Paris Show 2010 Highlights: 2011 Citroen C4 Picasso

It’s facelift time for Citroen’s C4 Picasso MPV family. Both the regular C4 Picasso and the larger Grand version have gone under the knife, receiving the firm’s new logo on the grille, alloys and steering wheel; new taillights and fashionable LED daytime running lights.

The C4 Picasso will also be available with a two-tone paint finish, with the roof painted in gloss black.

Citroen has added its e-HDi technology to the range, which includes stop start and a regenerative alternator. Available on the both C4 Picasso models fitted with the 100bhp diesel engine and EGS automated manual gearbox, the MPV now returns 58.9mpg and 125g/km for the regular car and 56.5mpg and 130g/km for the Grand model. Citroen claims this represents a 15 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions around town. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Paris Show 2010 Highlights: 2011 Citroen DS4

Citroen has unveiled its new DS4 at the Paris motor show.

The lofty but sporty-looking five-door is aimed at shaking up the bread-and-butter family hatch market.

The DS4 is the second model in Citroën’s new DS range, after the highly successful DS3, and is a platform variant of the new C4, also at Paris. Citroën is hoping it will sprinkle some DS3 magic on the bigger hatch.

Compared with the Focus-sized C4, the DS4 is 60mm shorter, 40mm taller and 20mm wider. This makes for a taller driving position with better visibility and a squatter footprint for more stable handling.

With this theme in mind, the DS4 features a panoramic windscreen that is said to give the driver an upward view of 45 degrees. “Combined with the slightly raised stance, this provides optimised visibility for the driver,” says Citroën.

Although a tall driving position is usually associated with functionality, the DS4 is clothed in an upmarket-looking skin, the work of chief stylist Marc Pinson.

Citroën describes the styling as “compact and muscular”, the sportiness coming from a pronounced styling bulge over each rear wheel arch, the short rear overhang and steeply raked rear hatch.

Despite this sharp styling, Citroën says the cabin will seat five. To enhance the sporty look, the rear door handles are hidden in the window surround, just as with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

The engine range is extensive, with five Euro 5 units — HDi 110 and HDi 160 diesels and VTi 120, THP 155 and THP 200 petrol units. The THP 200 will top the range, with 197bhp and 203lb ft from its turbo 1.6, as well as 149g/km of CO2.

A micro-hybrid based on the HDi 110 engine will feature stop-start and a smart alternator able to recover energy during braking.

All engines will be available with either manual or robotised manual ESG ’boxes. The micro-hybrid will feature revised gear ratios for the best fuel economy.

UK sales will kick off in autumn next year and prices are likely to be at a premium over the C4’s. But as with DS3 buyers, DS4 customers are also expected to add a high number of options.

Thanks to: Autocar

Paris Show 2010 Highlights: Citroen Lacoste Concept

It’s a Tonka toy for grown-ups! Citroen’s new off-road concept, designed with the help of fashion label Lacoste, has been stripped back to the essentials to hint at a future economical supermini-sized SUV.

The Lacoste Concept measures 3.45m, making it over 50cm shorter than MINI’s Countryman and Nissan’s Juke. Aiming to steer customers away from these two, any production car based on this concept would form part of a new breed of tiny off-roaders in the mould of the 4x4 Fiesta seen here.

The car’s pared-back ethos evokes Citroen’s Seventies Mini Moke rival – the Mehari. This is evident on the dash, which is cleared of all clutter to leave a two-spoke steering wheel and LED display strip. It would be practical, though – the steering wheel can be moved out of the way to improve access, the rear bench can slide into the boot to carry large items and there is storage in the two benches.

The exterior is an evolution of 2007’s C-Cactus concept and features a high waistline, bulging wheelarches and a wheel at each corner. An innovative soft-top inflates along the centre rail to keep passengers dry. Power comes from a three-cylinder petrol engine, likely to be Citroen’s next-generation 1.2-litre unit, with 100g/km of CO2 emissions. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express

Paris Show 2010 Highlights: 2011 Chevrolet Captiva

Meet the fourth and final Chevrolet that debuted at the Paris Motor Show. The facelifted Captiva joined the Cruze hatchback, Aveo supermini and Orlando MPV on the firm’s stand, and features a new look inside and out, plus fresh engines aimed at enhancing the car’s appeal.

The most obvious change is the Captiva’s striking new front end, which features a reshaped bonnet, much more prominent split grille and narrower prism-style headlights.

The interior has also received attention with new seat fabrics and trim materials to improve the perceived quality, while the Captiva also gets Chevrolet’s favoured ice blue instrument lighting. Buyers still get the choice of five or seven-seat layouts.

The car also boasts a new audio system, with an Aux input, USB port and Bluetooth connectivity. Touchscreen sat-nav with a rear-view parking camera is now available as an option, too.

Under the bonnet, there are three new engine choices – a 169bhp 2.4-litre petrol and two versions of a 2.2-litre common rail diesel featuring 161bhp or 181bhp. All are connected to a new manual or automatic six-speed transmission, and all models get retuned handling to offer a sportier drive.

The new Captiva is set to go on sale in the UK next spring. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Paris Show 2010 Highlights: 2011 Chevrolet Orlando

Chevrolet has taken the wraps off its striking new Orlando MPV at the Paris motor show.

The compact seven-seat crossover MPV was first seen as a concept in Paris two years ago and much of that car’s styling has made it into the production version that will reach UK showrooms in early 2011.

Although some of the concept’s sharper lines at the front have been rounded off, much of the rear three-quarters of the concept remains unchanged, including its sloping window line and narrow glasshouse, while its pronounced wheel arches can house alloys up to 18 inches in size.

The Orlando uses General Motors' Delta platform, also seen on the new Vauxhall Astra and Chevrolet’s new Cruze range. Its UK engine line-up includes a 139bhp 1.8-litre petrol unit and a 2.0-litre diesel with either 129bhp or 161bhp.

Chevrolet claims its dual cockpit is inspired by the Corvette and features the firm’s new blue-backlit centre console.

The load area is described as “generous”, while the rear two rows of seats are raised, in spite of the low roofline, in a theatre-style arrangement to give rear passengers a better forward and side view. As in the norm in the class, there's a variety of seating configurations to boost load capacity.

Several storage compartments are offered, including the concept’s storage area hidden behind the front fascia of the audio system; this is revealed by flipping the face of the audio and is described as a “usefully large area”. The Orlando also offers USB, MP3 and iPod connectivity.

Thanks to: Autocar

Paris Show 2010 Highlights: Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback Concept

Meet the Cruze that’s hatching big plans in Europe! This compact version of the Cruze was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, and is the second of four new cars that will feature on the American firm’s stand.

The Cruze hatchback will join the Orlando, as well as a facelift of the Captiva SUV and a new version of the Aveo. The fastback design has an almost Japanese flavour, and the car looks similar to the Subaru Impreza in profile, although the big wheels and LED running lights from the show car are likely to be dropped from the production model.

The Cruze saloon has recently overtaken the Aveo to become Chevrolet’s best selling car globally, so to broaden its appeal and further boost sales this new hatch is set to offer great value for money and compete with the likes of the Kia C’eed and Hyundai i30.

The hatch will offer nearly 400 litres of boot space, and although that’s 50 less than the saloon, a 60/40 folding seat arrangement and bigger load space should ensure this is the most practical Cruze yet.

Wayne Brannon, Managing Director of Chevrolet Europe, said that by offering a hatch back variant they were “sending out a signal that Chevrolet is now a serious mainstream player in Europe."

The current Cruze comes in S, LS and LT trims, and the new car will continue to offer the familiar line-up of four-pot engines from the saloon. That means either a 1.6 or a 1.8-litre with 112bhp or 139bhp. The diesel option is a 2.0L with 123bhp, and 300Nm of torque.

Prices should remain broadly the same as the current range, although the hatchback could end up costing less than its stable mate, starting at around £13,000 for the 1.6i S when it goes on sale mid-way through next year. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express

Paris Show 2010 Highlights: 2011 BMW X3

Big on space and big on efficiency! That's BMW's promise for the second-generation X3, and we have first official photos of the X5’s baby brother, which made its European debut at the Paris Motor Show.

Set to hit showrooms in January 2011, the cleanest variants will be capable of returning 50.4mpg and CO2 emissions of only 147g/km thanks to the use of stop/start technology and an eight-speed automatic gearbox developed by specialists, ZF.

Achieving 149g/km with a manual gearbox, the entry-level xDrive20d uses a four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine producing 181bhp and 380Nm of torque – enough to reach 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 131mph. At launch, the only other model will be the xDrive35i, which is capable of sprinting from 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 152mph.

The X3 now sports a more robust appearance using elements from the smaller X1 and larger X5, while the body has grown in every dimension except width allowing for improved interior space and wider door openings. Luggage space is increased by 70 litres as a result and can be expanded to 1,600 litres when the rear seats, which split 60:40 or an optional 40:20:40, are folded flat.

Build quality is set to receive a hike in the all-new interior whilst technical gadgetry including a head-up display and internet access will be made available thanks to BMW's ConnectedDrive system. A 6.5-inch colour monitor and the latest generation of iDrive will be standard on all models, although this can be upgraded to a class-leading 8.8-inch high-resolution screen if buyers opt for the Professional Multimedia package.

Under the skin the X3 will feature Variable Damper Control for the first time, allowing drivers to adjust the suspension settings to suit their needs, with Normal, Sport, and Sport+ selected by a button on the dash. Adjustable Electric Power Steering and Dynamic Stability Control further enhance the handling, assisted by double-joint spring-strut front axles and a multi-link rear axle.

Prices start at £30,490 for the xDrive20d, rising to around £36,000 for the xDrive35i.For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express