Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2011 | Page 77

motoring

Island Life - February/March 2011
Test driven on the Island
by Peter White

Style and comfort - C4 yourself!
Citroén enthusiasts, particularly those
with an affinity to the C4, will be
delighted with the latest range to
roll off the company’s thoroughbred
production line.
It is once again called the C4, but
is a completely new car, launched this
month with many new additions and
accessories to make it an even more
attractive proposition.
The new Citroén C4 can be seen and
test driven at Central Garage, Newport,
and would-be buyers will not help but
notice the compact but robust design.
Inside it has the unmistakeable feel
of space and comfort, although those
not used to driving Citroéns will have
to come to terms with quite a complex
panel of controls.
Of course, it was my fault that I
tried to turn on the radio, and instead
discovered that the air conditioning
worked perfectly! But overall there is
every reason to suggest that Citroén
have come up with another winner.
The engines range from the VTR

with its VTi 95 manual, through to the
Exclusive HDi 150 six-speed manual. I
drove the VTi 120 manual, and my only
slight concern was that the 1,600cc
engine may not have been quite strong
enough for the size of the body. It
swept effortlessly along as I went
through the gears, but took a little time
to further accelerate once in fifth.
The car is filled with everything from
clever technology that activates an
interior deodoriser every time the car
is started, through to advanced safety
technology which later this year will
include a driver’s seat that vibrates to
warn that you are wandering out of
your traffic lane.
Inside the cabin the main feature is
the central mounted dash where all
the vehicle’s vital signs, including the
speedometer, are clearly visible, not just
to the drivers, but all passengers.
The steering hub also houses
everything from the stereo through to
the speed limiter. This steering wheel
also controls the steerable zenon

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headlights, which turn when the
car does to have the beams of light
illuminate the section of road that you
are moving towards.
When I finally found the audio system
it was nice to have the automatic sound
control, and it is somewhat reassuring
to know you have the protection of six
air bags, ABS brakes with Electronic
Brake Distribution (EBD) and Emergency
Brake Assist (EBA).
Add to that the electric variable
assistance power steering, power
windows and mirrors, remote 6V