Citroen unveils battery-fed e-C4 X

IS THERE room for another compact SUV model in Citroen’s Aussie line-up? It’s a moot point, but the Double Chevron has unveiled the eye-catching e-C4 X replete with an all-electric powertrain – if the French marque was to launch a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) Down Under, this model might work.

Like the larger C5 X currently available here, the ë-C4 X offers customers a cross-segment design that combines the silhouette of a fastback with the stance of an SUV, in a four-door configuration.  

The car’s 100kW powertrain gives it range of up to 360km, while affording drivers a high level of comfort thanks to the virtual silence of electric power, Citroen says. It also provides a generous amount of interior space capped by a family friendly (510-litre) load bay. 

“Many customers have told us they want an affordable, responsible and elegant alternative to the masses of hatchback and SUV offerings in the volume compact car segment, and this is our best interpretation of that need,” said Citroen’s global CEO, Vincent Cobée.  

“It is a forward-looking, distinctive cross design that delivers all the comfort, technology, safety and value you expect from Citroen, but also outstanding roominess and limousine versatility, with the benefit of zero-emission, all-electric power”.

The full-electric drivetrain has 100kW and 260Nm of torque on tap. It allows Citroen’s all-electric compact crossover to clock a 0-100kmh time of 9.5-seconds in Sport mode. Regenerative braking enables the driver to partially re-charge the 50kWh battery pack dynamically to increase range.

Three drive modes are provided – Eco, Normal and Sport – each of which can be activated by a mode selector on the centre console. Understandably, Eco mode offers the highest level of efficiency, Sport mode offers the highest level of performance, while Normal mode balances the two.

It is said to take 7.5 hours to charge the e-C4 X via a 7.4kW wall box or 5 hours with a three-phase electricity supply and the optional 11kW onboard charger. From a 100kW rapid public charger, however, the Citroen’s high-voltage battery can be charged from zero to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.

Vehicle charging can be pre-programmed using the car’s MyCitroen Drive Plus touchscreen interface or via the MyCitroen app. For added customer peace of mind, the battery warranty for e-C4 X is eight years or 160,000 km, for 70 per cent of the original charge capacity.

The e-C4 X benefits from Citroen’s new-generation infotainment interface using a 10-inch HD screen (the display layout of which is fully customisable) and the model’s natural voice recognition system can understand 20 languages, provide visual feedback and respond to commands relating to vehicle systems, such as the climate control, audio media, phone and connected speech services.

Advanced Profile Management means the system can store up to eight profiles, with each profile paired with up to two smartphones.

The system will wirelessly identify smartphone profiles when they enter the car. The system also features Over-The-Air Map Updates via TomTom.

What’s more, a package of Citroen Connect Services, which complements the MyCitroen Drive Plus interface, is optionally available… It offers free geolocated emergency calls, an assistance service that customers can access 24-7 and an e-remote control system to manage the vehicle remotely.

With an overall length of 4,600mm, the e-C4 X slots into the Citroën line-up between the C4 hatchback (as offered in Australia), which is 4,360mm long, and the 4,800mm C5 X. Its wheelbase, at 2,670mm, is the same as the C4 hatchback’s – both use the same Common Modular Platform (CMP).

Up to 20 advanced driver-assistance systems are available on e-C4 X to help improve safety while driving and to make life behind the wheel or inside the cabin less stressful.

The C4 X and its electric variant will be soon be launched in selected markets with petrol, diesel and battery-electric powertrains, but it’s not in the local importer’s sights, at least at this stage.

“While there are no current plans for the C4 X and e-C4 X to be introduced to the Australian market, we do continue to work closely with Stellantis to explore and evaluate the potential introduction of new models to Australia," Drive quoted a Citroen Australia spokesperson as saying this week.