Citroën Celebrates 90 Years of ‘CREATIVE TECHNOLOGIE’ at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show
15/09/2009
CITROËN is celebrating its 90th birthday in 2009. Ninety years of innovation studded with outstanding models like the Traction, launched in 1934, the 2CV, in 1948, and the revolutionary DS, in 1955, that forged the Marque’s fantastic image. CITROËN’S ‘Créative Technologie’ is today behind the brand’s broadest ever range, adapted to the needs of its customers and constantly moving forward, as seen in the two world reveals at Frankfurt: the new C3 and the first car in the DS line, the DS3. Both newcomers are particularly adapted to current trends in the segment and to the diverse needs of customers.
On the concept car front, CITROËN is presenting REVOLTE, a luxury city car mixing cheekiness with ecology and powered by a rechargeable hybrid drivetrain – the ideal solution for combined city/country driving. CITROËN is also presenting the Berlingo First Electrique, an all-electric model due out in early 2010 that perfectly matches the needs of fleets making urban and everyday trips. French postal operator La Poste has launched a call for tenders for the production of 500 units. The brand’s strategy on carbon-efficient vehicles consists in the short term in releasing a full hybrid diesel in 2011, the DS5 and fitting second-generation Stop & Start technology on a broad range of diesel and petrol models. Two new generations of HDi engines are on show at Frankfurt, the 3-litre V6 and the 2-litre unit. These efficient, economical and environmentally respectful engines combine bigger performance with reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emission cuts of between 4% and 15%. In related news, the C3 and DS3 ranges will both feature an HDi model emitting just 99 g/km of CO2.
Citroën is once again confirming its position as one of Europe’s leading carmakers on low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions:
• 25% of the vehicles sold in Europe emitting less than 110 g/km of CO2 are CITROËNS,
• 30% of the cars sold by Citroën emit less than 120 g/km of CO2.
Alongside the world debuts of the C3 and DS3, CITROËN is also presenting the C.Crosser SUV with upgraded interior design, for more appeal and refinement, and a new automated gearbox, for a transformed driving experience. Two other concept cars will be joining REVOLTE on the stand: the C4 WRC HYbrid4, an ecological racing vehicle from CITROËN Racing, and the head-turning GTbyCITROËN, which Citroën is considering producing in small numbers. Cutting-edge ‘Créative Technologies’ on this year’s stand include Intelligent Traction Control, for trouble-free driving on difficult roads (rain, snow and black ice) in the C4 Picasso and C5, and Grip Control, which gives the Berlingo enhanced grip on a range of surfaces, including snow, sand and mud.
New product: two world debuts and a new gearbox
NEW CITROËN C3 – THE ‘VISIODRIVE’
Beautiful. Young. Intelligent. Citroën is launching the new C3. CITROËN’S ambitious objective with the new C3 is to renew a best-selling car that has sold in more than 2 million units. Frédéric Banzet, Managing Director of CITROËN, said, “This is a major launch for the Marque and gives us the means to achieve our ambition of increasing market share, with both private and professional customers.”
To make this happen, CITROËN has taken the best of the C3 and moved it up a notch. The brand’s new ‘Visiodrive’ has what it takes to succeed:
• a unique, prestigious personality, with curvaceous yet taut styling and a cabin that sets a new standard in the segment on materials, design and finish quality,
• intelligent architecture for outstanding roominess,
• responsive and responsible road behaviour with controlled fuel consumption for all powertrains and an ambitious CO2 reduction programme.
But the new C3 does more than that. With its Zenith windscreen, it is unique. Boosting brightness and visibility, it brings Visiodrive passengers an all-new motoring experience.
CITROËN DS3: THE CHARM OFFENSIVE
Already available to order, the DS3 gets the DS line off to a stylish start. The new line-up will feature a range of distinctive models with more radical design content, rounding out the Marque's main range. As its name suggests, the new line is a further symbol of CITROËN creativity and technology. The DS3 is an assertive vehicle with radical good looks that customers can personalise with a broad range of styling components. A breath of fresh air and modernity, the newcomer’s dynamic on-road performance successfully blends efficiency and peace of mind, while the intelligence of its design makes for a modular car that adapts to all situations.
The DS3 forges a new path:
• by placing desire at the heart of the automotive experience, with its sculptural styling, striking lines and singular onboard ambience,
• by bringing customers a living, identity-shifting design. The DS3 is in fact not one but a multitude of vehicles, that each person can create in his or her fashion. Exterior personalisation components include the roof, body, rearview mirror housings and wheels,
• by providing a thoroughly modern take on driving pleasure, through a blend of on-road vitality and control. Nimble and willing, the DS3 also sets a new standard on travelling comfort,
• by making everyday life a charm. It gets the most out of its exterior dimensions (3.95 m long, 1.71 m wide and 1.45 high) through particularly intelligent architecture, with five real seats and a generous 285-litre boot.
CITROËN C.CROSSER: A NEW GEARBOX AND STYLING UPGRADE FOR ENHANCED APPEAL AND REFINEMENT
Equipped with the new Dual Clutch System (DCS) gearbox and enhanced with a cabin style upgrade (new trim, redesigned instrument cluster), the CITROËN C.Crosser brings users a considerable advance in terms of driving pleasure and travelling comfort. The new DCS gearbox, an automated manual unit with a dual clutch, is exceptionally smooth and comfortable in all circumstances. It is proposed as an alternative to the conventional gearbox on HDi 160 DPFS models. The cabin receives new surfaces and a redesigned instrument cluster, significantly increasing perceived quality and bringing users more appeal and refinement.
Concept cars: from luxury urban model to outstanding racer
REVOLTE: LUXURY, CHEEKINESS AND ECOLOGY
CITROËN is once more proving its credentials as a bold forward-looking brand with the concept car REVOLTE, an ultra-chic city car combining luxury with a touch of cheek. A compact city car, REVOLTE sidesteps the difficulties of dense urban traffic with a totally new approach to small car design. This bold, chic car opts for luxury with a touch of cheek, technology and glamour, power and verve. With its iridescent, glossy colours, silky smooth textiles, and subtle, sophisticated materials, REVOLTE places passengers in a feminine, cosmetic setting, of audacious and elegant design. Spirited and lively, REVOLTE also has an eye on the future with its rechargeable hybrid drivetrain. This ecologically sound technology makes maximum use of electric mode and also contributes to the concept car’s agility. Gloom, conformism and dullness are just not in Revolte’s vocabulary. Its personality and qualities lend colour to the city and to the world of luxury.
GTbyCITROËN: TRANSCENDING THE BORDER BETWEEN THE REAL AND VIRTUAL WORLDS
With the GTbyCITROËN show car, CITROËN is the first carmaker to transcend the border between the real and virtual Worlds. GTbyCITROËN, an innovative take on the GT vehicle, is the result of a partnership between CITROËN and Polyphony, creator of the Gran Turismo 5 driving simulation game available on Playstation3. Given the impressive success of the car, CITROËN is studying the production of a small number of GTbyCITROËNs for private customers. The Marque will take its decision in a few months, after reviewing technical considerations and vehicle development factors.
C4 WRC HYbrid4: THE ECOLOGICAL SPORTS CONCEPT CAR FROM CITROËN RACING
Citroën is presenting the C4 WRC HYbrid4 concept car, the first WRC racer equipped with a hybrid energy recovery system that increases performance and reduces emissions at the same time. The HYbrid4 system recovers and stores part of the kinetic energy from the vehicle during braking. Transformed by a motor-generator, this energy is stored in the battery pack fitted in the rear part of the car. It can then be used to increase re-acceleration power or drive the car in full-electric mode, with no emissions, engine noise or exhaust gas. At constant speed in hybrid mode, range increases 40% and fuel economy decreases 30%. With this gain in performance, optimised energy use has become a new factor in rally car driving.
New engines for more pleasure and economy
C5 & C6 V6 HDi 240 DPFS: A NEW ENGINE COMBINING UNRIVALLED DRIVING PLEASURE WITH REDUCED FUEL CONSUMPTION AND CO2 EMISSIONS
With the arrival of the new V6 HDi 240 DPFS engine, the CITROËN C5 and C6 bring customers the best of all worlds. The C5 and C6 HDi 240 DPFS models make motoring more agreeable than ever, offering superior driving pleasure, silent operation and enhanced performance hand in hand with a considerable reduction in fuel consumption and a 12% to 15% cut in CO2 emissions. The Marque's most powerful diesel unit ever further improves on the consummate driving experience for which the two executive saloons are unanimously recognised. Power has been boosted 18% to 177 kW (240 bhp EEC) with maximum torque coming at 1,600 rpm. Combined-cycle fuel consumption for both vehicles, still mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, is just 7.4 l/100 km, for CO2 emissions of 195 g/km, down by 12% to 15%. The new powertrain obviously complies with the future Euro V emissions standard.
NEW 2-LITRE HDi ENGINE FOR THE C4 PICASSO, GRAND C4 PICASSO AND C5: BENEFICIAL FOR CUSTOMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT ALIKE
Benefitting from the comprehensively upgraded new generation of 2-litre HDi engines, the CITROËN C4 Picasso, Grand C4 Picasso and C5 bring owners considerably enhanced performance, driving pleasure and silence, together with a significant reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. On the C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso, power is up 10% to 110 kW (or 150 bhp EEC), with combined cycle fuel consumption of 5.8 l/100 km and a 5% cut in CO2 emissions to 152 g/km. The C5 fitted with this engine delivers 120 kW (or 163 bhp EEC), an increase of 16%. Fuel consumption is 5.6 l/100 km and CO2 emissions, at 147 g/km, are down by nearly 4%. This new engine generation once again demonstrates the Marque’s commitment to reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while at the same time increasing on-road performance.
New technologies to meet a diverse range of needs
BERLINGO FIRST ELECTRIQUE: AN ENVIRONMENTAL VEHICLE FOR COMPANY FLEETS
The Berlingo First Electrique has a fully electric drivetrain, mounted under the front bonnet in the place of the conventional thermal combustion engine. This set-up maintains all of the Berlingo’s generous load capacity. Powered by an asynchronous three-phase motor with maximum power of 53 kW and maximum torque of 180 Nm, the Berlingo First Electrique has a range of 100 km and reaches a top speed of 100 km/h. A complete battery recharge takes eight hours, while an 80% recharge takes just five hours. These characteristics address the needs of company fleets, for which these performances are particularly adapted. Several vehicles are currently being tested in real mail distribution conditions as part of a call for tenders to supply French postal operator La Poste with 500 vehicles. The results will be announced before the end of the year.
C4 PICASSO, GRAND C4 PICASSO AND C5: INTELLIGENT TRACTION CONTROL AVAILABLE ON SEVERAL MODELS
After the C5, the C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso are now available with Intelligent Traction Control. The system is fitted with no extra cost for the customer on all models with a manual or automated manual gearbox. Intelligent Traction Control brings a significant improvement in grip in difficult road conditions (rain, snow and black ice). By pushing back the limits of conventional anti-skid systems, Intelligent Traction Control enables the vehicle to keep moving in the large majority of driving situations on slippery surfaces, ensuring safe and easy car trips.
GRIP CONTROL ON THE BERLINGO: AT EASE ON ALL SURFACES
The Berlingo offers Grip Control, a new generation of the advanced anti-skid system, as an option, perfectly suited to the model’s ‘go anywhere’ personality.
Grip Control is an advanced anti-skid system, incorporated into the ESP calculator. It manages skidding of the front driving wheels and has five modes enabling the vehicle to adjust to the surface. The driver selects the mode using the mode selector dial on the dashboard.
“Standard” mode: This is the mode for everyday on-road driving.
“Snow” mode: Similar to Intelligent Traction Control feature on the C5 and C4 Picasso, this mode assists the vehicle in pulling away and cruising on snow-covered roads
“All-road” mode: The mode for muddy road surfaces, dirt roads and wet grass.
“Sand” mode: This mode enables the vehicle to drive as easily as possible and reduces the risk of getting stuck
“ESP off” mode: Deactivates all the driving aids managed by the ESP control unit.
