The New Citroen DS4. It’s Enough to Make You Want to Move to Paris
When I stepped off the train in Bingen, Germany last September for a European visit, the first car that caught my eye was so stunning that I had to wander over for a closer look. Checking in at the hotel could wait. That elegant beauty turned out to be a Citroen C6, and it reminded me of the great Citroens of the past, especially the original DS, a car that was way ahead of its time in design and technology. In recent years, however, Citroens had taken on a me-too appearance. The marque had lost its mojo.
No more. Citroen is back. As you'll note from the above photo the DS4 5-door hatch, which makes its debut at the Paris Motor Show in just a few weeks, is a masterpiece of contemporary styling, with its muscular wheel arches, sloped roofline, and coupe-like profile. If there's one thing I might criticise, however, it's the grille, which is mostly a large black filler with the air intake up top and a license plate dividing the lower space. I suspect that Europe's new pedestrian accident survival rule may have something to do with it.
Appropriately for the intended markets, several power choices are available, with 120, 155 and 200 horsepower from the three gasoline engines and 110 or 160 horses from the diesel offerings. Regardless of engine choice, you can select either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. Interestingly, the gas engines were co-developed with BMW. The cabin is said to be both luxurious and spacious, with a look that's modern though not radical.
Unfortunately the DS4 is one of those cars that North Americans can only look upon with envy. There's not the slightest chance that Citroen will ever return to the US or Canada, so we won't be lining up to buy one. Too bad, because this is exactly the kind of car we need more of: Handsome, luxurious, roomy, yet compact. Of course, you could always move to Paris, but then you'd spend your time riding the Metro in order to avoid the traffic. To see more of the DS4, click here for an Autoblog photo gallery.
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