Citroën thinks a 60+ mpg, sub-£11,000 diesel hot hatch is "unbeatable." You?
Ok, you've got a small, fuel-efficient (more than 60 mpg Imperial) hatchback. It's not a high-performance sports car, but it will get you to 62 mph in under 10 seconds. If you're under 25, you get a free year of insurance on the sucker. It costs £13,400, but for a limited time, the price after cash back offers is £10,995. Do you buy?
That's the question Citroën hopes people answer in the affirmative with the introduction of the 110hp C2 1.6HDi VTS. This sports hatch is the first diesel supermini with the VTS label. I'm not all that enamored with the looks of this C2, but 64 mpg makes any car look better. Also, CO2 emissions barely break through that important 120 barrier at 119g/km. It certainly has potential.
Gallery: Citroen C2 1.6HDi VTS
[Source: Citroën]
60+ MPG AND 0-60 MPH IN 9.4 SECS: CITROËN'S UNBEATABLE MEAN, GREEN, PERFORMANCE MACHINE
Citroën has announced the arrival of the 110hp C2 1.6HDi VTS – an exciting new diesel hot hatch that, for less than £11,000, offers an unbeatable combination of punchy performance, low emissions and money-saving fuel economy of well over 60mpg.
Featuring the signature sporty exterior and interior look that comes with wearing Citroën's renowned VTS badge, the torque-laden C2 1.6HDi VTS is available for just £10,995 including a special introductory offer.
The sports styling emphasises the performance qualifications of the new model, which is the first diesel supermini to sport the VTS insignia. With its refined 110hp 1.6HDi engine, and 5-speed manual gearbox, this new C2 boasts a 0-62mph time of 9.4 seconds and a top speed of 120mph. It also delivers 80% more torque than its petrol stablemate, with 192lb.ft available at just 2,000rpm.
Importantly, the C2 1.6HDi VTS also has excellent green credentials. Offering a frugal 64mpg on the combined cycle and with CO2 emissions of just 119g/km, the new VTS model presents an environmentally conscious alternative in the hot hatch market. This means that the model falls into one of the Government's lowest bands for Vehicle Excise Duty - Band B.
Complementing its sporty image, environmental credentials and fun-to-drive handling, the 1.6HDi VTS model has the same impressive specification as the petrol version. Air conditioning, ESP, four airbags, an alarm and ABS with EBD are all standard, while smart 16" 'Cheetah' alloy wheels are also fitted.
The great value C2 1.6HDi VTS has a Recommended Retail Price of £13,400, which falls to £10,995 in Septemberthanks to a special introductory cashback. Additionally, throughout this month buyers aged 25 or over will be eligible for a year's free insurance.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mr. Guiyotinne 1:34PM (9/25/2007)
I was looking for a car like this in Spain; I like the looks after all and for a city car is the perfect size. Or that´s what I thought before looking for opinions in spanish forums; That changed my mind.
It´s full of mistakes (lights that break easily, lots of noises and cracks, specially the squeaking breaks, even a gasoline tank thar broke in the middle of a driving) and the worst was that Citroen always cleared the hands about them.
I saw in autoblog that they wanted to improve the quality of their vehicles to get a chunk of the german market; with this car running around and their politics for services, I doubt it will help them to get it.
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yabun 9:35AM (9/25/2007)
Nice!
Unbeatable? For now, yes, but hopefully not for too long. But if it can run on biodeisel, they move the steering wheel to the correct side, and sell it in the US I'd be very happy and would probably drive one.
I'm just waitin' for something like this or the VW Polo to cross the pond. There's a lot of good ideas that just need to get from the auto show to the showroom.
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yabun 11:06AM (9/25/2007)
Hmmm...didn't know about the shotty quality. That won't do. No, that won't do at all. Especially in the US where the only example of Citroen we have is an old little round bouncy car with a retractable canvas top -- you know the one I'm talkin about.
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steven 3:26PM (9/25/2007)
@2: The 2CV was one of the greatest people-cars of all time behind the VW Beetle! What other car can you think of that had both cockpit adjustable head lights AND a variable lenght wheelbase!?!?!
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dean 10:55AM (9/26/2007)
60 mpg (british) comes to about 50 mpg US. A Mini non-turbocharged is cited at 40 mpg freeway, so this diesel one looks to be spot on. I'd like to see it. HOwever, if it were to come to the US, would it need extra metal to meet crash standards, and thus raise weight/increase fuel consumption?
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Steve McQueen 12:03PM (9/26/2007)
yes, please let one of these pass beyond the Iron Curtain that US Automakers and the conservative imports have set up here. The high-MPG compact diesels will sell, ESPECIALLY if they are biodiesel capable.
That said, why not something boxy like the (original) Scion xB? I would buy a diesel or hybrid version of that in a heartbeat, premium notwithstanding.
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Kaj 9:35PM (9/27/2007)
Extra sheet metal for US crash standards? From what I've read and heard (correct me if I'm wrong), but the EU has some of the more stringent crash standards in the world. A friend of mine with an old Renault 5 hatchback was T-boned by a 1/2 ton pick-up truck while occupied by 4 full sized adults, and there were no fatalities or serious injuries. I'm not sure how this reflects on Citroen build quality (I've only known those that loved their SM and DM Maseratti models), but just my $0.02
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