C5 Serves Double Duty

Newcastle Herald

Saturday June 16, 2001

By BRENT DAVISON

CITROEN has long been regarded as a pioneer of the automotive world.

The first mass-produced, commercially viable front-wheel-drive cars in the 1920s, the first manufacturer to build vehicles capable of crossing the Sahara Desert, hydropneumatic suspension and advanced aerodynamics are all hallmarks of the French manufacturer.

As we roll into the new century a few things have changed. The idiosyncrasies that once set the French car industry apart from the rest have been, if not stopped, then at least toned down for a broader appeal.

Or have they?

This week Citroen Australia took the wraps off the French car maker's latest machine, the C5, a stylish large hatchback sedan built on a completely new platform and replacing Xantia in the model lineup.

In fact it will do double duty until its bigger C6 brother arrives here sometime in 2004, holding the French line against not only its obvious European size and equipment rivals such as Audi A4, BMW 3-series, Volvo S40 and Mercedes-Benz C-class, but also the bigger cars from the same manufacturers.

To do that local importer Ateco Automotive has done some smoke and mirrors work with engines, equipment and pricing.

There are two four-cylinder engines, a 2.0-litre, double overhead camshaft, four-cylinder petrol engine with manual and automatic transmissions, a 2.0-litre HDi turbo-diesel with common rail direct injection and turbo intercooler and automatic transmission and, at the top of the heap, a 3.0-litre, four-cam V6 with variable valve timing and four-speed automatic.

T HE star of the engine family is undoubtedly the turbo-diesel and the power and torque figures tell the story.

Citroen's diesel might make a modest 82kW at 4000rpm but it also delivers a huge 255Nm of torque at a ridiculously low 1750rpm. By comparison the 2.0-litre petrol engine has 101kW at 6000rpm and 186Nm at 4100rpm, while the V6 is good for 157kW at 6000rpm and 279Nm at 2000rpm.

Result? The diesel delivers from way down low and simply keeps delivering with what can only be described as a wall of torque that, combined with the four-speed automatic, gives the oiler superb, almost crisp, performance.

Citroen's pricing policy means the two lower-sec four-cylinder cars can tackle their obvious class rivals, while the better equipped V6 can provide reasonable opposition further up the scale.

The 2.0-litre petrol model comes to market at $41,990 in manual guise and $43,990 if the optional auto is specified. The HDi diesel stops the cash register at $43,750 before a price jump of about $13,000 to the top-spec V6.

C5's design is intriguing, Citroen's designers getting more interior space by increasing the roof height 80mm compared to the Xantia to allow more upright seating and legroom.

Not unexpectedly the C5 continues Citroen's tradition of hydropneumatic suspension with the latest Hydractive system, a computer-controlled arrangement that not only gives excellent ride and handling qualities but also has the unique ability to lower itself from its normal ride height at freeway speeds and automatically raise itself on rough roads to clear obstacles.

T HE suspension is also self-levelling and on the two petrol-engined cars goes one step further with electronics that allow a variety of suspension settings ranging from soft to sporty.

Other C5 features include automatic headlights, automatic wipers that adjust their speed according to the heaviness of rain, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and a braking assistance system that not only takes over in panic situations but also activates the hazard flashers, deactivating when the driver's foot goes back onto the accelerator.

Citroen's newcomer is the advance party for a new model range of cars and commercials due here over the next three years.

The C5 station wagon is scheduled for release at this year's Sydney Motor Show, the small C3 is scheduled for release next year and its C2 stablemate in 2003, along with the two-seat Plurial.

Picasso, the mini-people mover that is outselling Renault's Scenic, Holden's (nee Opel) Zafira and Fiat's Multipla in Britain, is due later this year or early next.