First look: Subtle restyle for Citroen's sleek C4

TWO new 1.6-litre petrol engines co-developed with BMW and a revised C5-style front-end are the headline acts of a midlife facelift for Citroen’s C4 hatch, which makes its world public debut at the Paris motor show in October and goes on sale in Australia in mid-2009.

External aesthetic changes include extra exterior chrome details, a “curvier” new bonnet, restyled grille, new alloy wheels and four fresh paint colours, while interior upgrades include new velour or leather seat trim, special paint finishes and new premium-grain trim for the dashboard and door panels.

While the C4’s unique fixed-hub steering wheel remains, technical revisions include the repositioning of the C4’s tachometer to the central translucent dashboard display “so that all driving information is in one place”, as well as new low-rolling-resistance Michelin Energy Saver tyres.

However, Australians won’t benefit from Citroen’s new MyWay navigation system, which features a 10GB hard-drive plus Bluetooth and USB connectivity, accessed via a hi-resolution seven-inch colour screen.

In the engine room the new VTi (for Variable valve lift and Timing injection) four-cylinder delivers 88kW, while the THP Turbo High Pressure) version offers 110kW. They will replace the current C4’s 1.6i 16V and 2.0i 16V engines respectively, and are claimed to return lower fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.