C4 PICASSO ADDS A NEW DIMENSION
TO CITROËN’S POPULAR MPV RANGE
Citroën has revealed first details of its stylish new seven-seat compact MPV, the C4 Picasso. This extremely spacious, practical and comfortable new people carrier will make its world debut at the Paris Motor show next month and will complement the Company’s exceptionally popular existing MPV line-up.
The C4 Picasso is a fresh alternative for customers looking for a versatile family car, with a host of new features designed to make travelling as easy and enjoyable as possible:
- a vast panoramic windscreen that contributes to outstanding all-round visibility,
- a smart, uncluttered look in the front of the cabin, aided by the integration of the new 6-speed electronic gearbox system and the imaginative dashboard design,
- class-leading amounts of space in both the passenger compartment and boot,
- an original seat-folding design, allowing quick and easy reconfiguration of the seats,
- the highest levels of interior comfort and refinement, with zonal air conditioning, soundproofed windows, air quality sensor and the use of innovative interior lighting,
- impressive ride comfort, with air suspension at the rear.
Citroën is already one of the biggest players in the UK MPV market. The Xsara Picasso, the best-selling MPV among private buyers, sits alongside the Berlingo Multispace, the country’s most popular budget MPV, and the award-winning C8 full-size people-carrier.
With the introduction of the C4 Picasso, Citroën is offering compact MPV buyers a choice of two very different and distinctive styles and interior configurations - the C4 Picasso’s seven seats adding to the five seats of the Xsara Picasso, a model that will continue to form part of the Citroën line-up for many years to come.
The striking lines of the C4 Picasso envelop one of its most notable features - a unique super wide-angle panoramic windscreen that rises up and over the front seat occupants, doubling vertical visibility in the front to 70°, compared to just 35° in a standard MPV. Narrow side pillars and large quarter lights further enhance the excellent driver’s visibility.
A combination of the vast windscreen, the biggest sunroof in the class and the large side windows allows the C4 Picasso to offer the largest glazed area of any compact MPV. As a result, all occupants benefit from exceptional levels of visibility from the comfort of a light and airy cabin – perfect for those long family journeys.
Close attention has been paid to interior refinement with the use of prestige materials that are both pleasing on the eye and to touch. The attractive chrome and gloss black detailing is complemented by the exceptionally fine finish to the grain of the dash and door panels.
At the front, the dashboard has a pleasant, uncluttered feeling. The clean lines are helped, on models equipped with the Company’s new 6-speed electronic gearbox system, by the absence of a protruding central gear lever mounting - here, the gear selector and paddles are located on the steering column, behind the multi-functional fixed centred controls steering wheel.
This design provides sufficient space for four closed storage compartments in the dash, including a large, refrigerated ‘cubby’ in the centre. The fresh, tidy look is completed by the installation of a dash-mounted electric parking brake, the positioning of most of the key driver controls and instruments around the steering wheel and the locating of the air conditioning controls at either end of the dashboard rather than in the centre.
The boot offers a category-leading 576 litres of loadspace under the parcel shelf in the most commonly used five seat configuration. The maximum capacity rises to 1,951 litres with the seats folded away. For easy access to the boot, even when parked in tight spaces, the rear window can be opened independently, while a control in the boot allows the rear of the car to be raised or lowered for easier loading of awkward objects.
Standing 4.59m long, 1.83m wide and 1.66m high, the C4 Picasso’s roomy interior contains three rows of individual seats, which can comfortably accommodate up to seven passengers. Each row of seats offers class-leading elbowroom, with the middle row providing more legroom than in any of its competitors. The third row easily accommodates two more passengers, with foot wells providing increased space.
The versatile nature of the C4 Picasso is clearly demonstrated by the quick and easy to reconfigure seating design. The second and third rows can be neatly folded away under the floor, without the need to remove the headrests, to provide a flat surface that is ideal for loading.
The seating design also allows easy access to the back row – by pressing a control on the edge of either of the outer middle seats, the seat cushion automatically flips up towards the seat back and the seat then slides up against the back of the front seat in a single movement.
In such a vehicle passenger well-being is a priority and the C4 Picasso continues Citroën’s reputation for producing extremely comfortable cars. For a start, the use of rear air suspension delivers a smoother, safer drive, regardless of load. Automatic four-zone air conditioning with individual controls in the second row, a second air conditioning system for the rear of the vehicle, sound-proofed laminated side windows, a scented air freshener and an air quality sensor that prevents pollutants from entering the vehicle all guarantee a comfortable, quiet and pleasant travelling environment.
The use of innovative interior lighting systems is another key attribute of the new
C4 Picasso. ‘Light guides’ under the front fascia, in the door panels and in the headlining diffuse soft, ambient light inside the vehicle. There are handy reading lamps in the back of the front seats, while the lights in the door panel compartments come on automatically when a hand is placed inside them. The boot light doubles as a removable hand-held torch, which automatically recharges when the vehicle is moving.
Equipped with the latest Citroën technology, the C4 Picasso offers an automatic electric parking brake on the dash, hill start assist and a brand new parking space measurement system, which helps drivers looking for a suitable place to park. The new model is also available with video screens, built into the back of the front seats, with infra-red headsets and a DVD player.
The C4 Picasso will be powered by either a 143bhp 2.0i petrol engine or 110bhp or 138bhp HDi diesel powerplants, both equipped with a Diesel Particulate Filter System, and will be available with the Company’s new 6-speed electronic gearbox system. This advanced system delivers outstanding performance while helping to reduce fuel consumption by up to 5% and CO2 emissions by 5g/km.
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- Citroën Xsara Picasso 1999-2010
- Citroën C4 Picasso 2006-2013
- Citroën C4 Picasso 2013-
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