The C4, launched in late 2004 as a hatchback and coupe, has been an immense success for Citroen, selling nearly 900,000 units sold worldwide. Citroen has made a number of changes to the C4 to make it even more: elegant, dynamic and efficient, economical and low on emissions, interactive and communicative.

Citroen has made some judicious styling tweaks to strengthen the car's successful design, which has been a hit with the public right from the start. The restyle focused on the front end, emphasising its elegance, strength and energy.

The interior has also been redesigned. Citroen has added new upholstery and a new grain on several trim parts, and incorporated the rev counter in the middle of the dashboard.

Engine-wise, the C4 is now available with two new petrol engines co-developed with BMW. The VTi 120 and THP 150 units bring even more on-road pleasure and significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

The HDi diesel engine range has been further enhanced, with many powerplants qualifying for the Airdream® eco-signature. The 2-litre HDi diesel engine is the first to comply with the future Euro V standard in this family. Through the use of new technology (such as low-rolling resistance tyres), several versions with the HDi 92 or HDi 110 paired with a manual or EGS6 gearbox can limit their emissions to 120 g/km of CO2.

The new C4 boasts a richer array of telematics equipment, notably a new-generation navigation system – MyWay – which comes with a Bluetooth® function and can be connected to portable equipment.

The restyled C4 retains all the features that have made it a trailblazer in the segment on driving pleasure and safety, including Xenon dual function directional headlamps, the lane departure warning system, the fixed-centred controls steering wheel and hill start assist.

The new C4 will be world premiered at the Moscow International Motor Show, which will open on 26 August 2008.

Citroen C4 - Dynamic Upgrade (2008)
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A new front end

Stronger build, confirmed character

The new C4 hatchback and coupe have a powerful, energetic, elegant style. The new bumper features a single air intake and a rounder, beefier bonnet, giving the C4 a strong, robust appearance. New curves have been added to the grille, with chevrons inspired by the new C5, enhancing the overall elegance. Upmarket versions of the new C4 feature more chrome touches, notably on the front fog lamps, for added style and prestige. Overall length has been stretched by 15 mm, to a total 4,275 mm for the hatchback and 4,288 for the coupe.

The rear light fixtures on the coupe are now in transparent crystal.

The revamped model is available with three new aluminium wheel styles for a totally renewed offering. The wheels come in 16-inch (Olympie) and 17-inch (Ribalta and Volubilis) versions according to engine, trim level and market.

Three new body colours are available: Recife blue (dynamic trim), and Bourrasque blue and Thorium grey (prestige trims).

A modernised interior for enhanced comfort

A number of changes have been made to the cabin layout.

The central display unit, which now incorporates the rev counter, has been redesigned for more comfort and safety. The translucent instrument cluster, which guarantees optimum contrast whatever the outside light conditions, ensures clear visibility at all times. All the useful driving information can be read safely at a glance on the display unit positioned at the top of the dashboard, as close as possible to the road.

Citroen has added a new grain to the dashboard and the door panel medallions.

A new seat fabric in velour is available for the second trim level. New light grey "Lama" leather upholstery is offered on the Exclusive and VTS trim levels.

The Marque has developed new interior design schemes for the SX (or Comfort), VTR, VTR Pack, SX Pack and Exclusive trim levels. The central air vents on the SX (or Comfort) version and all the decorative elements on the SX Pack (or Pack Ambiance depending on the markets) are highlighted in "Tungsten" paint. The VTR and VTR Pack versions get the "Multicub" look. Exclusive trim models ship with "Bocage" paint.

Dual zone climate control, available since the C4 was launched, tops off the interior comfort, with individual temperature control on the driver's and passenger's sides.

The C4 cabin remains one of the roomiest in the segment. Front elbow room of 1.44 m and rear elbow room of 1.43 m ensure that all passengers travel in comfort. Passenger room for the hatch and coupe remains identical.

Efficient, economical engines

HDi diesel engines

Citroen's HDi diesel engines have set the standard in terms of comfort and environmental impact. The C4 range now offers the biggest-ever selection of Airdream® engines. The Airdream® eco-signature covers the 1.6-litre versions (HDi 92, HDi 110 DPFS with a manual gearbox and EGS6) and 2-litre versions with a manual gearbox.

The 2-litre HDi unit, coupled with a six-speed manual gearbox, has been upgraded to comply with the future Euro V standard. Fitted as standard with a particulate filter, the new HDi 140 DPFS, is flexible, dynamic and low on emissions. It now develops 103 kW of power (140 bhp EEC). Fuel consumption has been homologated at 5.3 l/100 km, over a combined cycle, while CO2 emissions are down to just 140 g/km.

The other diesel units – the HDi 92 (with or without DPFS) and HDi 110 DPFS – are as dynamic as before, and even cleaner. These improvements result from the switch to low-rolling resistance Michelin Energy Saver® tyres, available on 16-inch wheels. Citroen has reduced the fuel consumption of both the HDi 92 and HDi 110 DPFS powerplants, to 4.4 l/100 km for the HDi 92, 4.4 l/100 km for the HDi 110 DPFS manual and 4.4 l/100 km for the HDi 110 DPFS EGS6 over a combined cycle, on the versions fitted with these tyres. CO2 emissions have been cut to 117 g/km, 119 g/km and 118 g/km, respectively.

New petrol engines

The C4 is now available with two petrol engines from the EP family co-developed with the BMW Group. It is the first Citroen to be fitted with engines from this family, namely the VTi 120, replacing the 1.6i 16V, and the THP 150, replacing the 2.0i 16V.

The VTi 120 and THP 150 provide a perfect blend of performance, driving pleasure and fuel economy, with significantly lower consumption and CO2 emissions.

C4 VTi 120: dynamic and economical

Mainly through better management of intake, the VTi 120 engine offers higher performance and therefore combines more power with low fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions.

The C4's VTi 120 engine has a capacity of 1,598 cm3 and develops 88 kW EEC (120 bhp EEC) at a speed of 6,000 rpm, for maximum torque of 160 Nm at 4,250 rpm. These characteristics make the car much more pleasurable to drive, with plenty of torque always on hand: 90% or more of maximum torque is available between 2,500 rpm and 5,750 rpm.

Mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, the engine returns 6.7 l/100 km (159 g/km of CO2) over a combined cycle, down 6% on the old unit. The C4 VTi 120 therefore scores a neutral rating in France's new emissions bonus/surcharge system. The VTi 120 unit also ships with a four-speed automatic, for fuel consumption of 7 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 165 g/km.

VTi stands for "Variable valve lift and Timing Injection". Fitted with an aluminium block and cylinder head, the 16 valves are driven by intake and exhaust camshafts with continuously variable valve timing. The intake valves also benefit from a variable raising system that allows the valves' maximum travel to be adjusted gradually depending on the force applied to the accelerator pedal. These two features boost engine efficiency, increasing the responsiveness of the vehicle through higher available torque, especially in the most frequent driving conditions (part loads).

C4 THP 150: an outstanding combination of high performance and low fuel consumption and emissions

With direct petrol injection and a turbocharger, the new THP 150 offers both high performance and low consumption. The new unit develops maximum power of 110 kW (150 bhp EEC) at 5,800 rpm, for maximum torque of 240 Nm from 1,400 rpm to 4,000 rpm. These figures ensure driving pleasure akin to that provided by the HDi diesel units at low and medium engine speeds, with 156 Nm of torque available from as low as 1,000 rpm.

Mated to the new MCM six-speed gearbox (with the same architecture as the EGS6), fuel consumption over a combined cycle is 6.9 l/100 km (for 164 g/km of CO2), down a full 10% on the previous engine.

The C4 is also available with a four-speed automatic gearbox, for maximum power of 103 kW (140 bhp EEC). Maximum torque remains the same, at 240 Nm at 1,400 rpm. Combined-cycle fuel consumption is 7.7 l/100 km, down 5% compared with the previous powerplant.

The THP 150 engine and the THP 140 version use the same architecture as the VTi 120. The unit features several technical particularities that give it outstanding performance for an engine of its size. Comparable to the downsizing applied to the Marque's HDi engines, the technology used for the THP 150 unit brings significant gains over normally-aspirated engines. Two of these technologies are completely new to the C4 range: direct petrol injection and the use of a turbocharger.

The THP engine (for Turbo High Pressure) features direct sequential injection fed by a high-pressure electronic pump. Linked to a turbocharger, the system has an intake camshaft with continuous variable timing.

The main characteristics of the engine are as follows:

- Direct injection, which combines specific high power with low fuel consumption. This high pressure is obtained via a pump mounted at the end of the intake camshaft. Maximum pressure of 120 bars allows the injectors to spray the mixture directly into the combustion chamber sideways, ensuring uniform distribution. The compression ratio is 10.5 to 1.

- A twin-scroll turbocharger. The particularity of this system is that it groups the gas ducts by pair (cylinders 1-4 and 2-3) in the exhaust manifold. The optimal gas flow combination this provides makes the turbine extremely fast-acting and considerably cuts down on lag time. The turbine can rotate at up to 200,000 rpm, developing pressure limited electronically by the discharge valve to 0.8 bars. Turbocharging is noticeable from 1,000 rpm.

- A cylinder head with two overhead camshafts. The intake camshaft benefits from continuous variable timing, which provides more torque at low engine speeds while reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

- An oil pump with throughput regulation, which supplies the right amount of lubrication for optimal functioning and reduces fuel consumption by 1%. This system also features an oil intercooler, fitted in the filter and regulated by a thermostat, for faster heating and excellent temperature management, even during rough handling.

- A crankcase in two parts, with a cylinder casing and a bearing cap casing, in aluminium, for extra stiffness and reduced noise emissions.

More telematics equipment

The telematics equipment on the C4 has been completely revamped to offer new services for driver and passengers.

MyWay, a new integrated navigation system with a 7-inch panoramic colour screen is now available at entry level, rounding out the current offering. The system features a radio and MP3/WMA-compatible CD player along with auxiliary RCA sockets in the glovebox for connecting portable media devices.  MyWay includes a map of Europe, integrated on SD card media and displayed in 2D or 3D. Traffic conditions are indicated in real time. MyWay also features a Bluetooth® hands-free kit with an information and address book display. Functions are controlled from the fixed-centred controls steering wheel or via the radio. The new system will be available in the second half of 2008 and will be priced extremely competitively.

The NaviDrive system has been upgraded. It now features a high-resolution (800 x 480 pixels) 7-inch panoramic screen and a USB socket, located on the central console, for MP3 players using the "Mass Storage" system. Portable media players are controlled from the steering wheel or the radio. Existing NaviDrive features include: a hard disk with European maps, a hands-free telephone (using a SIM card or a twin SIM card) and voice recognition/synthesis. The Jukebox function, with a 10GB capacity, can store up to 180 hours of music from a CD or an MP3-format USB key. The emergency and assistance call system remains. Motorists can call a platform that sends out the emergency services. The call is made manually or automatically, if at least one airbag is activated. This system is available 24/7 in eight European countries. In addition, subscription to the service, via a SIM card, is free throughout the lifetime of the vehicle.

An optional USB Box will be launched at the end of the year for the CD audio system.  Two sockets, one USB and one jack, built into the central console can be used to connect portable media players using the Mass Storage system and IAP protocols (iPod and iPhone) and MTP (Microsoft Plays for Sure). Controls are located on the fixed-centred controls steering wheel and the radio console. The central screen display provides information on system use.

Top-level safety features

High-tech equipment that makes all the difference

Launched at end-2004, the C4 is still a standard-setter in the segment on innovative equipment. C4 safety features include:

- Xenon dual-function directional headlamps, which can swivel up to 15° for enhanced lighting in corners,

- front and rear parking assist, with a dashboard display of objects and distances,

- the lane departure warning system, which functions from speeds of 80 km/h to combat drowsiness at the wheel,

- fixed-centred controls steering wheel, which groups all essential driving functions right in front of the driver and features a shape-optimised driver's airbag for more efficiency,

- laminated side windows, for ultra-low cabin noise and top-level passenger safety,

- hill start assist with the 6-speed electronic gearbox system, which frees up the driver from arduous starts on inclines,

- speed limiter and cruise control, making it easier to respect speed limits.

Safe and enjoyable to drive

As before, the C4 is first and foremost a real treat to drive. Drivers get exceptional precision and on-road pleasure from the C4's spot-on steering, with just the right amount of power assistance, and its sophisticated suspension system, featuring judiciously worked springs and shock absorbers.

The C4 hatchback scored very well in EuroNCAP tests, with 5 stars for frontal impact, 4 stars for child safety and 3 stars for pedestrian safety. That makes the C4 still the highest-scoring vehicle in the small family car segment in all three categories.