Citroen has released the first official pictures of its new middleweight contender, the C4; showing for the first time the company's new corporate face. In a stark contrast to its predecessor (the Xsara), the C4 is hugely different to most current market offerings and features two striking body styles for the three and five-door variants. As is becoming the norm with models such as Honda's Civic, the two models will have very separate identities. The three-door coupe hatch in particular is a bold and dramatic design with unusual rear glass treatment similar to the old Mazda 323F and '80s Honda CRX. Overall the new shapes hark back to the individualistic styling of Citroen's of old.

Along with distinctive good looks the new designs promise class-leading aerodynamics with associated benefits in fuel consumption, and therefore CO₂ emissions and wind noise. The C4 will be powered by the existing comprehensive line up of petrol and Hdi diesels. Much focus has been centred on the interior, said to offer true five-seater ability in both guises, with some unique features including a fixed steering wheel hub fitted with many minor controls. On top of this the C4 will offer high safety and equipment levels. Also being offered will be a lane departure warning system and active xenon headlights, both relative rarities in the class at time of launch in early 2005. This follows the car's world debut in Paris in September.

Hopefully the C4's driving characteristics can live up to its looks. It can't fail to be an improvement over the bland old Xsara and should easily surpass the 7,000 units per annum sales achieved by that model.

Dave Jenkins - 17 Jul 2004