European First Drive: 2005 Citro?n C4 VTS Coupe

[BMWDave]

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European First Drive: 2005 Citro?n C4 VTS Coupe

French Style, German Solidity
By: NICK KURCZEWSKI

Date Posted 08-22-2005

Adored by automotive eccentrics and feared by backyard mechanics, Citro?n is loved and loathed for many of the same reasons. Since its founding in 1919, the unconventional French auto company has built cars featuring avant-garde styling and technology to match. Citro?n has long been the wacky alternative to more mundane machinery, with aerodynamic designs, oddball interiors and notoriously complex hydraulic suspensions.

A stroll through the streets of Paris reveals many battle-scarred examples of the breed, with bellies lowered to the point of being barely a Gauloises cigarettes packet above the pavement. Citro?ns epitomize Gallic chic. However, a second glance often reveals one or two corners at awkwardly high angles ? scoring points for the Citro?n nonbelievers.

Innovation at the expense of reliability is set to be a thing of the past with Citro?n's C4 sedan and coupe. For sale in most of Europe since last November, the C4 is tasked with promoting all that is weird and wonderful about Citro?n, without scaring the technologically timid.

The C4 will arrive on U.S. shores about the same time Texans adopt pain au chocolat and caf? au lait as the Lone Star state's official breakfast. So if you want one, dust off your passport and take some French lessons because Citro?n's 32-year absence from the American market is only going to get longer.

A recent weekend drive from Paris to Belgium and back again revealed that the C4 has a winning combination of French car quirkiness with the solid build quality that's normally associated with German or Japanese cars. Over 450 miles of French autoroute and Belgian cobble-stoned streets failed to produce any squeaks or rattles. The model tested is the performance leader of the range, the C4 VTS Coupe with a 2.0-liter, 180-horsepower four-cylinder. That said, with a curb weight of 2,941 pounds, performance is not neck-snapping. In fact, Citro?n's press materials quote a leisurely 0-62-mph time of 8.3 seconds for the VTS. Four other gasoline engines and three diesels are offered across the C4 lineup.

Despite wishing for a little more power to take the fight to Paris' obnoxious cut-and-thrust scooter drivers, the VTS offers plenty of smooth momentum on open roads. A torque figure of 202 pound-feet at 4,750 rpm and a crisp-shifting five-speed manual gearbox work harmoniously. However, steady cruising speeds of 90 mph prove that a sixth cog is desperately needed. Road, engine and wind noise were whisper-quiet, yet the digital tachometer located on the steering column showed that the engine was running between 4,000 and 5,000 rpm. That's pretty manic, especially for Europe where a refill of the 60-liter tank sets you back $70 (U.S.). Citro?n quotes a combined city/highway mpg cycle of approximately 28 miles per gallon.

So the VTS isn't terribly frugal. That's why plenty of fuel-sipping alternatives are offered. Is the VTS a sporty drive? Not exactly. The clutch has a heft to it that is a welcome relief from the pillow-soft systems found in many modern cars, but when coupled with an overly sensitive brake pedal and just-right throttle response, the result is that the dynamic messages get downright confusing. A very refined speed-sensitive steering system helps matters. So does the car's simple but effective suspension setup, consisting of MacPherson struts with lower wishbones and antiroll bar up front and a flexible transverse beam with antiroll bar at the rear. No self-leveling hydraulics here ? that is saved for high-end models like the upcoming C6 sedan. However, the setup keeps the VTS's handsome 17-inch "Rosolfen" alloys and 205/50R17 tires firmly planted. Only the worst bumps, or the aforementioned Belgian cobbles, upset the car's compliant ride.

Citro?n's trump card has always been high-tech and style. Priced at 23,750 euros (about $28,851 U.S.), our test model came brimming with gadgets like navigation, dual-zone climate control, five-disc CD changer in the center armrest, stability control, parking assistance, tire-pressure monitor, and attractive leather seats.

That does not even scratch the surface of the C4's contraptions. Special mention must be made of a few, including the clever fixed-hub steering wheel. Only the rim moves, leaving the hub free to be filled with buttons for functions like radio tuning, voice activation and cruise control. It sounds strange but proves very instinctive and is a far better way to unclutter a dashboard than BMW's iDrive or Mercedes-Benz's COMAND system.

A translucent strip atop the dashboard offers a digital reading of speed, fuel level, engine temp and more. The display is perfectly placed, adjusts to ambient light, and never washes out in direct sunlight like many conventional systems. Xenon directional headlights proved surprisingly useful when navigating the dark and miniscule underground car parks of Belgium. The headlights turn between 8 to 15 degrees, depending on steering angle.

Two of the more outlandish gadgets are the C4's perfume dispenser and lane departure warning system. The perfume dispenser consists of a tiny slot on the upper dash, where one of nine scented cartridges can be inserted ? scents include "Vanilla," "Soft Lavender" and "Lotus Flower." The chosen aroma is then diffused throughout the cabin via the A/C vents. Unfortunately, some morally decrepit journalist had swiped the cartridges before the test-drive. However, a hint of vanilla scent remained because fiddling with the climate control system caused the interior to smell ever so slightly like butter cookies.

Citro?n's lane departure warning system employs infrared sensors located in the front bumper to detect road markings. Effective only at speeds above 50 mph, it sends a vibration to the driver seat when it detects a lane change minus a corresponding flick of the indicators. Drift to the left and the left half of your derriere gets a buzz, drift right and?well, you get the idea. In theory, the device is a good safety net. In practice, the time from lane drift to seat buzz was rather after-the-fact. During our test-drive, it did not help matters when our first jolt was received in a construction zone. Paint markings all over the highway had the system on overload and our backsides feeling like we had sat on an anthill. A chime or dash display would work better. Thankfully, there is an off switch.

That's the high-tech out of the way then, now on to the car's couture. To our eyes, Citro?n's in-house design team ? under the direction of designer Oleg Son ? managed to capture a uniquely modern look that avoids the worn-out retro route other manufacturers follow. The sedan and coupe have nearly identical dimensions, inside and out. The sedan has a sloping rear treatment, while the coupe has a sharp Kamm-like cut to it. The VTS gains a subtle black spoiler on the rear hatch, plus foglights, chrome exhaust tip and body-color mirrors, door handles and rub strips.

During the test-drive, a station wagon full of Belgian children gave us thumbs-up, as did several friendly natives of Ghent during an early morning photo shoot. Comments in Flemish were usually accompanied with a smile and nod. The only negative comment came from an American friend, who hinted that the rear looks like a Pontiac Aztek in miniature. Ouch! That seems a bit harsh.

The interior has good room for four adults and the quality of materials is to a high standard. VTS models brighten things up with aluminum trim on the dash and pedals. One niggle in the coupe concerns rear visibility. The glass hatch is bisected by a black vertical bar which impedes rearward vision on the highway. All too often, we could see a car far behind us, or right on our tail, but not in between the two extremes. Visibility to the front and sides is otherwise quite good.

Overall, the 2005 Citro?C4 VTS coupe is loaded with features, but not sporty driving manners. That is not damning the car with faint praise. The C4 is refined, but not at the expense of losing its soul. With a low-pressure turbo the C4 VTS would really come alive, but even without it, who doesn't love to cruise in sweet-smelling, seat-buzzing comfort?

[Raghavan]

wow, looks nice.

[autom?vel]

The perfume dispenser consists of a tiny slot on the upper dash, where one of nine scented cartridges can be inserted ? scents include "Vanilla," "Soft Lavender" and "Lotus Flower." The chosen aroma is then diffused throughout the cabin via the A/C vents. Unfortunately, some morally decrepit journalist had swiped the cartridges before the test-drive. However, a hint of vanilla scent remained because fiddling with the climate control system caused the interior to smell ever so slightly like butter cookies.

Now if that isn't cool.    :o :P  
School me in French automobiles here for a second.  With Peugeot and Citro?n, which brand competes where in what section the market?  Not sure if that makes sense.  Kind of a stupid question, but I was never really interested in the French cars until recently (other then Renault to an extent because of it's ties with Argentina's IKA-Renault Torino   ).

As I understand it, they're more or less sort of unique/upperclass mainstreamers with the 607 being the exception, right?

[Raghavan]

The butt buzzers cool. Although i can see people going over lanes on purpose for a nice massage.

[giant_mtb]

I want a fixed-hub steering wheel!!!!!!!  :o  B)