The facelifted Citroën C5 will soon premiere in Paris – expect it in SA in February 2005 – but can a makeover and some added bits help this quirky car’s image crisis?
The facelifted Citroën C5 will soon premiere in Paris – expect it in SA in February 2005 – but can a makeover and some added bits help this quirky car’s image crisis?
As with many other Citroëns, the C5 has for some time offered a distinctive alternative to the mainstream saloon offerings from BMW’s 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz’s C-Class and the Audi A4, along with the five-door Renault Laguna. A fresh and funky approach may spark a change in the big Citroën’s fortunes.
Sporting Citroën’s new front end design with the double chevron integrated into the grille and sweeping headlights, the rear has not been left untouched with the dramatic light cluster following the contours of the bootlid.
Complete with a range of new luxury and safety equipment, the C5 has Citroën’s new lane departure warning system and xenon headlights that turn as the car corners. Front and rear parking sensors provide audio-visual warnings on a multifunction screen.
Safety inside the car has been stepped up with seven airbags, including one to protect the knee area in a crash, a speed limiter and Citroën’s latest version of ESP. For reduced noise levels and improved security, the side windows are laminated.
A choice of six powerplants will be available, with the petrol units developing between 87 and 156 kW of power. The latest common-rail diesel engines should produce from 82 kW to 103 kW. New six-speed manual and automatic transmissions will also be available.
Earlier this year, Ian Beales, marketing manager of Citroën SA, told CARtoday.com that the facelifted C5 would be available by February 2005. Beales was unavailable for comment at the time of publishing.
