CAN'T C4 LOOKING? (some text hidden) --NONE--

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Introductionword count: 99

Mention the Citroen C4 to most people and you'll be rewarded with a blank look. Ask about the dancing robot instead and there will be that instant flash of recognition, a classic case of the advertisement being more memorable than the product. Perhaps this is a little harsh on the C4 as it introduced a welcome dash of individuality to the middle of a Citroen range that was previously populated by cars like the Xsara. Now that used examples are filtering onto the market in decent numbers, does the C4 make a compelling case for itself second time round?

Modelsword count: 21

Models Covered: (5dr Hatch, 3dr Coupe 1.4, 1.6, 2.0 petrol 1.6, 2.0 HDi diesel [LX, SX, VT, VTR, VTR+, VTS, Exclusive])

Historyword count: 119

When the Citroen C4 was introduced in October 2004, few were expecting quite such a barrage of technology. It was as if the French company realised it needed to differentiate itself from its more staid Peugeot sister company and did so by cramming all manner of electronic gadgetry into the C4. The basic package was, as you might expect, not hugely different to the Peugeot 307, but on top of this tried and tested running gear Citroen put a far slinkier body and also introduced three-door models, dubbed Coupe variants, right from the outset. With a range of very good engines, modern styling, excellent dealer support and improved build quality, sales were very promising and continue to hold firm.

What You Getword count: 520

Two distinctly different body styles are available and Citroen have taken a leaf out of Vauxhall's book in their product development plans. By introducing plenty of MPV-style models, Vauxhall left themselves free to design sportier and more dynamic versions of their 'regular' cars. Citroen followed suit and, divested of the need to seat seven people and their 1.5-litre bottles of pop, the C4 looks extremely svelte, both in five-door hatchback form and three-door Coupe format. There's an element of Ford Focus to the rear window line but the C4 is more extreme still, even the hatchback boasting a coupe-like silhouette. Early shots of a C4 rally car mockup left many with moistened palms and the sporty VTS version of the Coupe will be the model for them. With big alloys and spoilers, this car is a real knockout. Citroen claimed class-leading aerodynamics when the C4 was launched, the drag coefficent of just 0.28 paying dividends not only in performance and economy but also in keeping the all-important CO2 emissions in check. This being Citroen, we can take a whole host of innovations for granted and the C4 doesn't come up short. An involuntary lane departure warning system has been developed that aims to prevent drivers from losing concentration or dozing off at the wheel. Moving dual function Xenon headlamps offer improved lighting when cornering and provide a neat historical throwback to the DS model. No car in this class can succeed unless it scores well on the safety front and Citroen has achieved a full set of stars in the EuroNCAP safety tests. The multi-function steering wheel houses a whole host of the controls from the centre console, ensuring that the driver is in touch with the control of the vehicle at all times. Despite the multitude of functions marshalled by the tiller, there's still room for an airbag that Citroen claims offers better protection than any of their prior designs. Building in features more often seen on luxury cars is an ongoing theme, the C4 featuring laminated side window glass. Not only does this aid safety in the result of an accident, it also provides enhanced protection against crime and even boosts the cabin's acoustic qualities. Manufacturers of car stereos have long lamented the fact that with a high proportion of echoing surfaces, the car's interior is one of the most acoustically challenging environments in which to create great sounding music reproduction. It has been found that the insulating layer of clear plastic inside a laminated windscreen produced less acoustic scatter than the harsher echoes that rebounded off a more brittle toughened screen. The C4 even features a scented air freshener built into the dashboard to keep things fresh. One of the nicer detail touches is a translucent instrument cluster that adjusts to ambient light levels, giving a clear readout whatever the light conditions. Many cars offer LCD screens that are virtually impossible to read in daylight and if you switch your headlamps on so that other cars can see you coming, the problem can get worse. Thankfully, Citroen spent some time and money coming up with a solution.

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