Citroen C4 Picasso test drive since 2007 Minivan

Picasso third

Citroen seems to have seriously decided to intermarry with Pablo Picasso: a third model with an autograph of the great artist appeared in the lineup. Vladimir Solovyov visited the company's workshop.
The third of Picasso, performed by Citroen, also turned out to be a mini-wan, but five-seater. So that he would not be confused with the seven -seater predecessor, the Grand title was granted to a big brother. Now the line of Citroenovsky mini-wenes looks like this: the most compact Xara Picasso, which appeared in 1999,
The Grand C4 Picasso, starting last year, and finally the youngest C4 Picasso, who saw the light in 2007. It is possible that reporters were given to get to know the novelty even before the official debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Well, perhaps, 120 millimeters of the length and two additional chairs of the third row, sacrificed to the large Picasso in the name of the third model, are not so great merits to announce them for the first time from the rostrum of the international motor show. But I think that C4 Picasso will be more popular than its seven -seater namesake. Already too everyone today strives for individuality, and someone does not like noisy meetings at all.

Wounding in the air
A five -seater C4 Picasso like two drops of water is similar to an older brother. Only he is a little shorter, and on the back door the line of the body makes a flirty bend downward. That's all, even the base of both remained unchanged.
The magazine has already written about the Big Picasso (ZR, 2006, No. 12), so I will dwell on interesting details and decisions in more detail, which have not touched in the previous presentation.
Of course, the first thing you pay attention to the suspension. As always, comfortable, in the traditions of Citroen. In expensive trim levels, a conventional suspension can be replaced by pneumatic. I managed to travel with both. Of course, the suspension with pneumressors has several advantages. It increases the level of comfort in the cabin, has the best depreciation qualities, and the irregularities of the road surface are less felt. With such a suspension, you can not be afraid to throw a lice into the trunk: the road clearance remains unchanged, and this is a very important factor on Russian roads.
The pneumatic suspension serves you during loading and unloading, lowering the level of the luggage compartment threshold in the parking lot and facilitating work with large loads. Just press the button in the trunk, and the car understands you at a glance, falling to the ground. Return to the initial level occurs with re -pressing. However, if you forget about it, then the car itself will rise as soon as the speed exceeds 10 km/h. In the same way, the system pumps or pulls the air independently when planting and planting passengers. Similar devices still cannot boast of mini-wenes of other manufacturers.

Light design
All C4 Picasso, natural and artificial, serves as an integral part of the design. In the afternoon, a huge windshield, glass inserts in the roof fill the salon with light. But at night it does not remain dark. Depending on the configuration, up to thirty light sources are installed in mini-wen, which, in addition to lighting the road, create additional comfort to the driver and passengers.
For example, I liked the cryphones for reading in the backs of the front seats. And what is the automatic backlight in the front door panels, which turns on, it is worth bringing your hand! Or lighting the sidewalk with a lantern mounted in a lateral mirror.
The modern car is increasingly turning into a helpful, warning butler who previously knows where and when it is more appropriate to light candles, and where the chandelier is. And perhaps, soon the car will begin to choose, evaluating the intellectual systems, and not depending on the engine power and the number of drive wheels.
As for the behavior of C4 Picasso on the road, he is no different from a big brother. An obedient, assembled car that does not set you up for an aggressive driving like a smart cozy and bright house on large, beautiful wheels. The house you want to return to!

An unusual design, a functional spacious salon and a sea of \u200b\u200blight make C4 Picasso extraordinary.

Nicolas de Milleville,
citroen Sales Director in Eastern Europe and North Africa
Why did the seven -seater version be launched at first, and then a five -seater? Everything is very simple: we showed a completely new product, and then its derivative. In the seven -seater Picasso, the seats of the third row are inferior to front comfort, but they allow adults to make long distances. The five -seater version seems to be a more familiar product, a continuation of Ksara Picasso, which, meanwhile, will be produced until 2010. We offer customers a machine with two versions of the rear suspensions ordinary with an elastic beam and pneumatic. However, the latter will not have a spare wheel left for her.

In the Russian market, we count on success. Given the fact that sales of both seven and five-seater versions are just beginning, this year the volume of sales of these mini-wenes will be calculated by hundreds. The seven -seater version has already started, the five -seater will enter the market in May.
 
 


 

Vladimir Solovyov
 

A source: The magazine "Driving"