Club. C4 Picasso paints a picture of versatility; ROAD TEST Citroen C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi Exclusive.Byline: By Bill McCarthyTHE Picasso is well named - it is a real work of art and a brilliantly versatile motor that even comes with its own shopping trolley shopping trolley shop n (Brit) → Caddie® m . I am not the greatest of MPV (MusicPhotoVideo) A playlist standard for music, image and video collections introduced in 2002 by the Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA). An "MPV Writer" is software that creates the playlist, and an "MPV Reader" is software that can discover and read it. fans, but the latest C4 derivative of the Citroen favourite really hits the spot. The new five-seat C4 sits between the Xsara Picasso and the seven-seat Grand C4 Picasso. The C8 people carrier and the Berlingo Multispace complete a comprehensive range of Citroen MPVs. What sets the C4 Picasso apart from other competitors is the styling. It makes some of its contemporaries seem drab and dull with sharp lines, stylish light clusters and acres of glass which includes a huge panoramic windscreen, the largest in its class. The wave-shaped waistline on the test model was also highlighted in chrome which nicely complemented the black paintwork paintwork Noun the covering of paint on parts of a vehicle, building, etc.: someone had damaged the Porsche by scraping a key along its paintwork paintwork n → , giving the car a sporty look. That is on the outside, the interior is even better with masses of room, fantastic all round visibility and loads of little innovations. In addition to the largest windscreen in its class, quarter lights add to the visibility and rear seat passengers also benefit from larger windows. Artificial light is also a key feature with up to 30 different light sources onboard. There is a rechargeable boot light that doubles as a torch and strip lighting in the doors, headlining and dash. The door bins are automatically illuminated when a hand is placed inside and door mirrors house welcome lights, which bathe the ground with light when approaching the vehicle at night. The dashboard has a minimalist feel with many of the controls placed on the multi-function steering wheel or at the end of the dash. There are loads of little innovations like a parking space measurement system, assisted hill starting, automatic electric parking brake, lane departure warning See lane departure system. and on the test model, self-levelling suspension Self-levelling refers to an automobile suspension system that maintains a constant ride height of the vehicle above the road, regardless of load. Many vehicle systems including aerodynamic properties, headlights, bumpers, and shock absorption from the suspension, are . The parking mechanism allows the car to scan parking spaces and then determine the difficulty of the parking manoeuvre. Other nice touches included parking sensors, the electric windows and door mirrors, sat-nav, smart sound system, air conditioning air conditioning, mechanical process for controlling the humidity, temperature, cleanliness, and circulation of air in buildings and rooms. Indoor air is conditioned and regulated to maintain the temperature-humidity ratio that is most comfortable and healthful. , cruise control and adaptive headlights to name a few. There are a couple of gripes. The auto gearbox is notchy and hesitant, both in full auto Full Auto is a video game for the Xbox 360 console published by Sega. Developed by Pseudo Interactive, it is a vehicular combat racing game. It features destructible environments and (in certain races) a mode called "Unwreck" which rewinds time if the player makes a mistake mode or in semiauto using the paddles behind the steering wheel - a sporty addition that seems out of place. Citroen claim because of its configuration, it changes gear quicker than a manual and saves fuel. The second point may be true, but I would challenge the first. However the gear lever selector is a clever innovation, tucked behind the multi-function steering wheel. I also thought the boot lid heavy, which could be a problem for mums with young kids who spend a lot of time loading and unloading the boot. Unlike its big brother the Grand Picasso, the Picasso is a five-seater. All three individual rear seats slide and tilt and can be folded flat to increase load capacity from 605 litre to 1,734 litres. The process is simple and easy to use by pulling on the straps at the side of the seat base, all without removing the head restraints. This leaves a large cargo area which houses the Modubox folding canvas trolley which can be quickly unclipped from its housing. The C4 also has a huge array of drink holders, trays, bins and boxes for odds and ends as well as a coolbox in the centre of the dashboard. Once you get used to the auto gearbox, the Picasso handles well with air suspension Air suspension is a type of vehicle suspension powered by an engine driven or electric air pump or compressor. This pump pressurizes the air, using compressed air as a spring. Air suspension replaces conventional steel springs. giving a comfortable ride. It handles reasonably well for a car of this kind and the steering is sharp and responsive. The 1.6-litre diesel power plant, according to figures, delivers around 50mpg, which seemed a fairly accurate figure over the test period. It also has low CO2 emissions of 150g/km. Because they are mainly family cars most MPVs score highly on safety and this is no exception. The Picasso achieved a maximum five star adult occupant protection rating in EuroNCAP tests and it features anti-skid, assisted intelligent braking, stability and traction control and seven airbags on all models. It also offers a child mirror in the front, four Isofix seats, anti-pinch functions on the windows, an electric child lock system and five audible and visual seatbelt warning indicators. The new C4 Picasso range includes a 1.8 and two-litre petrol units plus the two diesel powerplants. Unlike many MPVs, I was sorry to see the back of to get rid of. See also: Back this one. FAST FACTS MODEL: Citroen C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi Exclusive (5-seat) PRICE: pounds 20,295 MECHANICAL: 110bhp, 1,560cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd automatic gearbox MAXIMUM SPEED: 112mph 0-62mph: 13.4 secs COMBINED MPG: 49.6 INSURANCE GROUP: 7 CO2 EMISSIONS: 150g/km COMPANY CAR TAX RATING: 20% WARRANTY: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust |
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