ALL NEW AUTO CARS

Citroen Lacoste Concept is an emblem for a state-of-mind and a lifestyle, it positioned at the crossroads of the automotive world, where fashion and sport meet.

Stylishly minimalist and elegantly laid-back, the Citroën Lacoste instantly attracts with its off-beat sports aesthetic. It features a high waistline; bulging and textured wings; minimum overhangs front and rear; and golf ball-style alloy wheels, placed in the furthest corners of the body.

2010 Citroen Lacoste Concept opts for a 3-cylinder petrol engine with plenty of performance on tap to power a vehicle of this size and weight. With its light timbre, the flexible, economical and ecological powerplant is a perfect match for the car’s “back to essentials” nature.

Compact and robust (at 3.45m long, 1.80m wide, 1.52m high and with a 2.30m wheelbase), the body paint in pearlescent white, which is set off by dark blue design motifs and strips underlining the forms of the vehicle. Cabin access couldn’t be easier, since the doors have been replaced by broad cut-outs that are in perfect harmony with the body styling.

The compartments are discreetly located under the dashboard and within the two bench seats – with sliding covers that echo the colour of the upholstery. The seats themselves are overstitched in white cotton, with a weave closely resembling that of a polo shirt – an iconic Lacoste design.

Strictly speaking this car has no fixed roof. In its place is a T-shaped structure that extends back to the boot like a “backbone”. An auto-inflatable hood deploys all the way along the backbone to form a soft-top roof.

The front and rear lights are discreet to the point of being almost invisible. Concealed under the car’s dark blue bodywork, they can be seen only when illuminated. As well as providing visual purity, this design choice delivers a unique and almost magical sight.

2011 model year the five-seat Citroen C4 Picasso and seven-seat Citroen Grand C4 Picasso minivans that will get their first public outing at the Paris Motor Show later this week. UK sales of the new Citroon C4 Picasso range will start in from 1st October.

Both model benefit from new styling elements including Citroen’s new chevron design on the front grille and tailgate, a restyled front bumper, new headlights and rear light clusters, plus LED daytime running lights for the higher grade VTR+ and Exclusive models.

Little different at VTR+ models get chrome side window sills and a chrome rear bumper strip, while the C4 Picasso Exclusive is now offered with a ‘Black Top’ option which adds a glossy black finish to the roof, A-pillars and exterior door handles, door mirrors and alloy wheel centre caps. Interior upgrades are limited to new materials and colors for the upholstery. Also added standard equipment on the VTR+, which gets rear parking sensors, electrically folding mirrors, a USB socket and Bluetooth, and the Exclusive which benefits from 17-inch alloys, new upholstery USB and Bluetooth connectivity and the new Citroën eTouch Emergency & Assistance System.

It is offer Citroën’s new e-HDi micro-hybrid technology, which combines a second-generation Stop & Start system with an e-booster function that re-starts the engine instantly (0.4 seconds), a reversible alternator that recovers energy during braking, and a Euro 5 1.6-liter HDi 110hp DPFS engine with a 6-speed EGS transmission.

With this powertrain setup, the C4 Picasso delivers a combined fuel economy of up to 58.9mpg UK (Grand C4 Picasso: 57.6mpg UK) with CO2 emissions of between 125g/km and 132g/km.

Both MPVs get a new 2.0-liter HDi 150hp diesel engine with a 6-speed manual gearbox, which delivers a combined cycle fuel economy of 49.6mpg UK. A 2.0-liter HDi 160hp with a 6-speed automatic gearbox is also newly available on Exclusive models.

As already posted once that Citroen C4 will be available Citroen’s new micro-hybrid powertrains e-Hdi, with the theme of environmentally friendly hybrid car was created. The boasts 109g/km CO2 emissions.

Citroen C4 e-Hdi exhibits a new level of interior quality from the French firm. There are lots of buttons around the cabin, but the overall look is one of decent quality. The EGS clutch-less transmission is standard in this e-HDi model, meaning a raised centre console with a cool looking lever for gear selection – incorporated neatly. Space is good too, with leg- and headroom generous for four adults, while a large boot means there’s plenty of luggage space, too.

The C4 is powered by a 110bhp 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine mated to what Citroen (and many rivals) call a micro-hybrid system. That’s slightly misleading as it’s not a hybrid in a conventional sense; instead it’s a generator-starter motor. That gives the e-HDi micro-hybrid stop-start capability, helping reduce its emissions and improve fuel economy.

Citroen is making a big deal of the C4 e-HDi’s 109g/km CO2 emissions and 64.2mpg economy, but among its green rivals that’s only average performance. Citroen has a 99g/km C4 in the pipeline, but the e-HDi is already playing catch up with established rivals, despite being an all-new proposition.