Citroen slips in four fresh C4s

CITROEN has quietly released its facelifted C4 small-car range in Australia, where the 2009 model range shrinks from six to four variants after the discontinuation of the three-door C4 ‘Coupe’.

The latter was previously available in 1.6 VTR and 2.0 VTS guises, priced about $26,000 and $30,000 respectively. Its absence from this month means Citroen no longer sells a three-door model in Australia, after its smallest C2 Coupe was axed from the range last December.

The upgraded C4, which was revealed globally in July 2008 before debuting at the Paris motor show last October, constitutes a typical midlife makeover for the historic French maker’s small hatch by comprising a new nose, fresh alloy wheels, more paint options, revised interior and more equipment.

The updated front-end comes courtesy of a new bumper, grille, bonnet and front quarter sheetmetal, wrapped around new-look, C5-style headlights, while the C4 cabin now boasts ‘premium-grain’ door and dashboard panels and different velour and leather seat trims.

Although the C4 retains the now-trademark fixed-hub steering wheel it introduced, its tachometer has been relocated to the central translucent dashboard display.

In the most significant hardware news for C4 customers, the outgoing C4’s 1.6i 16V and 2.0i 16V engines have been replaced by a pair of all-new 1.6-litre petrol engines co-developed with BMW, both of which are claimed to offer more performance, better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions.

Opening the simplified C4 range is the new C4 VTi (for Variable valve lift and Timing injection), priced at $26,990 as a five-speed manual – up $1000 over the C4 1.6 SX it supersedes – and $28,990 as a four-speed auto.

The new entry-level C4 is powered by a 1.6-litre 16-valve DOHC four-cylinder petrol engine delivering 88kW at 6000rpm (up from 80kW) and 160Nm of torque from 4250rpm (up from 147Nm). Citroen says 90 per cent of this is now available from less than 2000rpm to 6000rpm.

In the C4, the company’s all-alloy, continuously variable valve timing-equipped 1.6 returns average fuel consumption of 6.7L/100km as a manual (auto: 7.0L/100km), which is down six per cent on the former unit.

Surprisingly, electronic stability control (ESC) is not available with the entry-level C4 1.6, standard equipment for which does, however, extend to ABS, twin front/side/curtain airbags, air-conditioning and cloth trim.

Like its naturally-aspirated sibling, the twin-scroll turbocharged direct-injection version of the new engine was developed by BMW for PSA Peugeot Citroen (in a deal that also involves the supply of PSA HDI turbo-diesel engines to BMW/Mini) and also sees duty in the other French brand’s 207 and 308 as well as the Mini Cooper/S.

For the C4, the Turbo High Pressure (THP) engine produces 110kW at 5800rpm in five-speed manual guise ($31,990) and 103kW at 6000rpm as a four-speed auto, which is a specification unique to Australia and costs $33,990 – the same as the now defunct C4 2.0 Exclusive flagship. Both versions of the C4 1.6 THP produce 240Nm from just 1400rpm.

As a manual, the C4 turbo-petrol sprints to 100km/h in a claimed 8.4 seconds (auto: 9.7 seconds) and returns 6.9L/100km (auto: 7.7L/100km). The turbo-petrol C4 carries ‘Exclusive’ badging, which translates into equipment like 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome exterior trim, body-coloured bumpers and door-handles, an auto-dimming interior mirror, dual-zone climate-control, a six-CD changer and a front armrest.

On top of the 1.6 VTi and 1.6 ‘Turbo Exclusive’ petrol versions are three turbo-diesel variants in the C4 HDi 1.6 manual ($30,990), the C4 HDi 1.6 EGS ($31,990) and the C4 2.0 HDi Exclusive auto ($36,990).

Each are powered by carry-over versions of PSA’s HDi diesel engines featuring second-generation common-rail induction, with the 1.6 delivering 80kW at 4000rpm and 240Nm from 1750rpm (260Nm during overboost mode in the three highest gears).

In manual form, the C4 HDi 1.6 returns fuel consumption of 4.7L/100km to offer a theoretical fuel range of more than 1200km. Fitted with the six-speed EGS automated manual transmission, the C4 HDi 1.6 returns a Toyota Prius-like 4.5L/100km.

Topping the 2009 C4 range is the 2.0 HDi Exclusive, available exclusively as a six-speed automatic, which continue to produce 100kW at 4000rpm and 320Nm at 2300rpm. Its claimed 0-100km/h time remains 10.4 seconds, with combined fuel consumption staying at 6.6L/100km.

Finally, Australia’s facelifted C4 range brings two new body colours – Bourrasque and Recif blue – as well as a host of new options led by Citroen’s new MyWay 30GB hard-drive navigation and multimedia system with seven-inch colour screen. It costs $3600, while other C4 options include metallic paint ($800), a panoramic glass sunroof ($1500) and rear and front/rear parking sensors ($500/$800 respectively).

Read more:

First look: subtle restyle for Citroen’s sleek C4

First drive: C4 ends Citroen's identity crisis

Road test: Citroen C4 1.6 HDi