2018 Citroen Dispatch Reviews

IT's the car that showed Jaguar had got its groove back ... The C-X75 concept car was a hit at the 2010 Paris motor show, with the stunning design showing that Jaguar had relocated its supply of mojo, which had been put into storage under Ford ownership. Developed in association with the Williams F1 racing team, the hybrid supercar will be built from 2013 in a limited run of 250, but there is no set quota allocated specifically for Australia. “It is an order-based system, so it will be first come first served around the world,” Jaguar Australia spokesperson Narine Salmasi says. Expressions of interest aren’t coming through local HQ but through a phone number that goes directly to the UK office, she says. “We’ve had a few inquiries but can’t confirm exactly how solid their level of interest is yet.” The car will be priced from 700,000 pounds ($1.2 million) in the UK, with taxes likely to add a large slug on top of that. The production model will not use the show concept’s micro-turbines -- although Jaguar has said it will still look at developing the technology further – but instead rely on a small, boosted petrol engine and an electric motor at each axle. The C-X75 will have a top speed of 322km/h and log the 0-100km/h sprint in under 3 seconds, with an electric-only range of 50km, and emissions predicted to be under 100g/km.

It is one of the best days of your life. Or should be because through the euphoria comes Mr Logic. He's been napping in your head for the past year or so and is now very much awake and wants to know where you're going to put the new arrival.  That's another bedroom and a bigger car. You won't be able to cart junior in the car with the other three, he says.Society is comfortable with designing one-size-fits-all boxes.  The sedan car holds five people and homes have four bedrooms so the maximum accommodation that society builds for us is five - two adults, three children.Children, lots of them, produce uncomfortable squirms in house and car designers.  In my case, Child No.4 led to a Nissan Nomad, a commercial van that replaced the bare-metal expanse in the rear with two extra rows of seats to accommodate up to six children. A frightening thought.But the Nomad struggled through its tenure at our house, safely carted our kids and their friends to various sport and social functions and doubled as a furniture pick-up truck. It broke down a few times - radiator hoses, mainly - but generally was a content family bus.It was loved, hated, crunched, thrown up in, became an occasional bed and nappy changeroom, and finally sent to another home to repeat the experiment that is child rearing. This is not an excuse to go forth and breed. But it is a list of quality new - and used - vehicles with six seats or more that will fit more than the predetermined maximum of three kids.NEWCitroen C4 Picasso (from $39,990): Very clever car with lots of great ideas, flexibility and driving enjoyment. Expensive and a bit off the wall but worth a look.Honda Odyssey (from $41,990): Safest bet - excellent all-round vehicle let down only by its asthmatic performance when fully laden or - gasp when asked to tow a trailer. Safe, economical, flexible and with excellent resale value.Dodge Journey (from $36,990): Newer entrant with pleasant ambience and good pricing and doesnt look like a tradies van.Hyundai iMax (from $36,990): Basically a commercial van made for people, but one of the better attempts. Has a four-star crash rating and is economical, affordable and roomy. Diesel engine is a no-brainer. Kia Grand Carnival (from $39,990): Market leader in terms of volume and more recently has overcome earlier mechanical woes. Good compromise for space and economy, especially the diesel.Kia Rondo 7 (from $25,990): Better for a small brood as third row rom is precious and luggage area is tight. The price is a winner but youll be upgrading when the kids start growing - apparently they all do that.Mercedes Viano (from $78,826): Expensive but maximum five-star safety van.Ssangyong Stavic (from $32,990): Best seen while blindfolded, theres no doubting the keen price, high feature list, economy of the diesel and paltry resale value.Toyota Tarago (from $52,490): Expensive but top notch quality. The Honda Odyssey can match it in all but performance. VW Caddy Maxi Life (from $39,990): Makes sense but a bit too van-like to make a statement in the pre-school carpark.VW Caravelle (from $49,990) - Seats nine so go for your life. Diesel only and may require special driving licence in some states.VW Multivan (from $49,990): More restrained seven-seat version of Caravelle. Also diesel only.Peugeot 4007 (from $45,190): This is a seven-seat version of the 4007 and its clone, the Mitsubishi Outlander.Ford Territory (from $44,890): Seats seven from TS model up. Comes as cheaper 2WD version. New model with frugal diesel engine here soon so best to wait.Holden Captiva 7 (from $35,490): Just upgraded and worth a look. Diesel is good and car has plenty of flexibility and family-friendly features.Hyundai Santa Fe (from $37,990): Hot seller for ages and seats seven with god room. But do you need an SUV?Kia Sorento (from $36,490): Same issue as Santa Fe, just looks a bit better.Mazda CX-9 (from $50,015): Not cheap but follows Mazdas line of great quality. A bit thirsty on petrol, though, and no diesel option. Other SUVs include:Mitsubishi Challenger (from $49,390):Mitsubishi Pajero (from $50,490):Nissan Pathfinder (from $48,490):Ssangyong Rexton (from $36,990):Subaru Tribeca (from $56,990):Toyota Kluger (from $39,990):Toyota Prado (from $60,904):Nissan Patrol (from $53,190):Toyota Landcruiser (from $77,414):Audi Q7 (from $88,614):Mercedes R-Class (from $92,200):Volvo XC90 (from $69,950):  USEDFord Territory 2005 - $23,000Subaru Tribeca 2007 (old face) - $35,000Volvo XC90 2006 - $39,000Chrysler Grand Voyager 2002 - $10,000Ssangyong Stavic 2005 - $23,000Ford Fairlane 8-str limousine 1989 - $18,000Toyota Tarago 2006 - $27,000Toyota Tarago 1998 - $7000Toyota Prado 2005 - $40,000Mitsubishi Delica 2005 - $11,000Hyundai Santa Fe V6 2006 - $17,000Land Rover Discovery 2007 - $48,000Jeep Commander 2009 - $39,000

It scored the five-star safety ranking in a fresh round of NCAP testing in Europe that includes the first results for an electric car - a four-star score for the Mitsubishi iMiEV. The Citroen C-Zero and Peugeot's iOn, which share the basic design of the iMiEV, also got a four-star score. In other results, the Hyundai ix20 - a baby MPV under consideration for local sales - also got five stars and the bargain Dacia Duster was a three-star disappointment. The Mitsubishi result with the iMiEV wins praise from the head of Euro NCAP, Dr Michiel van Ratingen, "We recognize the efforts done by Mitsubishi to demonstrate that plug-  in battery powered cars can be as safe as others. It shows that a future 5 star accolade for EVs is not unthinkable," he says. "Whether produced by established car manufacturers or by new players on the market, consumers should expect to get electric vehicles that meet the same safety standards as conventional vehicles." Euro NCAP confirms its real-world emphasis by testing the iMiEV with 'live' batteries, also emphasising the post-crash battery integrity and operation of the battery cut-off switch. At the same time as the latest European results, the Kia Optima - already one of the surprising delights in Australia in 2010 - became the first Korean car to achieve the highest safety rating from the National Highway Transport Safety Administration in the USA. It gets a five-star ranking under a system that includes tougher new crash tests.  

So just for you, a Citroen-sponsored "visionary'' has created a three-wheeled vehicle for the future that places the driver at the centre of the main wheel. The "E-3POD Antistatic'' is an electric single seater that won its designer, Heikki Juvonen, a six-month employment contract at the PSA Design Centre in Paris. One of a series of submissions by Royal College of Arts second year students in London, the ultra-light, micro segment, single-seater is designed as an urban commuter. It is not meant to replace cars, but to be an addition to the family transport fleet positioned between bicycles and cars.  The E-3POD has a simplified, lightweight construction to make it affordable and has an emphasis on aerodynamics to minimise the electric motor's required battery size. The rear wheel is a structural element, there is shared suspension for both front wheels and it has scratch-resistant plastic for the canopy.  Judges say the E-3POD provides the user with easy, cost efficient transport with access to easier parking due to the small footprint. Second prize went to the designer who created a cage in which to park the Antistatic.

CRAIG Lowndes started the 2011 V8 Supercar season with an emphatic lap record at the Eastern Creek test day at the weekend. The five-time Bathurst winner and three-time series champion set a lap of 1m30.1877s on fresh, soft tyres, beating Mark Skaife's 1999 pole position lap by half a second. Commodores took the top seven positions, while current champion James Courtney was 16th in his HRT Holden. The series begins next weekend in Abu Dhabi.THE Daytona 24-Hour came down to a one-lap sprint to the flag after a late restart at the weekend. Defending Grand-Am Series champion Scott Pruett held off his teammate, Kiwi Scott Dixon, by 2.42 seconds in the one-lap dash to take out the title at Daytona International Speedway in Florida. It was team owner Chip Ganassi's fourth win.GT vehicles will join with production cars for the first time in the Bathurst 12-Hour this weekend. There are entries from Audi, BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford, Holden, Lotus, Mitsubishi, Mosler, Nissan, Porsche and Subaru. However, outright honours are expected to be fought out between Porsche teams and the 11-time Le Mans winners, Audi Sport Team Joest, with Craig Lowndes as the lead driver in an R8.FORMER F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen and World Rally Champion Petter Solberg have been confirmed to contest Rally Australia at Coffs Coast, New South Wales, in September. They will drive works-built Citroen DS3 WRC rally cars. Raikkonen's ICE1 Racing team will contest 10 of the 13 WRC rounds this year, while Solberg finished third last year and will compete in the full season.TASMANIAN Jason White has moved to the top of the Australian Targa Championship points table with a dominant performance at the second round of the series, Targa Wrest Point, out of Hobart. The reigning Wrest Point champion drove his Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera to a 29-second lead from South Australian Steve Glenney in a Mazda RX8 SP and Queenslander Tony Quinn third in his Nissan GT-R. The final round is the Targa Tasmania from April 5 to 10.EASTERN Creek International Raceway in Sydney will get a $9 million circuit upgrade. Work will include increasing the circuit's capacity and track configurations to four layouts with two circuits able to operate independently. The upgrade follows the recent closure of Oran Park.CHAD Reed has claimed his first podium with his own team, TwoTwo Motorsports, at in the fourth round of the AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, at the weekend in Oakland, California. The Australian finished second n the slick surface behind James Stewart and remains in fifth position in the titles while Stewart moves to the top. The next event is in LA this weekend.FLOOD damage has forced the third and fourth rounds of the Australian Off Road Championship to be moved from Queensland to Victoria. The March round at Goomburra will now be held on May 28-29 at Hedley in Victoria. Motorcycling Queensland has cancelled the Queensland 2 Day Enduro to the floods, but the national CIK Stars of Karting Series will go ahead as scheduled on February 26/27 in Ipswich. The International Karting Committee decision has come after consultation with the local council. The five-round series is conducted in four states up to September.TWO-time World Superbike champion Troy Corser has admitted he doesn't have many years left at the top level. The 39-year-old BMW rider from Wollongong missed the first test day in Portugal to test on his own at Eastern Creek and start his physical training earlier than usual. "I know I haven't got too many seasons left at the highest level, so I am really motivated to make the most of the next few years," he said. The season starts at Philip island on February 27.

After it's global unveiling at the 2010 Paris Motor Show followed by some rigorous testing, the DS3 WRC is ready for action.  The car will make its racing debut in February at the Swedish Rally, part of the 2011 World Rally Championship (WRC), covering a variety of conditions, climates and terrains.  Australia will finally get a glimpse of the car in September when it will visit to compete at Rally Australia in Coffs Harbour.The DS3 WRC is the third rally car entered by Citroen in the 2011 World Rally Championship (WRC) after the Xsara and C4. Five DS3's in total will be seen over the course of the championship, with two crews entered by Citroen and three from privateers. Citroen Racing is taking no chances when it comes to retaining their driver and manufacturer titles, recruiting a top-tier team including eight-time WRC champion drivers Sebastian Loeb and Daniel Elena. Two-time WRC champions Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia will drive the No.2 car.See the Citroen DS3 WRC at Rally Australia at Coffs Harbour, NSW from 8 to 11 September 2011.

CRAIG Lowndes leads a surprising Audi attack on the Bathurst 12-Hour race over easter with a pair of race-prepared R8 coupes. Rule changes for the endurance event at Mount Panorama have opened the event to sports cars and Audi has a pair of R8s coming from Europe - V8 Supercar racer Warren Luff will share with Lowndes - to take on the Porsche 911s that are expected to fight for victory.THE struggling Australian Rally Championship is headed for a revamp and improvement to its relevance under new chairman Scott Pedder. The retired driver intends to make the series more appealing to carmakers from 2011 and move it away from the reliance on the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Evo contenders that dominate entry lists.THE full-scale renewal of the V8 Supercars field will take place in 2013 when the category's Car of the Future will become compulsory. There was talked of an optional phase-in for the change in 2012 but V8 Supercars bosses now say the transitional year has been dumped in favour of a single switch at the start of 2013.CITROEN stalwart Dani Sordo, who was superstar Sebastian Loeb's sidekick for five years at Citroen, is moving to Mini for this year's World Rally Championship. Mini is only planning a limited program against Ford and Citroen before a full-scale season in 2011, but has signed Sordo the Spaniard as lead driver alongside Chris Meeke of the UK.FORMER champion Chad Reed made a tentative return to AMA Supercross racing in the USA last weekend riding a Honda for his own team for the first time. The Aussie was fifth at Anaheim Stadium in Los Angeles as Ryan Villopoto won on the Monster Kawasaki he used to ride.

The 2.7-litre, twin-turbo V6 Ford/PSA engine - previously deployed in models as diverse as the Jaguar XF and Citroen's C5 - brings to this hitherto thirsty, petrol-only range the low-end torque and economy that makes diesel the power source of choice for buyers of bigger SUVs. Emissions will be cut by as much as 25 per cent compared with the Territory's venerable naturally aspirated in-line petrol six, while output should be in the vicinity of 150kW and 440Nm: just what the two-tonne Strayan SUV needs. New SUVs are thick on the ground in 2011, but the fairest of them all is the Range Rover Evoque, which brings designer desirability and - at little more than $50K - relative affordability to the segment.  Range Rover's first foray into the domain of the Q5s and X3s of this world will bring Land Rover's luxury badge within reach of people who don't necessarily use them to form convoys outside private schools. It's the smallest, lightest Rangie ever, and the leanest version emits about 130g of CO2 per kilometre.  Most of all, Gerry McGovern's sublime, compact design - especially in coupe format - will change the way you look at SUVs. Roll on September. On a softer note, compact SUVs - prestige ones, in particular - have been the growth segment of the past few years.  This year brings an especially intriguing contrast: two Volkswagen Group models, both with Tiguan underpinnings and most likely highly similar drivetrains, one built in Spain, the other in the Czech Republic. The former is Audi's Q3, the latter Skoda's Yeti. The Audi will carry a premium price tag; the Skoda won't. Compare and contrast.  In tougher terrain, the redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee lobs later this month with its newly acquired monocoque chassis, reportedly tarted-up interior and a trio of V engines; a new 209kW 3.6-litre petrol V6; a 5.7-litre Hemi petrol V8; and a three-litre CRDi turbo-diesel six. The Cherokee's Patriot and Wrangler stablemates have also been updated. Just as ballsy (more so, even) is Nissan's Pathfinder Ti 550, the most powerful version to date, with its stump-pullin' three-litre turbo-diesel V6. If the sun is temporarily eclipsed in June, it's probably due to the vastness of the latest Volkswagen Touareg with its new range of six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and a platform shared with the exxier likes of Audi's Q7 and the Porsche Cayenne. There can be few left in this global village who haven't been exposed to pre-launch publicity for the Toyota FJ Cruiser.  This four-year-old, retro-designed device finally gets here in March, lugged along by the four-litre V6 petrol engine from the 150 Series Prado. Claimed outputs are 200kW and 380Nm.  If you must have one, that blue seems the least ostentatious colour.

Funky doesn't always work in cars, but when it's wearing a Citroen badge there's a chance it will strike a chord.  Some things the French brand have done can go over the buying public's collective head, but the DS3 is unlikely to miss its mark.  The head-turning, smile-inducing appeal of the DS3 DSport suggests the Citroen crew are on a winner.The DS3 Dsport six-speed manual demands $35,990, but the features list is decent.  The manual sports model gets an alarm (an option on the auto), remote central locking with deadlock and automatic drive-away locking, a reach and rake adjustable sports leather steering wheel, cruise control and speed limiter, power windows, a sound-insulated front windscreen, aluminium drilled pedals  (standard on the manual sports model only).The DS3 DSport also gets carpet mats throughout, filtered climate control, an MP3 compatible six-speaker sound system with Bluetooth iPod integration, suede/cloth sports seats, a trip computer  and a "gear efficiency indicator" that's only on the manual but a little incongruous given the sporty nature of the hatch.Anyone looking for an automatic transmission will have to opt for the less-powerful DS3 DStyle, which is $3000 cheaper but doesn't get the turbocharger on the 1.6; neither car has rain-sensing wipers.Among the optional extras for both models are rear parking sensors (at $500), an upgrade to the sound system for $800, Bluetooth phone hands free and USB port costs $700, the climate pack  for $1000 and gray leather or amarente red leather trim  adds $2000.The powerplant is the 1.6-litre turbocharged four shared with sibling Peugeot and development partner BMW Mini.  The engine uses direct fuel injection, a twin-scroll turbocharger (for better response), variable valve timing on intake and exhaust valves, as well as variablie lift on the intake valves.The little French hottie boasts a Bluetooth link for compatible mobile phones and audio players - an iPhone can be linked for both but was not always retained by the car's system, sometimes dropping out and then returning to the system.The most striking thing about the DS3 is its exterior design, which boasts head-turning good looks, but it's not always apparent why it looks so good.  Citroen says it uses "carefully considered design elements" on its new sports-hatch, boasting about the "shark fin" B-pillar, the "floating" roof and the signature LED lights on the snout.  It all adds up to a stylish package that passed the schoolkid-headturn test at the bus stop.Citroen has a reputation for producing safe packages and the DS3 is no exception - a five star Euro NCAP crash test, stability control is standard, as well as anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist, six airbags - dual front, side and full-length curtain airbag - all standard.The DS3 also features automatic activation of the hazard lights on under heavy braking, automatic door unlocking following an accident and a fuel cut-off device.French hot hatches can be a conundrum - so good in some ways and so annoying in others, but some, like the DS3 are becoming less painful to endure day-to-day.  On the right piece of road, some of the Gallic hatches that have gone before were laugh-out-loud brilliant - but curse-laden things to drive in mundane metropolitan duties.Not so the DS3.  Around town the flexible little turbo engine easily shoots the DS3 through traffic without requiring numerous gearchanges, but the six-speeder does encourage the driver to use it - the shift feel is good.Steering is light and direct, without any real torque steer issues, and the driving position is reasonable - an improvement if not ideal for someone over the old six foot mark.  It could still do with a little more in terms of range adjustment for the wheel and the seats.Cruising through the hills or on the freeway, the DS3 sits solidly on the road but is not uncomfortable, coping well with broken bitumen.  When the road begins to curl, the little Citroen laps it up, zipping through bends with good grip, no tyre squeal and well-controlled body roll.The DS3 is not the smallest in class, nor is it the biggest, but the cabin has enough space to get settled, although no one would be wanting to sit behind me in my best driving position.  The back seat is pretty much kids only unless its a quadrella of jockeys on board, but its a comfortable cabin.The DS3 will lead Citroen's charge into 2011, giving the French marque a halo car for its resurrected small car range. The asking price is on the money for the segment and it's chic and cheeky-quick.

Small, chic and very French…the Citroen C3 has been an absentee from the small car market in Australia, but will make a valiant return next year.