Citroen looks set to shock with new C4
A NEW family-sized hatchback has been revealed by Citroen and it will be available with conventional and totally electric powertrains from launch.
Due to be on the road before the end of the year, the new C4 had its world premiere online in an event streamed from Paris.
Looking a modern and stylish cross between an SUV and a coupe, the tenth generation of Citroen’s mid-sized model is 4.36 metres long and some two metres wide – slightly longer than the brand’s current offering in the sector, the C4 Cactus.
With a ground clearance of 156mm, it sits high and the C4’s looks are set off with plenty of SUV-like design cues, such as lower body cladding and wheel arch protectors.
The nose is very much in keeping with Citroen’s current styling theme, with double air intakes split by the bumper, bright strips across the base of the bonnet incorporating the brand’s chevron logo and large, distinctive headlamps with an array of LED daytime running lights.
At the rear, Citroen has returned to the split window layout used on the 2004 version of the C4, which sees the glass split by a spoiler just above the base of the window, while there is a complex treatment to the rear lamp clusters.
Boot space ranges from 380 to 1250 litres and Citroen says there is no difference in size or shape for the all-electric e-C4.
Inside, the car is roomy front and rear, with a class-leading 198mm of knee room available in the back, while all seats feature Citroen’s Advanced Comfort system that uses extra foam in the construction for added support.
On the high-grade cars shown at the reveal, there was a retractable head-up display screen for the driver above the oblong-shaped digital instrument panel and ahead of the front seat passenger there is a retractable cradle to hold a tablet computer.
Citroen calls it Smart Pad Support and it’s a world first for the connected generation.
Other connectivity features – accessed from a 10in horizontal central touchscreen – include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while in all there are some 20 driver assistance systems – including a semi-autonomous drive mode, a surround-view camera system and automatic emergency braking.
Five petrol engines and two diesels will be available in the line-up as well as the battery-powered C4. Power outputs range from 100 to 155hp for the PureTech petrol models, while the diesels develop either 110 or 130hp.
Eight-speed automatic gearboxes will be offered on all but the lowest powered engines.
Performance data for the combustion engine versions of the C4 is still to be announced but Citroen has revealed more about the electric e-C4.
It is said to be capable of 0-62mph acceleration in 9.7 seconds, a maximum of 93mph and has a range of up to 217 miles on a full charge. The motor develops the equivalent of 136hp.
Charging up to 80 per cent can be done in 30 minutes, while a full charge from a wallbox will take between five and 7.5 hours. The e-C4 can also be recharged from a domestic supply if necessary.
Citroen has its sights set on being a major player in the emerging electric vehicle market and the e-C4 is the fifth electrified model it has launched in recent months.
Crucially, the company’s president, Vincent Cobee, said its “mission statement” was to provide a new era of motoring at affordable prices and hinted that the electric C4 would be priced in line with conventional combustion engined models.
All versions – regardless of powertrain – will feature the Progressive Hydraulic Cushion suspension system that Citroen first introduced on the C4 Cactus in 2018 as the latest chapter in its history of making cars with “magic carpet” rides first pioneered on the Traction Avant back in 1954.
Prices for the new model are still to be announced but it is likely that the French car maker will launch its new rival to the likes of the VW Golf and Ford Focus at about £19,000 when it arrives towards the end of the year.
The e-C4 is set to cost below £30,000 after the Government’s plug-in grant is taken into account.