1 May 2014
New car report: Tardis from France
You’re in the market for a vehicle that can seat the whole family. You don’t want a hulking great SUV and people-movers are dull, right? Well it doesn’t have to be that way and Citroen have something that proves the point with their new Grand C4 Picasso.
Available in two spec levels in New Zealand, the Seduction and Intensive, at the recent launch event Citroen New Zealand boss Simon Rose said “Even the base model is by no means ‘base’ specification. We could have selected models with less equipment, but that’s not what New Zealand customers want”.
Great value package
Trying to convince the parent company in France to throw in all the fruit for his target ceiling price of $50k no doubt took a bit of persuasion, so managing to get the cars here with retail stickers of $42,990 for the Seduction and $49,990 for the Intensive, Rose obviously put up a convincing argument, based on growing the brand in our market by offering an impressive package at a sharp price.
Having grown the brand by 20% to sell 300 units in 2013, Rose has set the bar high and his goal is for Citroen to move 450+ units in 2014. So far, he’s moved 137 in the first quarter this year, so he’s on target for over 500, putting his money where his mouth is by committing to some relatively big numbers, then going out and over-achieving.
With a 7 inch touch screen incorporating satellite navigation and a reversing camera, rear parking aid, cruise control with speed limiter, 17 inch alloy wheels, CD/MP3 six speaker stereo with 8gb jukebox, heated and folding door mirrors and a raft of other equipment often only seen on high-end models, the base spec Grand C4 Picasso Seductive could easily be mistaken for the all-singing-dancing model.
For the extra $7k for the Intensive, you’ll get a 12 inch panoramic HD screen that incorporates the 360 degree surround view camera and can be customised according to the driver’s preference. The large colour screen has the ability to display instrumentation in either digital or analogue formats and among other essential driver and vehicle information, can be customised to display a personal photo as a screen backdrop.
The Intensive also gets front and rear parking sensors, 18 inch alloys, hands free access and start, and start/stop function, half leather and the City Park self-parking function.
Platform for the future - here now
It’s the first of a number of new vehicle the PSA (Peugeot Citroen) group will build on their new EMP2 (Efficient Modular Platform) platform, which has been 4½ years in development. PSA expects around half its production to be built on this platform in future.
It’s also the first Citroen model to be fitted with the new 110kW/370Nm BlueHDi diesel engine, which with a claimed fuel economy figure of a mere 4.5L/100km meets the new Euro 6 emission standard. The clean burning engine reduces nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions by 90% and cuts CO² emissions through the use of a new Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system.
A new six speed Aisin automatic transmission contributes to the better fuel economy and reduced emission thanks to reductions in internal friction, slightly lighter weight, faster gear shifts and improved ratios which lower engine revs by an average of 200rpm, with ratios in the top gears lengthened by almost 20%.
With seven individually adjustable seats, all with three point seat belts, six of the seats folding completely flat for an unbelievable load carrying capacity, and a driving experience that delights the most discerning of drivers, you’d be hard pressed to find a more versatile vehicle in any class or price range.
Those who argue that people movers are a thing of the past will be in for a real surprise if they get behind the wheel of the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso. It’s filled with up to the minute gear, offers versatility and practicality in spades and the comfort and driver appeal of premium vehicles in much higher price segments.