and combines a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with an electric motor.

Together they produce 182 hp (134 kW) and 360 Nm of torque.

The electric motor can independently produce up to 110 hp (81 kW). This means that it is capable of propelling the car to a speed of 135 km/h or, in other words, fast enough to drive on electricity and on the highway without any problems.

Not too far, though, given that thanks to the 12.4 kWh battery, the C5 Aircross 180 e-EAT8 can travel a maximum of 58 km on electric power alone. It should be kept in mind that with the speeds achieved on the highway, this autonomy is significantly more modest, so this model has its real ecological value when driving around the city.

With a battery that can be charged in just 1 hour 45 minutes on a 7.4kW charger, Citroen suggests that if owners can charge at home and in their office, they can complete an average daily journey by driving on just electricity.

The C5 Aircross 180 e-EAT8 is offered at a starting price of 43,650 euros.

As already mentioned, in addition to the new version, the existing 225 e-EAT8 plug-in hybrid drive has been improved in the meantime, both for the C5 Aircross SUV and the C5 X.

Both vehicles will now have additional autonomy thanks to a new battery generation with a capacity improved from 13.2 kWh to 14.2 kWh, despite having the same number of cells.

The result is a 15 percent increase in driving autonomy for both models. This means that the C5 X 225 e-EAT8 can now travel 63 km in pure electric mode, instead of the previous 55 km, and the C5 Aircross 225 e-EAT8 offers 64 km of all-electric range, compared to the previous 55 km.

Drive power remains unchanged. This powertrain also combines a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with an electric motor, and will still develop 228 hp (168 kW) in both vehicles.

Published in Citroen

The French manufacturer is just one of a number of automotive brands that marked the entry into the electric era by changing their visual identity.

Citroen has unveiled its new identity and logo, which is a reinterpretation of the original from 1919. The new logo will debut on the new concept before the end of September, before appearing on future production models starting in mid-2023.

This is the tenth revision of the logo in Citroen's 103-year history and the third in the last 13 years. Although the signature double "chevron" is retained, the oval exterior shape is a departure from previous interpretations and a return to the original.

Namely, this design was chosen by founder Andre Citroen in 1919, inspired by his metalworking company that produced herringbone gear systems.

The new logo is combined with a fresh and simplified color palette and a modern font for the Citroen lettering.

In one of the different variations, the logo is painted in a "Monte Carlo Blue" shade, which will also return as an exterior color for future Citroen models.

However, Citroen is also using a brighter "Infra-Red" for physical, print and digital applications, replacing the brand's signature red.

The automaker has not yet revealed details about the upcoming concept car that will carry the new emblem.

The French company described it as "an important concept family vehicle".

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Saturday, 18 September 2021 04:39

Citroen C5 Aircross PHEV: long-term test review

Second report: West Country holiday lets us put the Citroen C5 Aircross PHEV’s family credentials to the test

 
 
Verdict

The Citroen C5 Aircross was a great holiday car. It felt at home on a motorway cruise, and really delivered on its promise of comfort. It devours miles in a calm and unflustered manner, and left us all feeling refreshed after a coast-to-coast road trip.

  • Mileage: 6,067
  • Economy: 35.5mpg

Family holidays. Stressful in the build-up, and hopefully relaxing when you arrive. That was certainly the case recently, when the Milne clan decamped to north Devon for a week.

The day before we headed off, I noticed that the Citroen’s near-side rear tyre was looking a little low. A quick examination showed a screw had punctured the tread; my worst fears were confirmed when my local fitter said it wasn’t repairable but did, remarkably, have the correct Michelin tyre in stock. At 4.45pm. On a Friday. That’s lucky.

We set off, only to be confronted by an unhappy tyre pressure monitoring system. It turns out that the replacement tyre’s valve had been damaged during fitting, and with a new one installed, all was good.

Otherwise, the trip really couldn’t have gone better, aside from Google Maps sending us on the A303 past Stonehenge, and straight into the inevitable traffic jam.

The C5 Aircross has revealed itself to be at its very best on a long motorway jaunt. Its Advance Comfort seats are cosseting, and the ride, which can be choppy around town, is gloriously smoother at speed. The 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine is quiet, only becoming harsh when accelerating hard, but there’s precious little wind or road noise. It could well be stunning on the French autoroutes, when restrictions ease and all Brits can cross the Channel to visit and travel freely.

Visibility is very good indeed, and aside from the usual grumbles my kids were happy and comfortable; even more so when we arrived. It was then that they could really enjoy the view out, spotting the myriad grazing animals that scatter that part of the world. I was also glad of that good visibility when carving our way through the narrow roads of the county’s chocolate-box villages.

It’s here that the C5 Aircross really shone. It’s as big a car as you’d really need on these roads; larger SUVs feel just too big for the conditions. And it’s as funky and striking as you’d want, too, more than up to the job of standing bumper to bumper with the brightly coloured VW Transporters which seem to account for every second vehicle in Devon’s coastal towns. In fact, strapping a surfboard to the roof might transform the Aircross into a super-cool surf wagon. 

The holiday was the first time I’d really travelled a long distance in it. And while fuel economy has sat at around 34mpg without regular charging, it travelled 41 miles for every gallon of unleaded on the motorway – not bad considering it was fully loaded – against a mainly round-town economy of 35.3mpg. For the next report, I’ll see what it’s capable of with more frequent charging. 

The long and often severe gradients around Devon let me make the most of the Aircross’ regenerative brakes. On many of the longer 10-15 per cent descents, it was perfectly possible to maintain the speed limit without touching the brake pedal, although the ability to vary the amount of regen would be handy. Nevertheless, it’s very satisfying to see the charge meter climb using nothing but otherwise-wasted energy.

I had expected the boot to struggle with our luggage, which is more of a reflection of us not travelling light than the Citroen’s 460-litre capacity. To maximise luggage space we ditched the charging cable, and used the removable tray it’s stowed in to carry sandy shoes and muddy boots.

Citroen C5 Aircross PHEV: first report

Our plug-in hybrid SUV brings the promise of superb economy

  • Mileage: 3,597
  • Economy: 33.6mpg 

Platform sharing. It’s now commonplace for cars to share the same basic chassis toolkit. But that doesn’t necessarily mean everything becomes the same. Sometimes, it allows brands the freedom to take a few risks.

It’s these quirks that I’ve been enjoying most with the Citroen C5 Aircross over the past few months. I love the off-beat styling, the bold paintwork and the funky interior. In a world of Russian-doll styling and monochrome paint – as demonstrated above – it’s a breath of fresh air.

It’s the complete reverse of the Vauxhall Grandland X I ran back in 2018, a car that, like the C5 Aircross, is underpinned by Stellantis’s EMP2 platform. That car was conservatively styled in the extreme, and the fuel economy didn’t impress – two criticisms that can’t be levelled at the Volcano Red plug-in hybrid you see here.

The £35,000 asking price isn’t too bad either, especially when the C5 Aircross undercuts hybrid versions of both the Peugeot 3008 and DS 7 Crossback.

So what do you get for your money? Well, as standard, my Flair model (since renamed as Shine) gets the City Camera Pack with a combination of displays, including a handy composite bird’s-eye view, a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument display, AEB with modes to detect pedestrians (not yet put to the test, fortunately), and traffic sign recognition. It also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is a very good thing indeed, because the touchscreen interface isn’t the most intuitive or responsive.  

Of more importance to the young-family car driver are the buttons to disable the rear window switches and to activate the child locks, which puts an end to the need to flick fiddly switches in the door jambs.

The business end of charging works well. There’s a 6.6kW onboard charger that means a full battery top-up takes less than two hours, something that’s good for a WLTP-certified range of 33-40 miles. In reality, and mostly cool weather conditions, I’ve been covering more like 23 miles.

The charging flap is on the passenger-side rear wing, which isn’t ideal because it means I have a slightly tricky reverse parking manoeuvre to execute to get close to my Pod Point wallbox.

Naturally, with any kind of PHEV your efficiency may vary. Early on, and with a full battery charge, the trip readout was indicating 100mpg-plus economy figures. With the battery depleted, it’s settled to 33.6mpg on mostly round-town journeys. So I’ll be hooking it up to my wallbox on a regular basis to try to improve those figures.

All the usual drive modes are available; it’ll default to Electric when the battery has a slug of charge, and Hybrid when it doesn’t. Sport mode is largely redundant, but the charge hold function is handy for ensuring electric-only driving in towns and cities. 

Acoustically insulated front side windows are fitted to all hybrid models, and they certainly help to make electric-only progress really very quiet indeed. When the 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine kicks in, it does so very smoothly, although it gets rather thrashy if you come anywhere close to replicating the 8.7-second 0-62mph time.

While the Aircross doesn’t offer one-pedal driving, an enhanced brake regen mode is accessed by a tug of the gearstick. It’s not perfect though: the gearlever is on the left side of the transmission tunnel – a slight stretch away and likely a result of the switch from left to right-hand drive.

That aside, there’s a healthy amount of storage: wide door bins, cubbies ahead and to the side of the gearlever, and vast space between the front seats for a large pack of anti-bacterial wipes, bottles of alcohol gel and rubber gloves – items that have come to define the past 12 months.

Model: Citroen C5 Aircross PHEV e-EAT8 Flair
On fleet since: February 2021
Price new: £35,370
Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl petrol + e-motor, 222bhp
CO2/tax: 32-41g/km/£140
Options: Volcano Red paint (£545), White Anodised Colour pack (£0)
Insurance*: Group: 27  Quote: £487
Mileage/mpg: 6,067/35.5mpg
Any problems? Puncture

*Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, with three points.

(autoexpress.co.uk)

Published in Citroen

The Citroen C1 will be "almost impossible" to replace due to stricter emissions regulations and market conditions, revealed the company's CEO Vincent Cobee.

Last year’s reports suggested the city car was close to being phased out, along with the jointly developed Peugeot 108, and partner Toyota confirmed it would continue with the Ayga for the next generation.

Cobee has now confirmed that decision, saying: “This segment erases the pressure of the environment. It is almost impossible to continue.

Prior to founding Stellantis, the PSA group had previously sold its stake in a joint venture with Toyota, through which the C1 and 108 were connected to the Toyota Aygo and built alongside it in the Czech Republic.

 

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According to official Citroen data, the electric variant participates in the total sales of the model with 20%.

So, every fifth produced C4 is EV. The French brand points out that the main destinations for the electric C4 are primarily the domestic market, but also Germany and Norway, where this model managed to break through. In addition to these countries, the electric variant of the Citroen C4 sells very well in the Netherlands.

Recall, the French brand decided to use a different approach in the C segment from its sister brands - Peugeot and Opel, which adhered to traditional recipes with the new generation 308, ie Astra.

Citroen has never been afraid to experiment, so the new C4 is actually a coupe-like crossover, which shows the brand's desire to please potential customers in the SUV segment. The double chevron decided to make the most of the CMP platform, which, unlike the EMP2 architecture, envisages an easily feasible EV variant.

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Friday, 20 August 2021 04:09

What awaits us from Citroen by the end of 2022

The current year is in every sense very busy for the French Citroën. The company prepared several premieres in the first year of the world, so we saw the restyled C3 Aircross, a completely new model C5 X as well as the restyled C3-XR, which, however, will be enjoyed only by customers from the territory of the People's Republic of China.

However, the Gallic brand does not stop there, and the coming months will be full of new models and celebrations on the occasion of their presentation. The excitement has been going on since September, and we will follow what the French are preparing for us by the end of next year through this text.

Indeed, the first ceremony is scheduled for September 16, at which Citroen will present a version of the C3 model intended for the Indian subcontinent. That hatch will be a heavy burden of responsibility for establishing, reviving and strengthening the brand's popularity in India, as well as in Latin America, where it will be counted on as a "player that changes the course of (market) competition".

Citroën will then continue its efforts to improve sales, followed by presentations of the new C5 X range, when the audience will be introduced to the choice of powertrains, equipment packages and prices that the development team has planned to stick to the new sedan. After the premiere, Citroen plans to open order books, while the vehicle is expected in showrooms just before we get ready for the arrival of the New Year.

We are quite sure that our Perica Rajković will get the opportunity to test a new and completely unusual limousine from France, before the newcomer arrives at our showrooms, and having in mind his "good" relations with the manufacturer, which never lead to any income. We believe that the audience will be especially interested in Rajković's observations in the context of the operation of a system of controlled suspension called Advanced Comfort.

As for 2021, "citroen excitement" is over, but for new bursts of endorphins, fans will not wait further than February 2022, when Citroën will show the washed C5 Aircross. You can see the photo of the masked prototype above, and it appeared on the net a few days ago.

We will see this new C5 Aircross a couple of weeks before we welcome the premieres of the restyled Citroën Jumpy and Spacetourer models. These four-wheelers are expected to have a redesigned vehicle snout, as well as a center console with an emphasis on the instrument panel that should feel a touch of modernism, thus maintaining the demand for cars in the final phase of market life.

Thus, the mentioned two wrinkle tightening operations will precede one straight-line premiere. The novelty we are talking about is a special C4, whose code name is C43 and which will have its debut in April 2022.

This C43 will be just a variation of the C4 model, so it will be in the class, if it can be said at all, of a sedan made in China, but also in Spain. The Madrid factory will deal with it there, so it will be offered by the French brand on the Old Continent as well. With a length of about 4.6 meters, it will be an excellent alternative to the reference Škoda Octavia, which records excellent results across our dear continent.

The grand finale of the first half of 2022 will mark the arrival of the future European version of the urban toddler marked C3. Introduced in the month ahead, the C3 for the Indian and Brazilian markets should roll down the roads there before the end of the year, while it seems illogical that we in Europe will wait almost two more years for the same (as of this moment).
This doesn't make much sense because the French brand will have to rely heavily on electric car sales (including ë-C3, as sales of the ë-C4 and hybrid C5 Aircross will not be enough to enable Citroen to meet rigid emissions requirements. and it is not unreasonable to expect that, in the middle of 2022, the presented C3 will be in active supply even before the end of the next calendar year.

All this before the future C3 Aircross will be presented to those living in India and Brazil in September. The future C3 Aircross will be the second model of the Citroen program with an elevated seating position (the so-called C-cubed program), and will be based on the CMP architecture. This would mean that it will appear in a variant that offers accommodation for up to seven people, as well as that it will be offered in all world-important regions, which of course includes China and Europe. But this story will not unfold until 2023.

The end of the year will be marked by the promotion of the mentioned C43 model, which is an event scheduled for October in France, while the promotion of the C3 model should start in November. Alternatively, that moment could be postponed until January 2023, as we wrote above.

As we can see, after a very "dense" first half of the year, the news from Citroën will not be thinned out, even in the next few months, as there are more promotional events in the calendar. So, fromthese brands should be expected to respond to the current challenges they face, where the most complex is the attempt to succeed in India. In that sense, the formation of the mega company Stellantis is of essential importance, which would enable Citroen to take even more intense international sales results, all in the desire to reach the figure of 1.5 million deliveries, which is the goal set by the management for 2025.

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Saturday, 05 June 2021 04:02

Citroen e-Jumpy Hydrogen with fuel cells

Stellantis, the world's fourth-largest vehicle maker, created by merging PSA and FCA, announces that it will start selling light commercial vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells in Europe by the end of this year.

According to Tportal.hr, Stellantis, for the beginning of the Citroën, Opel and Peugeot brands, leads the application of technology developed in France and Germany on their current architectures of medium-sized electric BEV vans: Citroën e-Jumpy, Peugeot e-Expert and Opel Vivaro. It should be noted that such hydrogen-powered vehicles will be produced at Opel's headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany, and Stellantis itself will later examine the expansion of the technology to other brands, and possibly to passenger cars, and expects the project to be profitable in the coming years.

Although 83 percent of commercial customers travel less than 200 km a day on average, only 44 percent never drive more than 300 km a day, said Xavier Peugeot, Stellantis' senior vice president of light commercial vehicles.

The medium-power system is smaller than other competitors and matches a large 10.5 kWh battery, said Frank Jordan, Stellantis' director of research and innovation in Germany. The fuel cell system stops under the hood, the drive battery is replaced by three hydrogen tanks, and the battery stops under the front seats. The vehicle has 100 kW / 136HP and 260 Nm, the tank holds 4.4 kg of hydrogen (in tanks under a pressure of 700 bar), with the already mentioned battery with a capacity of 10.5 kWh.

Acceleration to 100 km / h takes 15 seconds and top speed is 130 km / h.

According to Stellantis, the van will be capable of a range of approximately 400 km, but it also has the option of charging the battery (plug-in) and driving a purely electric battery on a 50 km battery if needed to connect to the next hydrogen charging station. The drivetrain, which includes a hydrogen engine and an additional battery as in the BEV vehicle, also retains up to 6.1 m³ of volume (vehicle length is 495 cm or 530 cm) for transporting cargo and 1100 kg of payload and towing trailers weighing 1000 kg from the electric version .

Hydrogen tanks can be filled with fuel in three minutes, as stated in solving the problem of slow filling speeds of electric vehicles. On the technical side, hydrogen makes special sense for larger vehicles, as it offers higher energy density, lower weight, longer range and faster refueling times.

Leading countries such as Germany and France have only 90 and 25 pumps, respectively, where hydrogen can be bought as fuel for vehicles, Peugeot said, although the European Alliance for Clean Energy has committed to investing in the ecosystem. France alone plans to invest more than $ 8 billion by 2030 in hydrogen, especially in its production and mobility development, said Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, the French Secretary of State for Transport.

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Sunday, 14 February 2021 08:28

What connects Ferrari, Ford and Citroën?

In short, a cat. A solid, black cat, so dark that it is almost invisible when in the dark and closes its eyes. But when he opens his eyes, he gives a light and a reflection that he can rarely copy and project accurately.

Although we all take for granted the name "cat's eyes" for reflective plates located on the pedals of bicycles or among the spokes of the wheels, it is a newer and younger "invention" than the original black cat and has been used for only forty years.

At the very beginning of the 20th century, Pierre Marchal, then in his twenties in the army and with a newly issued car license, met Renault Louis. With it, he explores the mechanics and possibilities of introducing electronics in vehicles, and also somewhat into functional things for life.
Thus began his many years of learning, research, and progress that would completely reverse the view of racing from Le Mans to Monte Carlo in the 1950s and 1960s.

A few years after the First World War, Marchal, with a few friends and colleagues, opened a company in the suburbs of Paris. More precisely a garage.
In that garage, with joint efforts and intelligence, they created and produced things like projectors, dynamos, starters, headlights and some other things. The vast majority of French manufacturers relied on their products and increasingly used them in their factories.

According to the original story, Pierre Marchal was a big fan of his black cat who was a regular guest in the garage. Returning home late at night, he saw in the headlights the glare of the said cat and outlined an idea that would completely change the course of his business. It is written in history as a black cat - a lucky cat under the slogan "I lend my eyes only to Marchal" or in the original form "Je ne prête mes yeux qu'à Marchal". And this is not surprising because the French adore cats - as animals, in art form and in the world-famous illustration Le Chat Noir. This story is also connected with the belief in the matagot - a spirit in the shape of a black cat that is waiting for you at the crossroads between this and that world, and if you feed it well, it will provide you with almost infinite wealth.
Basically, a typical cat - give good food and everything will be as it should be.

The first major successes were achieved three years later. Ie. when Marchal became a sponsor of the Monte-Carlo Rally and participated in the victory at Le Mans. Drivers Robert Bloch and Andre Rossignol as the first two-time winner of the Le Mans race, drove the likable Lorraine-Dietrich B3-6 with Marchal headlights. The fact that they were the first to make fog lights for race cars only contributed to the company’s business rise.

Until the early 1930s, Marchal used his headlights to adorn models from Hispano-Suiza, Delahaye, Talbot and others. And according to the James Bond novels, the first official car "007" was the so-called Blower Bentley from 1931, which is also illuminated by a "cat".
It is worth mentioning that this Bentley was produced in only 55 copies between 1929 and 1931, and that the current price of the surviving Blowers ranges from 400 thousand to almost 5 million dollars. It would be a small price packed with "cat's eyes".

The rise in production and popularity took a break during World War II, after which the branding of the “black cat” took off. In this new era for Marchal, the cat on the advertising poster begins to juggle car parts, wears lamps in his paws, drives a car with a helmet on his head and waves the target flag. And that attracted the Ferrari 375 Plus in 1954, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the hands of drivers Gonzalez and Trintigant and also did fantastic marketing.

Immediately after that, Lancia took Marchal as the official supplier instead of the previous headlights and earned a victory at the Monte Carlo Rally. This makes the "black cat" even more popular.

In order to promote the diversity of the vehicles on which their headlights were worn, the company redesigned Citroën’s H-Van.
They mounted on it almost everything they produced at the time. That is, all types and sizes of lights, trumpets, car parts, and the roof was adorned with a huge S.E.V. Marchal inscription.
If you find yourself near the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum, you can watch this decades-old installation live.

In the early 1960s, a logo made up of a cat and a black-and-white flag “cemented” Marchal as instantly recognizable and closely tied to motorsport. And the list of cars with which Marchal lends "eyes" also includes the retro racer Ferrari 330, which in 1962 was driven by driver Phil Hill to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was a particularly notable victory, as it was the first to be achieved with so-called iodine projectors. That is, the headlights that are in it road use has just been tested in Marchal.

With a solid foundation and success to date, Marchal's "eyes" were also found on the Porsche racing derivatives of the 911 and the legendary 917. In addition to the famous racers from Zuffenhausen, Marchal has installed its headlights on another legend, the Ford GT40. On that Ford racer, Marchal contributed to winning several victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the late 1960s. And then Renault Gordini and BMW Alpina also fell in love with the "black cat".

Since the founder and originator of the whole idea, Pierre Marchal, passed away at that time, there has been a slight slowdown in success and a change in business. As a result, the competition is a little free of the road to the title of winner. In the early 1970s, Ferodo took over Marchal's business and led it in a slightly different direction. This reduces the emphasis on headlight production, but improves the production of the remaining parts.
A few years later, Cibie, as the biggest competitor, joins forces with Marchal and becomes something that is known to this day as the Valeo Group.

In addition to Cibie, PIAA was also the main competitor in rival circles. Although it was founded a decade before Marchal, it was still not as successful as the "black cat". But it is still active with a huge opus of headlights that could be needed in the market.

When it comes to competition, at the very mention of the name Bosch the first association will rarely be light. But even that company has found its sun in the domain of lighting parts on cars. One of the specifics of this company were asymmetrical lights, ie headlights with which the driver's side gave more illumination than the passenger's side. Due to this asymmetry of the headlights, the glare in traffic was reduced.

The Italian company Carello was also founded before the First World War. And it has earned its success in the domestic market by producing fog lights. After all, how can you even imagine an Alfa or a Lancia without an Italian fog light on it?

In the Balkans in the 1970s, there was also the company Saturnus. This company is still present and today it acts as the main sponsor of the Slovenian race called Saturnus.
In the early 1990s, this company replaced the metallized substrate with heat-resistant plastic in all its lights and thus made a huge step forward. It is still present on the market today and, in addition to continuous development, is also engaged in the production of fog lights, daytime running lights and multifunctional lamps.

As developments in production intertwined the ups and downs of all companies, Marchal continued to make its way through factories as a classic that simply had to be found on even more different car models. Thus, on the one hand we have the Citroën DS, or the legendary "Frog" with "cat's eyes" that the headlights of this company drive on European roads, and on the other hand we have almost every Mustang GT that was produced in the first half of the eighties.

Although Marchal has been going through various combinations and partnerships throughout its glorious history, in the 1980s this company became part of the Valeo Group, of which it is still a part together with Cibie. Looking through history, it is clear that in his time Pierre Marchal with his “black cat” provides very good visibility for some of the fantastic car models. Throughout its rich history, this company has been ubiquitous and esteemed during the so-called "vintage motorsport" and legendary races such as 24 Hours of Le Mans, which new generations could witness through the recent film adaptation of "Ford vs Ferrari".

The name of the company Marchal, according to some allegations, was bought in 2009 by a Japanese company that manufactures headlights for cars. But with all the modifications and differences, car enthusiasts have a hard time agreeing to call something like that a last name that meant the best of the best in the 1950s and 1960s.

Who would have thought that an ordinary, happy black cat helped in something like that.

automobili.hr

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Citroen is hoping to make a splash in the electric car market by launching the battery-powered version of its new C4 hatchback concurrently with its ICE-engined counterpart. It’s a family hatchback that plays to Citroen’s re-ignited interest in its history and heritage as well as trying to arrest the inexorable march of the SUV by giving it some of the chunky attitude you’ll find in those cars.

The e-C4 is right on the money. It’s a family hatchback, but whereas the old C4 was forgettable and unsuccessful by basically being a less-good Ford Focus, the new one has been given individual styling, carrying the flame of individuality that’s returned to the marque since the launch of the C4 Cactus. Combine that with an electric drivetrain, which promises great refinement and efficiency, and you’re looking at the most zeitgeisty car to wear chevrons since the 1970 GS.

That’s certainly what Citroen is hoping. Marc Pinson (new C4 and e-C4 Designer) told us, ‘there are a lot of capable cars in this market segment, but they’re all very standardized. We wanted to give the C-hatch by giving it a flowing roof and coupé-like appearance. But we’ve added the SUV’s mass appeal.’

It sounds like an odd hybrid, but in the metal, it works really well. The slightly raised ride height and side cladding hint at SUV, but the six-light fastback profile are very much a continuation of the Citroen GS and BX. It’s a good-looking car, as you’d expect from the man who brought us the Citroen C6, dripping with interesting details, especially through the rear spoiler that splits its tailgate glass and the striking use of LED lighting.

That’s the design, what about the strategy?

The first thing that will strike you is that aside from a few detail trim differences, the all-electric e-C4 and petrol and diesel C4s look identical. Yes, the e-C4 gets a light sprinkling of blue details, but on the road, it takes an expert eye to tell the difference between the two. This makes the e-C4 and ideal choice for those looking to move to electric without shouting about it.

It’s the same strategy employed by Citroen's PSA sister brands, Peugeot and Vauxhall. The Peugeot e-208, e-2008, Corsa-e and Mokka-e are outwardly identical to their ICE-engined cousins, a great advert for the adaptability of PSA’s EMP2 platform which allows for electric and ICE cars to be built on the same production line with great tech commonality. It also means that Citroen is unique for now in offering its mid-sized family hatchback in petrol, diesel and electric forms from launch.

The e-C4 doesn't actually have many direct rivals right now, but expect that to change rapidly. Right now, the Nissan Leaf, Volkswagen ID.3 are the main electric family hatchback choices for now. Widen your search to small SUVs, and you could include the Peugeot e-2008 or even the MG ZS EV. Does this lack of opposition give Citroen an open goal to aim for?

What's it like inside?

The e-C4 takes an interesting step forward for Citroen. It gets a development of C5 Aircross's all-digital dash and infotainment set-up – which means extensive use of the touchscreen for many of the car's functions – but it’s integrated more effectively and looks very stylish. The screen is big, displays crisply and sits proud of the dashboard to become a styling feature in its own right, and operates as well as a touchscreen can thanks to having a shelf below for you to rest your hand on while on the move. The addition of a row of physical buttons to operate the HVAC controls beneath is also a welcome development over Citroens of old.

As a family car, it works well, as there are plenty of nooks and crannies in the centre console, as well as easily-accessible USB sockets and storage bins between the seats, too. Citroen also points out a range of accessories and options that includes a wireless phone charger, head-up display and tablet stands for the front passenger.

As you’d expect, the latest version of Citroen's Advanced Comfort seats are successful in meeting their brief. They're well-sized and generously padded with high-density foam that incorporates a thick 15mm layer of textured foam on the surface. They manage to be both soft and inviting and also supportive on the move – an ideal set-up.

Rear seat room is impressive, with plenty of knee and headroom – impressive considering its sloping roofline. It has a 380-litre boot area with the seats up, which rivals that of the latest Volkswagen Golf, with a twin-level boot floor. That split boot floor means that with the panel in its uppermost position, there is no lip to get your heavy objects over.

What's it like to drive?

If Citroen was looking to extract the maximum serenity and refinement from its latest family car, then it has succeeded admirably. The light, airy interior and muted interior colours set the mood even before the off. But get in and make yourself comfortable in its squidgy driver’s seat, and setting off like a bat out of hell will be the last thing on your mind. This is all about wafting and kicking back.

Take off and performance, in Eco mode especially, is lacking the impressive surge you get with many electric cars, but it’s smooth and linear in its delivery, feeling effortless, and it gets up to cruising speed quickly enough. Performance is adequate in ICE terms, but is left behind by many of its EV rivals – 0-62mph comes up in 9.7 seconds and its maximum speed is 93mph.

Motorway refinement is impressive, with low levels of wind and road noise, while insulation from surface irregularities, such as potholes and broken tarmac, is also very effective. For all those Citroen traditionalists who decry the end of the Hydropenumatic set-up of old – the new way of thinking might not be as level and unflustered at speed, but it delivers similar levels of overall comfort without the compromises.

In isolation, ride, handling and roadholding are as you’d expect for a marque that plays up its heritage for building smooth-riding cars. The steering is light and lacking in feel, but accurate and well-geared, while the brakes are better than most EVs in terms of pedal feel, modulation and steering feel. At speed, it feels like it flattens bumps rather than ride them, and in corners it also feels a little unwieldy. It’s not easy to quantify, as understeer is well contained and bodyroll is all present and correct, but controlled effectively.

The relative lack of enthusiasm comes from us driving it back-to-back with the ICE-engined C4, which feels so much lighter on its feet and more effectively damped. Compare it with a Nissan Leaf instead, and the e-C4 is a standard-setter in body control and comfort.

What about charging and range?

The Citroen e-C4 has a 134bhp electric motor and 50kWh battery. That puts it behind the Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona Electric and top-end Volkswagen ID.3s, and although its official WLTP range of 217 miles looks good for a supermini, it’s a little on the skinny side for a larger family car these days.

We have some doubts about the real-world range, too, with the DTE range falling significantly faster than miles covered – a niggle shared with the Peugeot e-2008 – on our three-hour drive. We’ll wait until we’ve given it the full review treatment, though, before making a definitive judgment. However, if you’re going to be travelling distance and relying on public chargers on a regular basis, you might want to wait until real-world user data comes in before ordering one.

The good news is that the e-C4 supports up to 100kW rapid charging, allowing 80% of the battery to be charged in 30 minutes at a decent charging station. For home charging you get a Type 2 cable for free, allowing a regular 7.4kW charger to reach a 100% charge in seven hours and 30 minutes. From launch, all customers will be offered a Pod Point Solo Smart Charger thrown in, too.

What's available and when?

There are four e-C4 models to choose from – Sense, Sense Plus, Shine and Shine Plus. All models get LED headlights, a 10.0-inch touchscreen, Automomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keeping Assist and Driver Attention Alert. You can get a tablet computer holder for front seat passengers, LED interior lighting, a rear parking camera, and adaptive cruise control further up the range. A premium hi-fi system featuring uprated speakers and the addition of a subwoofer make it into the Shine Plus.

The e-C4 is available to order now with deliveries to UK customers commencing in February 2021.

Verdict
The Citroen e-C4 is a likeable electric car that goes a long way to broadening choice for those wanting to make the plunge into an EV. It’s a distinctive-looking car that we love for its single-minded pursuit of maximising comfort, and eschewing the increasingly tiresome roadholding bias prevalent in a generation of Nurburgring-honed family cars.

The PSA strategy of offering EVs and ICE cars that look the same is also interesting for those who want to go electric without making a fuss. Right now, the e-C4’s main rivals are the Nissan Leaf, which is ageing in several areas and the excellent Volkswagen ID.3, which is beginning to feel like a bit of a gamechanger. Both are bespoke EVs, designed as such from the ground up, and offer better range and efficiency. The e-C4 is more comfortable than both.

Citroen hopes that the new e-C4 will appeal to a wider range of buyers as a more-rounded product that majors on comfort and refinement. It looks well priced and comes with an impressive amount of equipment, as well as a free home charger. As it stands, we reckon Citroen has struck the right note with the e-C4, and doubts about battery range aside, it’s an impressive new addition to the EV market.

Source: carmagazine.co.uk

Published in Citroen
Sunday, 06 December 2020 05:18

Citroën e-C4 Hatchback review

All-electric family hatchback looks funky and promises great comfort

The all-electric Citroen e-C4 is being launched alongside the petrol- and diesel-powered C4 hatchback, and is part of its maker's strategy to launch its new cars simultaneously with internal combustion engines and EV drivetrains. The first thing you'll notice is that aside from a few detail trim differences, the two cars look identical – ideal for those looking to move to electric without shouting about it.

This is a tactic that Citroen's sister companies, Peugeot and Vauxhall, are employing with the e-208, e-2008, Corsa-e and Mokka-e – which is no surprise as these cars extensively share under-the-skin technology. Citroen will be unique for now in offering its mid-sized family hatchback in petrol, diesel and electric forms from launch.

The e-C4 doesn't actually have many direct rivals, with the Nissan Leaf, Volkswagen ID.3 being the only electric family hatchbacks for now. But if you extend your horizons to small SUVs, you could include the Peugeot e-2008 and even the MG ZS EV, which major on style and comfort or value respectively.

 

Stylish new take on the family car

The styling of the Citroen e-C4 is definitely a talking point. It's a sleek fastback design with lots of Citroen's current design cues. It gets the interesting split-level lighting arrangement up front first seen on the C3, side cladding and wheelarch extensions that echo the company's SUVs, and a high-level rear spoiler, which gives it a dramatic profile.

Citroen says it's highly aerodynamic, which should mean low wind noise at speed and maximum battery efficiency on the motorway. It will be interesting to see whether buyers see it as a sleek SUV with a sloping roof or a chunky hatchback. Customers have the option of choosing up to 31 combinations of body colours and colour packs.

What's it like inside?

Inside, it gets a development of C5 Aircross's all-digital dash and infotainment set-up – which means extensive use of the touchscreen for many of the car's functions. The screen is big, and sits proud of the dashboard to become a styling feature in its own right.

There appears to be plenty of space in the centre console, easily-accessible USB sockets and storage bins between the seats, too. Citroen also points out a range of accessories and options that includes a wireless phone charger, head-up display and tablet stands for the front passenger.

Comfort should benefit from the latest version of Citroen's Advanced Comfort seats. They're wide and padded with high-density foam with a thick 15mm layer of textured foam on the surface. If they're similar to those in the C5 Aircross, then the C4 will be very comfortable on a longer run.

It has a 380-litre boot area with the seats up, which rivals that of the latest Volkswagen Golf, with a two-level boot floor. That split boot floor means that with the panel in its uppermost position, there is no lip to get your heavy objects over.

Citroen e-C4 charging and range

Citroen’s e-C4 features a 136hp electric motor and 50kWh battery. It has an official WLTP range of 217 miles and supports up to 100kW rapid charging, allowing 80% of the battery to be charged in 30 minutes. Citroen says the e-C4 is capable of 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds and has a top speed of 93mph.

For regular home charging a Type 2 charging cable is included as standard, allowing a regular 7.4kW charger to reach a 100% charge in seven hours and 30 minutes. From launch, all customers will be offered a Pod Point Solo Smart Charger for free. When plugged in at home on a wallbox, it will fully charge in around 7.5 hours. The e-C4 joins the C5 Aircross Hybrid, Ami, e-Berlingo and e-SpaceTourer in its electrified line-up.

What versions are available?

The e-C4 comes in three flavours, all powered by the same 136hp electric motor. The entry-level Sense model gets LED headlights, a 10.0-inch touchscreen for the infortainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. it also comes with a impressive suite of safety it including Automomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keeping Assist and Driver Attention Alert. You can move up to the Sense Plus, which adds Citroen Connect Nav, a tablet computer holder for front seat passengers, LED interior lighting, and a rear parking camera.

The range-topping Shine model gets dark tinted rear windows, Citroen's Safety Pack Plus (with adaptive cruise control), keyless entry and start, and automatic high beam headlights. A Shine Plus trim adds a premium hi-fi system featuring uprated speakers and the addition of a subwoofer, all as standard.

The e-C4 is available to order now with deliveries to UK customers commencing in February 2021.

Should you buy a Citroen e-C4?

We'll know more once we've driven it, but the early signs are encouraging. Since the Volkswagen e-Golf went off sale, there haven't been any options for those who want a small family car that's powred by electric and doesn't shout about it. Its main rival is the Nissan Leaf, which although ageing in several areas, does still offer a competitive range and efficiency and the excellent Volkswagen ID.3. And both of those are bespoke EVs, designed as such from the ground up.

Citroen hopes that the new e-C4 will appeal to a wider range of buyers as a more-rounded product that majors on comfort and refinement. It looks well priced and comes with an impressive amount of equipment, as well as a free home charger, which should help persuade buyers to take the plunge.

Source: parkers.co.uk

Published in Citroen

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