Citroen adds more kit to refreshed C4

CITROEN’S C4 small car will receive a slew of new powertrain options and minor cosmetic tweaks in an update to be rolled-out in overseas markets in 2015.

It is unclear if or when the updated range will make it to Australia, or what powertrains it would include.

Heading the update for Europe is a new, more affordable 1.2-litre 86kW 110 PureTech three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine alongside the existing 96kW PureTech 130 three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine in the current C4. The latter engine is already offered in sister company Peugeot’s 308 sold in Australia.

The new manual-only PureTech 110 engine in the new entry level Citroen C4 in Europe has 205Nm of torque that Citroen says makes it “responsive and agreeable to drive”.

Two new 1.6-litre diesel engines – known as Blue HDi 100 and Blue HDi 120 – round out the C4 range.

The lower-spec Blue HDi 100 engine makes 73kW and 254Nm while the Blue HDi 120 produces 88kW and 300Nm. Both will be offered only with a manual transmission.

Idle stop is standard on the 120 and optional on the 100.

C4s currently sold in Australia are propelled by choice of 1.6-litre engines – a naturally-aspirated petrol four-cylinder making 82kW and 270Nm and a turbo diesel producing 88kW and 160Nm.

The rest of the changes to the 2015 C4 line-up are minimal, with updated styling on both headlight and tail light designs with what Citroen calls 3D effects that give the new lights a pop-out effect.

Exterior changes include two new colour choices, Platinum Grey and Spirit Grey, along with new 17-inch alloy wheels and chrome accents along the front and rear bumpers.

On the inside, the French small-car receives a new seven-inch touchscreen – complete with navigation and smartphone connectivity – and new upholstery choices to complement the existing leather dashboard, jersey roof and chrome highlighted steering wheel, air vents and gear lever.

Options include a massaging seat with electrical lumbar adjustment for the driver, a large electric sunroof and an uprated Denon-branded audio system featuring a digital amplifier, rear tweeters and subwoofers.

Standard equipment includes keyless entry and start, traction control, hill-start assist, lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring.

PR and communications manager for Citroen’s Australian importer, Sime Darby, Tyson Bowen, told GoAuto that it was still too early to say whether Citroen's facelifted small-car would make it Down Under.

“It's still under study for us,” he said. “At this stage there is no confirmation of it arriving. We are looking at the product and where it sits for us at this time.”

Sales of the C4 have slowed this year, with Citroen managing to move only 115 vehicles to the end of November, compared with the 203 cars sold over the same period last year, a drop of 43.4 per cent.