COVER Citroen C4 EV

Bold new plan for Golf-rivalling electric hatch

THE next-generation Citroen C4 hatchback will have a pure-electric option in 2020, Auto Express can reveal.

The old C4 was culled last year, with a toned-down C4 Cactus currently filling a dual role as a C-segment family hatch and crossover. Its replacement had been expected to use the same EMP2 platform as the Peugeot 308, but Citroen is instead planning a much more radical approach, which includes a pure-electric version of its family hatchback, as previewed in our exclusive image.

At the Paris Motor Show, Citroen CEO Linda Jackson revealed that the new C4 is at the top of the firm’s agenda.

“We haven’t actually said when the C-segment hatchback is going to be, but given the strength of that segment, given the importance of it, clearly that’s going to be a priority for us,” she explained.

PSA Group engineering vice-president Gilles Le Borgne revealed that instead of EMP2, the next C4 will use the longest variant of the group’s new CMP platform.

“We have a very important programme on C-segment that is based on CMP, the next-generation C4, for example,” Le Borgne told us. He also confirmed that an all-electric C4 using the E-CMP variant of the platform is planned.

PSA initially announced that E-CMP would support battery packs up to 50kwh in its supermini-sized EVS. However, Le Borgne hinted that this would open up the possibility of a bit more battery capacity for the new C4 electric in a longer-wheelbase car, still on E-CMP. That would, in essence, become Citroen’s Volkswagen I.D. rival.

“We could accommodate up to 60kwh,” said Le Borgne, with a range of up to 217 miles on a single charge recorded under the new, stricter WLTP standard. PSA believes this will be sufficient for buyers’ needs at the price the company intends to charge for the C4 EV.

The new C4 will, of course, continue to be offered with combustion engines, too. Discussing Citroen’s EV plans earlier this year, Jackson told Auto Express: “When it comes there will be an electric version, but there will also be equivalent petrol and diesel models.”

THE new Toyota Corolla (above) has hot hatchback potential, according to the firm’s European boss Dr Johan van Zyl.

Speaking to Auto Express at the Paris show, van Zyl said: “I think that’s what we are trying to say with the fact we have launched the 2.0-litre hybrid in the Corolla range. We are saying it is possible.

“We can make a more exciting, sporty hybrid. The tech is there. It’s just the way you tune it.”