Newtechfresh | Consumer Electronics Guide: CITROEN VIDEOS

Following Peugeot’s preview of its all-new posh-looking 108 city car, Citroën replies with its C1 sibling, which is set to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The C1 is essentially the same car as the 108 and the Toyota Aygo, but with differently styled ends - especially up front, where the angry face makes the C1 difficult to ignore. Citroën may describe the C1’s face as “cheerful”, but to me it doesn’t look that friendly.

The car features two sets of headlights, two round ones that remind of the Fiat 500 and two angry-looking “eyebrows” above them. The front end also includes vertical LED daytime running lights in the lower part of the bumper. The profile and rear end of the C1 are similar to the Peugeot, with the only significant differences being the different graphics of the taillights and the black painted A-pillar.

Just like the 108, the Citroën C1 will be available in three- and five-door versions, with an open-top bodystyle called Airscape also to be introduced (800 mm x 760 mm soft top). Further imitating its brother, the Citroën will be available in bi-color versions with brightly colored interiors.

The C1 shares the dimensions with the 108, being 3,460mm (136.2in) long, 1,620mm (63.8in) wide and 1,450mm (57in) tall. It weighs the same too, from 840 kg (1,851 lbs). The car has a 4.80m (189in) turning circle and features electric power steering for easy handling. Citroën says ride comfort is improved as well compared to the previous generation thanks to a rear axle that is 4 kg (8.8lbs) lighter, new suspension springs, new shock absorbers and a new large-diameter anti-roll bar.

Just like Peugeot, Citroën hasn’t released photos of the interior yet, but said the C1 also receives a 7-inch Touch Driver Interface and Mirror Screen technology used to copy and run smartphone apps from the touchscreen. The little Citroën can be fitted with keyless entry and start, as well as a reversing camera and hill-start assist.

The C1 features a 196-liter (6.92 cu-ft) boot, with volume increasing to 780 liters (27.5 cu-ft) with the rear seats folded.

Citroën will offer the C1 with two 3-cylinder petrol models, the Toyota-sourced 68hp 1.0-liter e-VTi 68 Airdream engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and featuring Stop&Start technology, and the 82hp 1.2-liter VTi 82. The latter produces 118 Nm (87 lb-ft) of torque and averages 4.3 l/100 km (54.7 mpg US), with CO2 emissions of 99 g/km. The 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration takes 11 seconds.

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After grabbing our attention with an army of undisguised pre-production models on European roads, the production-ready, but concept-labeled, Technospace study at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and let's not forget, four official images earlier today, Citroen is now ready to fully reveal the all-new C4 Picasso compact minivan.

No doubt, the first thing that everybody has and will notice about the five-seater model, is its unconventional-looking front end and profile styling, but there's a lot more to talk about the latest generation of the C4 Picasso, as we discovered after reading Citroen's press release.

At 4,430mm long, 1,830mm wide and 1,610mm tall, Citroen's compact model is 40 mm shorter in length and stands 50 mm lower in height compared to the outgoing C4 Picasso, yet the French brand says it offers more space for both passengers and their luggage – how can that be? Well, because Citroen reduced the length from the front end that is 70mm shorter. Furthermore, the wheelbase is 55mm longer at 2,785 mm, and the car rides on wider front(+82mm) and rear (+31mm) tracks.

Citroen says the new C4 Picasso offers an additional 40 liters in boot space over the older model, at 537 liters, and up to 637 liters with the adjustable rear seats pushed forward.

Talking about the cabin, the interior is also plusher with higher-grade materials and more premium trims, including two-tone color options for the seats, doors and dashboard, as well as better equipped with a standard 7-inch touchscreen through which the driver and passenger control all the in-car functions, including the dual-zone air conditioning, navigation, audio, telephone, driving aids and connected services.

Right above you will find a much larger 12-inch HD screen for the instrument panel that displays essential driving information and can be configured to show data for either the navigation system or driving aids, and even allows you to use a personal photo as a backdrop. The C4 Picasso comes equipped with three individual rear seats that can be moved and configured independently from each other.

One of the main highlights of the new C4 Picasso is the new EMP2 (Efficient Modular Platform 2) from the Peugeot-Citroen PSA Group. It uses a mix of aluminum and very high yield strength steel for some parts and a composite rear floor, cutting vehicle weight by 70 kg (154 pounds). That's not the only area that Citroen cut weight, as thanks to the more compact-size body and the use of lighter materials, such as an aluminum bonnet and composite tailgate, the French carmaker saved another 70kg increasing the total weight reduction over the previous model to 140kg (309 pounds).

At the same time, Citroen says that the new C4 Picasso is the first compact MPV to emit less than 100 g/km of CO2 with a conventional, internal-combustion engine. That model is the start-stop-equipped e-HDi 90 Airdream featuring a 91hp / 92 PS diesel engine mated to a new 6-speed clutchless gearbox, which emits 98 g/km of CO2 with a combined fuel consumption of 3.8 l/100 km (equal to 61.9mpg US and 74.3 mpg UK).

Other engine options include an 113hp (114PS) diesel, and two gasoline units, the 118hp (120PS) VTi 120 and the 154hp (156PS) THP 155.

As for tech features, the new C4 Picasso sports LED 3D-effect rear lights, an available 360 Vision system that utilizes four cameras placed around the car and works with or without the Park Assist system, active cruise control and active seatbelts.

Citroen is also working on a replacement for the bigger, 7-seat Grand C4 Picasso.

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