Citroën C4 Picasso wins MPV of the Year, and it's not even out yet
Citroën's upcoming C4 Picasso is already feeling the love from auto magazines. 4x4 & MPV Driver magazine likes the updated minivan (MPV) for a lot of reasons, and voted it the MPV of the Year. The C4 will come with four engine options: 127 bhp DIN 1.8i 16V and 143 bhp DIN 2.0i 16V (both petrol) and 110 bhp DIN 1.6 HDi and 138 bhp DIN 2.0 HDi (both diesel and both with particulate filters) when it comes to the UK early next year. 4x4 & MPV Driver thought the lighting in the car deserved special mention (notice the larger windshield in the photo above?), and so awarded the C4 the MPV Innovation of the Year award.
This is all well and good, but what's really exciting about the C4 is a prototype model that may make its way to dealer lots in 2010. This prototype has a diesel-hybrid engine and will feature Citroën's Stop & Start technology. These fuel-efficient features should bump the C4's current 45 mpg rating (on diesel) to around 84 mpg. That's progress.
[Source: 4x4 & MPV Driver, Citroën]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John 3:33PM (10/29/2006)
Hello....a 45 mpg minivan....with a 84 mpg model due in 2010! That's the sort of thing we need in North America. Interesting that GM, Ford and DCX seem unwilling to offer anything like that here, yet Citroen which is only a fraction of the size of the Big 2.5 can come up with such a model.
Mind you, the C4 is likely a smallish people move along the lines of the Mazda 5. Heck, with mileage like that though we should all learn to pack a bit lighter. An excellent replacement for all those thirsty V6 minivans we have on the road right now.
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George Krpan 6:34PM (10/29/2006)
"Interesting that GM, Ford and DCX seem unwilling to offer anything like that here, yet Citroen which is only a fraction of the size of the Big 2.5 can come up with such a model."
Good point. I think it's because the French have the ability to think outside the box.
Other examples.
The electric cars from Venturi.
The Astrolab (roofless, seats two) weighs 280 kg (616 lbs.) and gets 21% of it's range from the solar panels in the body.
The Eclectic (with roof, seats three) weighs 350 kg (770 lbs.) and gets 14 % of it's range from solar panels on the roof.
Not to mention their Fetish sports car.
The movie The Tripletts of Bellevue. The most amazing music and animation ever!
Paris.
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ThwartedEfforts 6:36AM (10/30/2006)
I made the point in another post that smug technology like the Prius is made redundant by small, economical diesels. And here's the proof.
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