Test drive Citroen C4 hatchback since 2008 Hatchback
Aimed changes
Russia, as is known, the country of paradoxes. We have forbidden what is not allowed, and almost everything is possible. From this point of view, Citroen C4 can be considered an almost perfect car for Russia. Because it is also very paradoxal. For example, what happens to the usual model at modernization? She is becoming more expensive. And Citroen C4 after the modernization of this year even fell. All automakers in one voice say: in Russia, the sedans are much more popular than other types of body. What are the manufacturers there, look at the cars of your neighbors. If you live somewhere on the oozen, then the slender rows of Audi A8 and, say, Maserati Quattroporte will, of course, will be diluted with some M6 and S5. And if in the 124th microdistrict of the city of Magnitogorsk, then among the proud owners of the Volga and used Toyota Crown will also have dissidents who choose Peugeot 308 or, forgive Lord, Matiz. However, in general, the normal car is considered a sedan. And what happens to Citroen C4? This model is produced and sold from us only with the body of the hatchback. It would seem that a normal person devoid of such a valued sedan? But no - five-door versions are even less demand with us than three-door. Of course, the rapid silhouette and all this should attract young people. Yes, it works. Fascinated by spectacular appearance, young fathers and mothers forget about how uncomfortable to mount the children's chair on the rear seats through the front doors - they choose exactly Coupe. It is not surprising that after the modernization of Coupe has retained the previous level of the starting price of 490 thousand rubles.
But the five-door hatchback can now be purchased for 475 thousand, that is, even cheaper than before. It is unlikely that 15 thousand rubles will significantly change the picture on the market, but for tiping buyers, savings in the amount of the value of a fashion netbook or a small TV are clearly quite attractive. The update involves improving. The new C4, of course, looks a little different than its predecessor. A more aggressive trapezoidal shape of the lattice in the bumper may not be born not to everyone, but still somewhat changes the perception of the car as a whole. Not so sensitive is the easiest to distinguish the new version of the hood. If earlier in his middle passed the edge, defeating in the top of the corporate double chevron, now the ribs are two, and they are located closer to Farm. Three-door Coupe has changed the rear lights: they have a fashionable insert from transparent glass. That is, it is not necessary to be afraid that someone will not understand the novelty of your C4 - external signs are quite enough. And, it seems, their main goal is only in that and is to designate novelty.
Here on the new plastic panel of the instrument, it is unlikely that someone will pay attention besides the owners of the previous C4. Today, searches in this area have become relevant, will not be afraid of this word, trend. Imitation of the skin is no longer in fashion. What could also be considered a paradox - strictly speaking, modern technologies allow to achieve very high similarity. However, that is why this method does not use. It's boring, it can all ... and in general imitation means that we cannot afford the original. First, we can't - so let's not. And then it turns out non-alcoholic vodka. Secondly - why is it actually needed here, this pseudochege? And new drawings went to move. At first they were relatively simple, and only meant the fact that plastic now
it is not shy to be plastic. Now it is not surprised by anyone, so designers need to try. Citroen designers have tried - it turned out something like rolled bark of something exotic. Another paradox is found at a more careful inspection of the instrument panel. For many years, a brand with double chevron attracted the attention of a variety of exotic solutions. Steering wheel with a single needle, keys near the steering wheel instead of lever, mechanical instruments with digital display information. And here C4 was originally not just standing out, but straightly jumped out of the total mass. Translucent fully digital instrument panel in the center of the panel - oh how! Some of the buttons are put on the fixed hub of the steering wheel, although the levers there have found a place. At the same time, the tachometer decided to leave right in front of the driver, it looked like a strip right above the steering wheel. This is such a special pride of designers C4 - devices and controls in it are scattered almost all over the cabin. With inappropriate, the tachometer was just just at the time of reaches the limit revolutions: here he flashed red! On the new C4 tachometer went to colleagues. True, it became round, as the usual mechanical, but instead of the arrow there is a dark ribbon.
Thanks to the tachometer, we can better get acquainted with another innovation on C4. It can also be attributed to the category of paradoxes. At the highest positions in the motor range, two-liter engines gave way to 1.6 liters with motors. That is, it turns out as if lowering. But just like. New engines, the product of the joint venture PSA and BMW, use a number of modern solutions and therefore their characteristics are quite serious. The version without turbocharging is indicated by VTI, which indicates the presence of a system for changing the phase distribution. Moreover, not only the moments of opening the valves are changing, but also the height of their lift and the moment of injection. The electronic brain has the opportunity to control the mixing and combustion process in an even wider range. It is due to this from 1.6 liters, it is possible to remove 120 hp, laid down in the tight standards for the toxicity of the exhaust.
Even more fun brings a version with turbo chaise of the TURBO HAUTE PRESSION (TURBO HAUTE PRESSURE or Turbo High Pressure on the one that most of us consider the only foreign). Here, direct gasoline injection and turbine operating even with low revs are added to the changing phases of gas distribution. So the engine is very responsive even at 1000 rpm. With him on Coupe put a new six-speed box - and this combination really ensures the pleasure of management. This version is already quite worthy of the designation of the coupe without any quotes. As usual, it is necessary to pay for everything good: this option is offered only in Exclusive version and costs 665 thousand rubles. And again the paradox: the top version of the five-door hatchback with the same engine, but at the same time with an automatic transmission even cheaper than three-door - 663.8 thousand. Probably due to the fact that the engine power slightly closed, and it develops only 140 hp. Citroen is concerned about the spread of new technologies not only the engine building. After upgrading, another navigation system appeared on C4. Myway has the same seven-year-old screen as Navidrive, but externally it is easy to distinguish it in a slot for SD cards. They store cards for navigation - Russian will appear only in 2009. In Navidrive, the cards are recorded on the built-in hard disk, on which, by the way, there are still 10 GB for music. Thanks to the absence of a Hard disk, MyWay has become cheaper: 51 thousand instead of 65. If you consider that the system includes not only navigation, but also CD drive, tuner and bluetooth for the phone, the amount does not seem tragically huge.
ANAMNESIS
Comments A.
The advertising campaign of the older brother of our hero, the new sedan Citroen C5 did not like competitors-compatriots. Well, how, praise the German care, with which the French car is made - it means to indicate a lack of care
french. Official comments from Citroen on this subject I do not remember, and what can I comment on? The expression about the fact that the business is a war, attribute to the Japanese. But under it could be subscribed, probably all marketers and merchants of any country in the world. At least in the universally common business model now. She was born based on the Anglo-Saxon Protestant ethics and requires a lot to work and satisfy customer requests. And in war, all means are good. So if the buyers like German cars, why not numb French? With C4, the story in some way is repeated. In his advertisement there is no Gothic font and Berlin streets. The action of the new advertising video does not at all, judging by Ancturing, somewhere in America. In which not all buyers are going to live, but which they know well thanks to the movies. But without the Germans, as you can see, it was not worthwhile: new engines are created with the participation of BMW. Does this mean that the car has become less French? Not at all. Just like PSA diesel engines on Ford Focus did not make it less German. Maybe in the publication of globalization and terrible, and it is worth fighting. But in the automotive she just helps make cars better. And it's too late to fight her - it has already come.
Citroen C4 VTI Confort /
Coupe TP VTR-Pack
EngineBenzine
4-cylinder-workers (cube cm) 1598 /
1598 Power (hp at rpm) 120 at 6000 /
150 at 5800moment (nm at rpm) 160 at 4250 /
240 at 1400-4000Rextryed Corobrian transmissions 5-speed /
Mechanical 6-speedyadylin / width / height (mm) 4275/1773/1456 /
4288/1769 / 1456Massa lied (kg) 1220 /
1271 Maximum speed (km / h) 195 /
212
Acceleration to 100 km / h (c) 10.0 /
8,4
Fuel consumption city / highway (L) 9.5 / 5.2 /
9,8/5,3
Price in Moscow (rub.) 521 000 /
665 000
Text: Valery Chusov
Photo: Citroen.
A source: "Autopilot"
