Citroen C4 2008 News

Manufacturers including BMW, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Peugeot and Citroen have issued recalls via the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Volvo, Subaru, Land Rover, Citroen and GM have issued safety recalls for some vehicles due to defective manufacturing issues.

...actually wind back its adventurous looks.The new Picasso is coming at the Paris Motor Show in September but this Carparazzi picture points to a more conventional big-box design, although it has trendy turbine-design alloys and retains the small window behind the A-pillar that's a signature of the current C4.

Due to arrive here in the third quarter of 2011 – along with its youth-targeting DS4 sibling – the C4 noses in with the new family chevron grille and rear gate, and redesigned bumpers and light clusters, with the interior getting a trim makeover and new technology in the entertainment and communications departments, including the ‘eTouch’ emergency assistance system. A second-generation stop-start system and brake energy recovery combine to make all the new C4s micro-hybrids, allied to either the 120kW and 155kW petrol engines or the 110kw and 150kW turbodiesels.

Somewhere under all this black plastic is the next C4, and while Citroen has tried to make sure there’s little to see under the camouflage, it’s easy to identify the car from its signature sharply raked windscreen and rounded rear.But this test car, caught out and about by spy-snappers Carparazzi, also shows new tail-light clusters and changes to the headlight components – although it’s unlikely Citroen will do away completely with the cluster’s current claw-like shape.The next Citroen C4, tipped to debut at the Paris motor show in September next year and be  launched at the end of 2010, will be lighter and more efficient than the current car, the company’s product boss Vincent Besson has revealed. Speaking at the recent Frankfurt motor show, Besson also said that the new hatchback is likely to be offered with three cylinder engines and, possibly, petrol-electric hybrid power during its lifetime, although not from launch. Besson also laid out the company’s strategy for hybrid and electric vehicles, saying that petrol-electric power is not necessary or economically viable in small city cars, and only for high-end versions of the next C4.  The smaller cars are likely to be developed from a model based on the Mitsubishi i-Miev.However, he expects that ‘a large part of a future C5 range’ will have hybrid power.

Proving that you can always try to squeeze one more creative angle out of a great idea, Citroen has released another dancing robot ad. The first of the series – in which a C4 unfolded like a Transformer and then grooved its way through some great dance moves developed by Justin Timberlake's choreographer to rave master Jacques Lu Cont ‘s infectious track Jacques Your Body – went viral when it was launched in 2005, and still logs views on the internet, as well as having spawned a million spoofs It was followed by Citroen putting a robot on ice the following year, and now with another parroting John Travolta’s swagger through Brooklyn in the opening scenes of Saturday Night Fever to mark the release of the restyled C4. The theme music, Stayin’ Alive, keys in with Citroen’s claim that the C4 is `alive with technology’ but the concept is starting to look as dated as the disco era it references. The ad has just started airing in Britain, but there are no plans yet to show it here.  

A check of the NRMA's Petrol Watch website revealed the average price of petrol in Sydney this week was 164.1 cents a litre compared to diesel at 182.1 cents a litre 18c more.The thing is, even at this price a diesel vehicle is still going to be cheaper to run, at least in terms of the amount of fuel consumed.But most people only see the price and have difficulty grasping this fact.We had a look at the 12 fuel savers this week in the booming small car segment, comprising two hybrids and 10 diesels.We compared the fuel consumption of petrol models to that of the fuel-saving hybrid or diesel alternative, along with the difference in purchase price of the two.Our comparison shows the average fuel consumption of the petrol model followed by that of the diesel or hybrid, with the extra cost of purchase for the fuel saver shown in brackets.In the case of the Prius, which has no directly comparable model, we compared it to the most expensive Corolla, the Ultima sedan.The cheapest of the fuel savers is Hyundai i30 CRDi at $21,490, with the most expensive by far and away Toyota's much-vaunted Prius hybrid at $37,400.There's more to the story than just fuel economy as the initial cost of the car has to be taken into account as well as its resale value, which in the case of a diesel is going to be higher.For example, take Hyundai's i30, a car that comes in 2.0-litre petrol and 1.6-litre turbo diesel form, both with a five-speed manual gearbox.Both have a 53-litre tank but the petrol model uses 7.2 litres/100km compared to the diesel's 4.7 litres/100km.That makes the cost of filling up the petrol car $86.97 and the diesel, $96.51 $9.54 more.That's a significant difference and enough to put most people off.But here's the thing.Because the two cars consume fuel at a very different rate, the petrol model will, in fact, cost $11.81/100km to run, while the diesel one will set you back $8.55 a saving of $3.26/100km.Taking this argument a step further, diesel would have to hit 252.1 cents a litre before the two cars would start costing the same to run.Doubting Thomases will point to the difference in the cost of servicing the cars as well as the higher initial cost of buying a diesel vehicle.My mechanic reckons there's very little difference in the cost of servicing the two.But, in most cases, you'll certainly pay a premium of some kind for a hybrid or diesel vehicle at least $2500 more or, in the case of the Prius, $5410.Using the i30 as an example again, the SX petrol model is priced from $18,990 while the same model with a diesel engine is $21,490 a difference of $2500.With the cost of fuel at the current prices, that means you'd have to travel 76,000km before you'd recoup your initial outlay and start to reap the benefits of diesel's lower fuel consumption.Therein lies the rub because, for the majority of people, that's about when they'd begin thinking about getting rid of their car and updating to a new model. COMPARATIVE CONSUMPTION:extra cost of purchase in bracketsCitroen C4: 7.1 vs 4.7 litres/100km (+$4000)Dodge Caliber: 8.0 vs 6.1 litres/100km (+$4000)Fiat Ritmo: 7.1 vs 5.6 litres/100km (+$3500)Ford Focus: 7.1 vs 5.6 litres/100m (+$4000)Holden Astra: 7.8 vs 6.0 litres/100km (+$3000)Honda Civic: 7.2 vs 4.6 litres/100km (+$4000)Hyundai i30: 7.2 vs 4.7 litres/100km (+$2500)Mazda3: 8.6 vs 6.0 litres/100km (+$4000)Peugeot 308: 6.7 vs 4.9 litres/100km (+$4000)Renault Megane: 8.2 vs 5.8 litres/100km (+$3000)Toyota Prius (Corolla): 7.7 vs 4.4 litres/100km (+$5410)VW Golf: 7.5 vs 5.5 litres/100km (+$2500) 

The quirky but pedestrian-friendly little French car, with its five-star safety rating and full glass roof, has sold nearly 900,000 models so far around the world.The second generation will be unveiled at the Paris International Motor Show in October, before making its Australian debut in the middle of next year.The two new 1.6-litre petrol engines, co-developed with BMW, are the 88kW VTi, which features variable valve lift and timing injection, and the 110kW THP (Turbo High Pressure). They replace the current 1.6i 16V and 2.0i 16V powerplants.While the petrol engines will be changing, the C4 will nevertheless retain its current 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engines.The C4 has been known for its unique styling, which has been updated with a snazzy front end that borrows from its new big brother, the C5.Citroen points to added chrome, a curvier bonnet and a restyled grille as signs the car's image will be more dynamic. Inside, the C4 is distinctive because of its dominant central dashboard display unit.In the new model, the rev-counter will be repositioned there to keep information in one spot.European models get Citroen's navigation system, MyWay, which comes with an 18cm (7-inch) screen, Bluetooth, USB connectivity plus a 10-gig hard drive built into the audio system.However, how much of this is included in the Australian models won't be clear until next year when pricing will also be revealed.The C4 currently sells from $23,990 for the 1.6-litre VTR two-door coupe. Top of the current range is the $36,990 VTS coupe with the diesels from $29,990. 

IF NOT for a nun in an old station wagon, John Howard could still be wandering the Outback looking for Mount Isa.  This is one of many motoring stories for one of Australia's most prolific and beloved actors, who plays Dr Frank Campion on Seven's drama All Saints and also fronts the stories on Real Seachange series.Howard is a 55-year-old actor who graduated from NIDA in 1978 and went on to star in top-rating televisions series Seachange -- a role which won him the 2001 Silver Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actor -- Changi, Always Greener and numerous feature films including Jindabyne, A Man's Gotta Do, Japanese Story, The Man Who Sued God, Dating The Enemy and The Club.He rates the Amalfi Coast in Italy as his favourite drive and has a Citroen in the garage. But Howard reckons if he won Lotto, he would buy a Mack truck.  So you have been warned.What was your first car?Vauxhall Victor.What do you drive now?Citroen C4 HDi turbodiesel.Do you have a favourite drive and who would you take?The Amalfi Coast with my beautiful wife Kim Lewis.How far would you drive in an average year?20,000km.Do you have a favourite motoring memory?Returning from Chatsworth cattle station, in far-west Queensland, we broke down miles from nowhere. We were rescued by a nun in a Holden station wagon who took us into Mount Isa.What would you buy if money was no object?A great big Mack Truck.What music is playing in your car?Mariza!How much is too much for a new car?A car's worth is in one's enjoyment of it. It's hard to enjoy a mountain of debt on wheels.What should be done to make driving safer?Annual psychiatric tests for the nuts behind the wheel!Are you sponsored by a car company?Je le souhaite! Which is French for I wish -- are you listening Citroen?

We live in strange times — or at least under a Federal Government that has some strange ideas about things on four wheels.A big, heavy luxury SUV cops less tax than a more efficient, cleaner imported car. Diesel is less expensive to produce than petrol yet costs more at the pump than premium unleaded. Diesel cars are more fuel efficient than petrol equivalents, yet continue to command a price premium.Perhaps the only surprise is that Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan hasn't stuck an import duty on the cars we present here for being too efficient. It would be in keeping with the logic of his budget.All cars listed here offer official or claimed fuel consumption of less than five litres per 100km (56 miles per gallon by the old measure) in ideal conditions.Fiat 500 1.3 JTD Pop$25,9904.2L/100kmSuch was the demand for diesel that Fiat Australia has expanded its availability to the top of the 500 range's Lounge trim.If the existing Pop lacks the Lounge level of spec, it has all its desirability and efficiency. In fact, official figures place this immensely cute and quite practical re-born 500 as the most fuel-efficient auto on the Australian market.The smallest of the Fiat Group's turbo diesel, the 1.3 is a shade laggedly but winds up nicely to provide a cruisability that belies itscapacity.The DINK's city car par excellence: if the 500 doesn't raise a smile, then it's you that's wrong.Citroen C3 HDi$23,9904.4L/100kmWhile the French marque's reputation for reliability gets nowhere near Japanese surety, Citroen does chic in a way that, shall we say, Toyota doesn't.That Prius-equalling consumption is achieved with 65kW/215Nm 1.6-litre turbo diesel that utterly erases the petrol C3s for efficiency and performance.It typifies the “downsizing but upspeccing” paradigm that has seen sales of light and small cars overwhelm the “Falcodores”.While we do try to be enlightened, we gotta to say that if the C3 is chic, it's also for chicks. Sorry.Toyota Prius II$37,4004.4L/100kmThe world's most successful automotive marketing exercise, one which has caused denuded whole forests for paper devoted to its praise, the Prius is synonymous with lean and green motoring.Another paradox is that being as visually appealing as a chunk of cheddar has enhanced rather than damaged its appeal. It's distinctive and that's what counts. What's the point of making an eco-statement if no one knows you're making one?The Prius comes into its own in commuter traffic, where the constant throttle needed to extract the best return from diesel is hard to maintain. If anodyne to drive in the Toyota fashion, it's by no means awful with quite responsive and reasonably direct handling. Too dear, though.Fiat Punto 1.3 JTD$25,4904.5L/100kmRather more practical than the 500, the larger Fiat achieves its frugal consumption via a robotised six-speed sequential manual; one that does without a clutch pedal and provides an automatic drive mode, minimising the emission spikes that occur when gear changing in a conventional manual.If you can do without the rear seat headroom and don't mind joining a queue, take the 500. Fiat have invested too much in this car for it to flop qualitively.The Punto's interior does not inspire the same confidence.Audi A3 1.9 TDIe$38,900diesel 4.5L/100kmThis hugely efficient and incredibly clean (119g of CO2/km) turbo diesel is absolutely a Prius rival, both in terms of its figures and mad pricing.An eco-conscience can come with a considerable cost but, in this instance, at least you get a decent badge for your splodge (never you mind that it's all Volkswagen Golf underneath).We've yet to test this particular car — that comes in a few weeks — but on the basis of other Golf/A3 diesels, the 77kW/250Nm provided by this unit promises to make being green slightly easier to bear.Citroen C4 SX HDi$30,990diesel 4.5L/100kmAgain you've got to go for the sequential/robotised transmission to realise this figure from the 1.6-litre 80kW/240Nm diesel — which is probably no hardship given how most of you bleat about having to change gears for yourself. Harden the frack up, Australia ...Anyway, this version of Peugeot's 307 in a smarter suit is a cleverly-designed number that manages to afford more usable passenger space than certain bigger cars.You'll not quickly tire of instruments and features that initially appear quirky but are indeed highly practical.Though not the most composed drive on RTA roads and never in danger of providing excitement, the C4 would probably be the family pick from those here.Honda Civic Hybrid$32,9904.6L/100kmThis Honda would run the Citroen close, though.A 1.3-litre petrol-electric hybrid that's much cheaper than the Prius, the Civic attracts infinitely less attention just by virtue of the fact it looks like a common-or-garden Civic, rather than an advertisement for itself.A good but almost forgotten thing, we'll be revisiting the hybrid Honda in depth in the coming weeks.Hyundai i30 SX CRDi$21,4904.7L/100kmCarsguide's Car of 2007, in case we haven't mentioned it recently, at least with the $1300 safety pack that includes stability control and the full complement of airbags.With its responsive 85kW/2455Nm 1.6-litre diesel, the i30 is a spacious, European-designed hatch that dispels any lingering notions about Korean cars. If such doubts do linger, there's always its five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.Steering feel and standard rubber leave something to be desired, but we liked it. So will you. What do you think about hybrid cars, bio fuels and all things green? Have your say.