Citroen News

The major brands are keen for a good start to 2015 and that means a lot of sharp deals for the first two months of the year.Low profile brand Citroen currently has a hot deal on its Berlingo compact hauler, offering the 66kW diesel manual long body version for $25,990 drive away. It has also thrown in an extended warranty, covering it for five years/200,000km.Volkswagen has two limited edition vans available now, with special drive-away pricing.They are called Runner models and are effectively entry-level models.The Caddy Runner is based on the TSI 160 petrol version of Volkswagen’s small van. It is not loaded with gear, but does have airconditioning as well as stability control, and costs $23,990 drive away.The Transporter Runner, based on the TDI 250 diesel, is not completely void of features either and has just picked up Bluetooth phone connectivity and cruise control in addition to AC and stability control.Volkswagen is currently offering it for $32,990 drive away.Renault is receiving initial stock of the new Master large van, but there are a fair few of the old one left and that means bargains are to be had.The company hasn’t locked in incentives with the dealers, instead asking them to check in when someone is interested, so it might well be worth asking.The company does have an extended warranty offer in place at the moment to help its Kangoo compact van, which covers it for five years or 200,000km.Ford is offering two special deals with price cuts and extended warranty deals for its front-drive Transit Custom vans.The first is a short wheelbase model at $38,990 drive away and the second is the long wheelbase version for $40,990 drive away.These are keen prices, especially as Ford has now introduced an extended warranty that lasts for five years/200,000km.Both models are standard, but the Transit is very well specified and each van has a five-star crash safety rating, stability control, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, a bulkhead and even heated seats.There is only one transmission, a six-speed manual, as an automatic is still being developed, and only one engine, a 2.2-litre turbodiesel.Fiat is not doing any special deals on its just-introduced Doblo and Ducato vans, maintaining the strong pricing structure from the launch, including the well specified Doblo compact van from $22,000 for the petrol 1.4 and the larger Ducato with a 3.0-litre diesel from $38,000, but neither price includes drive-away costs.

Are you tired of being stuck behind an SUV? If can’t beat em, join em. Paris motor show previews the next big thing on four wheels: pint-sized SUVs for the city.The world’s car makers are rushing to release high-riding hatchbacks that have the commanding view of a family-sized SUV -- but fit in the same size parking space as a Toyota Corolla.SUVs are second only to small cars when it comes to new vehicle sales, and the big brands are finding new ways to fill every possible niche.That means we can expect to see a bunch of tiny-tot SUVs designed for the city, even though they will be dressed up with rugged, go-anywhere looks.Indeed, most city SUVs won’t even have a four-wheel-drive system because they’ll never leave the tarmac.So why are car makers so desperate to get their small SUVs into showrooms? Because buyers are happy to pay a premium for them even though they cost only a fraction more to build than a regular hatchback.Japanese car giant Toyota, the world’s biggest automotive brand, will unveil a city-centric SUV inside enemy territory at this week’s Paris motor show.Even though Toyota is one of the biggest sellers of SUVs on the planet, it has completely missed the march to city-sized softroaders, or “faux-wheel-drives”.Toyota’s swoopy looking “C-HR” concept car is a rather large clue as to what the showroom version will look like when it arrives next year, although no-one knows what ‘C-HR” stands for. “Compact High Rider” perhaps?Even the French, which once revolved against the SUV and vandalized them in the street less than a decade ago, has joined the party.Citroen is poised to unveil the oddly but honestly named “C1 Urban Ride”. It’s a version of its smallest car but with bulging bumpers and slightly taller suspension to give it a macho appearance.Maybe that’s why they’re becoming so popular: blokes need peer approval to buy small cars. Is a Bear Grylls bumper bar enough to get them over the line?Then again, Citroen also released a compact SUV called the Cactus, complete with plastic side mouldings so you don’t get door dings in the shopping centre car park.The Cactus might be made for the urban jungle but it’s not exactly the type of name that would make you want to boast about it.Australians have been at the forefront of the swing to super-small softroaders.Already on sale locally are the Suzuki S-Cross, Holden Trax, Ford EcoSport and Nissan Juke, all priced between $20,000 and $30,000 (when the cars on which they are all based start at less than $20,000).Around the corner are the Honda HR-V and Fiat Panda Cross. Next month Mazda is due to unveil a SUV to slot under the top-selling CX-5.South Korean car maker Hyundai is also working on a super-small SUV, which should be in showrooms in 2016.Meanwhile, for those who think motor shows should always be about high performance exotic supercars, fear not, although the definition of supercar has changed slightly.Lamborghini is preparing to unveil its first ever hybrid sports-car, while Porsche is about to unveil its first ever plug-in hybrid SUV.Porsche’s two-tonne luxury SUV sips less fuel than a Prius -- providing it has enough charge to travel the first 50km on electric power alone before the petrol engine takes over.More affordable eye candy, however, will come in the form of the first ever motor show outing for the new Mazda MX-5 (the world’s top-selling two-seater roadster), and Jaguar XE sedan (no relation to the Ford Falcon from the 1980s of the same name).

French people-mover shows it's designed to succeed with Best in Category for automotive.

A car that comes with a drone to see what’s causing the traffic snarl ahead, another that accepts deliveries while you’re at work, and a self driving car with seats that face backwards.

Citroen has announced Australia’s first six year, unlimited kilometre warranty and roadside assistance plan for its new Grand C4 Picasso people mover and DS3, DS4 and DS5 models, with the industry-leading duration including all buyers taking delivery after March 1.Several manufacturers offer five year warranty terms, but Citroen’s new six year coverage is double the industry standard three year duration, and Australia is the first of the French brand's several international markets to make such an offer.“Introducing this warranty shows our commitment to the product and our commitment to the brand in Australia. We’ve been here for 90 years and we’ve continued to be innovators so it’s only natural that we want to push the barriers,” Citroen Australia Marketing boss Manuel Tyras says.Citroen is a relatively small player on the Australian market, with its 1180 vehicle 2013 total including just 61 examples of the previous C4 Picasso and a total of 418 DS models, and is understandably keen to attract new buyers to the brand. According to research undertaken by Citroen’s Australian arm, warranty and roadside assistance duration is a key influence among buyers considering the Citroen brand, with even a five-year warranty offering double the influence of a conventional three year term. The new six-year warranty is fully transferable between owners, and there is currently no plan for the six year duration to filter down to other Citroen models.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn 

Citroen’s second-generation C4 Picasso will arrive in local showrooms on March 1, with the new model’s $4,500 greater $43,990 entry price balanced by Citroen’s boast of $9,000 worth of extra value.Sitting between the Kia Rondo and Honda Odyssey in size, the new C4 Picasso features flexible seating for seven within a 2840mm wheelbase and 4600mm overall length – the same as the previous model but with 110mm added between the wheels.  Key packaging gains from the extended wheelbase include 55mm more knee room in the second row, and 16mm for third-row occupants. The new Grand C4 Picasso is the first model to arrive in Australia using Citroen-parent PSA’s new EMP2 platform, which will form the basis of several new Citroen and Peugeot models, plus some General Motors products under the PSA/GM alliance.Weight reduction was a key criteria for the new platform, and the new Grand C4 Picasso weighs just 1440kg – 100kg less than the outgoing model, and at least 336kg less than the Odyssey.DRIVETRAINAustralian Grand C4 Picasso models will use a single ‘Excusive’ trim level, with a six speed auto and turbodiesel as the sole drivetrain. This turbodiesel is the new BlueHDi 110kW/370Nm 2.0-litre unit, which produces max torque between 2000-2500rpm, can accelerate to 100km/h in 10.2 seconds, and is rated at a class-leading 4.5L/100 combined.The sole transmission is a new six-speed torque converter unit – unlike the previous single-clutch automated manual unit – which promises faster gearchanges, quieter operation and is paired with a standard stop/start system.EQUIPMENTStandard features include a leather steering wheel, satnav, dual-zone climate control with second row vents and fan control, front and rear parking sensors, four-camera 360 degree exterior view, automated parking system for parallel and perpendicular reverse parks, Bluetooth phone and audio, 8GB media storage, panoramic glass roof with electric sunblind, auto headlights and wipers, speed-limiting cruise control, proximity keys, and 17 inch wheels.Design highlights include twin multimedia screens in the dash, with a 12-inch widescreen unit for trip computer, satnav and 360 degree camera display, and a 7-inch secondary unit in the centre stack for HVAC controls, satnav, and multimedia information. Retractable window blinds are also standard for the second row, along with a roof-mounted conversation mirror and 12V power sockets for all three rows.Optional extras include the $2000 Drive Assist Pack that adds active cruise control, lane departure and collision warnings, active seat belts and auto high-beam. Also available is partial leather trim with with electric lumbar and massage functions for the front seats, second row tray tables, and an alectric footrest for the front passenger ($2500 or $5000 with full leather and electric heated front seats). A powered tailgate can also be added for $1000, plus Bi-Xenon headlights ($2000) and 18-inch wheels ($1500) that push the combined fuel figure up to 4.6L/100km.PACKAGINGThe third row seats can be folded into the floor, and a load length of up to 2.5m is possible with the front passenger seat folded. Cargo space with all seats up is 165L, which expands to 632-793L with the third row folded (depending on second row position), and 2,181L with the second row folded forward. The Grand C4 Picasso will carry an 840kg payload, 1600kg braked tow rating, and comes with an inflation kit in lieu of a spare tyre.SAFETYStandard safety features include dual front airbags, side and curtain airbags for the first two rows only, blind-spot monitoring, hill-assist, ABS and stability control, and second row child seat anchorage points are ISOFIX with a top-tether for all three positions. The Grand C4 Picasso has earned a five-star Euro NCAP rating, which Citroen Australia distributor Sime Darby expects will be recognised by ANCAP in the coming weeks. 

There's always a great deal of interest any time one of the cars used in a 007 movie is offered for sale. And you can probably multiply that by 59 times for the collection of Bond vehicles owned by US real estate mogul Michael Dezer.Dezer is known for  development on a grand scale: nearly the entire suburb of Chelsea in NewYork, and several massive projects in Florida including partnerships with Donald Trump for the 900 million Trump Towers, $600 million Trump Grande Ocean Resort and Residences and the $166 million Trump International Hotel and Tower.And Florida is also where he garages his collection of 1800 vehicles, including the 59 genuine Bond ones he's selling, each of which has appeared in one of the movies.The catch is that Dezer insists they be bought as one lot, for US$33 million ($37 million). But the buyer will have a fairly comprehensive sample across the Bond series.Among the 59 are a Fairey Huntress boat used in 1963's From Russia With Love and an Audi A5 and Land Rover Defender used in the most recent film, Skyfall, for the kickstarter car chase scenes.From films in between, there are a brace of Aston Martin DB5 coupes, one of which helmed by Pierce Brosnan for Goldeneye -- and the Russian T55 tank from the film. The famed Lotus Esprit S1 that morphed into a submarine in The Spy Who Loved Me is also one of star vehicles, as are the armoured and armed BMW 750iL from Tomorrow Never Dies, and the Jaguar XKR from Die Another Day.There are also more everyday wheels, including the Citroen 2CV from For Your Eyes Only, and a replica of the AMC Hornet from The Man With The Golden Gun. The collection has been on display at the Dezer Musuem in Miami, and it's likely the buyer will do something similar once the deal is done.And while it will make a little space in the Dezer garage, there are still plenty of interesting cars staying there, including the 1948 Ford from Grease,  the 1981 DeLorean from Back to the Future, the Ghostbusters 1959 Cadillac, an original Batmobile, the Lamborghini Social Experiment Project AU 79, and many, many more.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott

The New York motor show in April will see the announcement of which vehicle has won the 2014 World COTY, and there looks to be a tough -- and very varied -- field of finalists.Last year's winner was the Volkswagen Golf, which also took awards in pretty well every country on the globe. But this year it could be anything from the little electric BMW i3 to the offroading Jeep Cherokee and even the Citroen C4 peoplemover, judging by the shortlist.A panel of 69 motoring experts from around the world -- including Carsguide's Paul Gover and National Motoring Editor Joshua Dowling -- will choose the winner from: Audi A3, BMW 4 Series, BMW i3, Cadillac CTS, Citroen C4 Picasso, Ford Fusion/Mondeo, Infiniti Q50, Jeep Cherokee, Lexus IS, Mazda3, Peugeot 308 and Skoda Octavia.The 10 finalists for the 2014 World Luxury Car are the Bentley Flying Spur, BMW X5, Cadillac ELR, Cadillac Escalade, Maserati Ghibli, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Porsche Macan, Range Rover Sport and Rolls-Royce Wraith.Due to a tie, there are 11 finalists for the 2014 World Performance Car: Alfa Romeo 4C, Audi RS 6 Avant, BMW M6 Gran Coupe, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Ferrari 458 Speciale, Ford Fiesta ST, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster, Mercedes-Benz A/CLA45 AMG, Porsche 911 GT3, Porsche 911 Turbo and Volkswagen Golf GTI.A separate panel of five 'green' experts will choose the 2014 World Green Car from Audi A3 Sportback e-tron (+ Audi e-gas), BMW i3, Honda Accord Hybrid, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Volkswagen XL1.Similarly, a panel of five design experts will decide on the 2014 World Car Design of the Year, from among: BMW i3, Cadillac CTS, Citroen C4 Picasso, Mazda3, Lexus IS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volkswagen XL1.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

The latest version of Citroen's Grand C4 Picasso people-mover will arrive in Australia with a swag of trophies already under its beltline, having nabbed Top Gear's European Family Car of the Year and Auto Bild's Golden Steering wheel.It remains to be seen whether the awards have impact locally, where under the previous importers the Picasso has failed to get cut-through. The segment sold a total of 81000 last year but was dominated by the Kia Carnival (2847), and with Hyundai iMax (1455) and Honda Odyssey (1001) accounted for 5,300 of the field's total, with Toyota's Tarago mopping up another 960.Against that, the Citroen in run-out last year sold just 61, a drop from the 149 of 2012. Since taking over the Citroen brand to sit beside Peugeot under the Sime-Darby umbrella, it's new minders have worked to reposition the product.As the latest vehicle for that strategy, the Picasso is dropping the two-pronged approach  -- which previously offered both petrol and diesel versions -- and will within weeks have only a single new variant.The Grand C4 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbodiesel mated to a six-speed  torque-converter automatic transmission driving the front wheels. "It is specifically targeting families, and as a seven-seater we decided the diesel was the better option," Citroen PR and communications manager Jaedene Hudson says.The new engine develops 110kW of power and 370Nm of torque -- available from 2000-2500rpm -- and the carmaker claims fuel economy at a frugal 4.5L/100km in combined driving, helped by a stop-start system.Citroen says the newcomer is 100kg lighter than the previous model, putting it at 1520kg, but by the time you add another half-tonne of bodies you could find the fuel needle moves a bit faster down the gauge.The Grand C4 Picasso will go on sale March 1 in a single spec level for $43,990 -- a rise from the $37,490 starting price for the former petrol entry level, and the $39,490 for the previous diesel variant.However Citroen Australia says the difference is more than covered by the extra features that will be offered, including a standard 360 degree camera, standard self-parking, blind spot monitoring and a 12-inch panoramic HD screen with 7-inch multifunction touch screen."We’ve very excited to introduce the all New Grand C4 Picasso in Australia. It’s a people-mover that drives like a car and looks very stylish," Citroen marketing manager Manuel Tyras says. "But it’s also supremely practical with ample space and high levels of safety and technology."The first vehicle to be built on all-new modular EMP2 platform, it will roll on a 11cm longer wheelbase at 2.84m, promising improved space and cabin flexibility. More details and specification will be announced closer to the roll-out date.

Citroen is known for being a bit quirky, and they've amped up that 'bit' to 'a whole lot' with the coming C4 Cactus, which has not moved far from its funky concept styling.Set to be unveiled at the Geneva motor show next month, the C4 Cactus carries over most of the cues from last year's Frankfurt Cactus concept -- most notably the 'airbump' panels along the sides, designed both for visual impact and to protect the vehicle against the scuffs of real impact.However the side openings  have been replaced by more conventional pillared windows, although blacked out to retain the appearance of a floating roof. And the concepts 'circuit board' headlights and tail-lights have been ditched in favour of normal LED clusters.The interior has kept the vented leather upholstery on bench seats with strong metal  accents and the floating screens for instrumentation and infotainment.Citroen has not yet revealed any drivetrain details for the C4 Cactus, however we expect the show reveal to include information on economy-focused petrol and diesel engines.