Citroën ë-C4 X is confirmed for the UK
Citroën has revealed the all-electric New ë-C4 X, offering buyers a cross-segment design that combines the elegant silhouette of a fastback with the modern attitude of an SUV whilst maintaining the timeless refinement and spaciousness of a four-door model.
With a 100kW powertrain, New ë-C4 X is capable of a range up to 223 miles (WLTP-certified), whilst allowing drivers to benefit from advanced ë-comfort – thanks to the virtual silence of electric powertrain – and saloon car spaciousness, with a 510-litre boot that is ideal for everyday use, especially for families.
Vincent Cobée, Citroën Global CEO, said: “Many customers have told us they want an affordable, responsible and elegant alternative to the mass of hatchback and SUV offerings in the volume compact car segment, and this is our best interpretation of that need – a forward-looking, distinctive cross design that delivers all the comfort, technology, safety and value you expect from Citroën, but also outstanding roominess and limousine versatility, with the benefit of zero-emission, all-electric power”.
The 100kW full-electric drivetrain is powerful and energetic, with 136hp and 260Nm of torque that is instantly available, a 0-62 mph time of 9.5-seconds in Sport mode and a top speed of 93 mph (where legally permitted). Furthermore, regenerative braking enables the driver to partially re-charge the 50kWh battery pack and increase range while on the move.
Three driving modes are available – Eco, Normal or Sport – activated by a mode selector on the centre console. Eco mode offers the highest levels of efficiency, Sport mode offers the highest levels of performance, while Normal mode balances the two.
From a 7.4kW Wallbox, charging takes 7½ hours with a single-phase supply or as little as 5 hours with a three-phase electricity supply and the optional 11kW onboard charger. From a 100kW rapid public charger, the battery can charge from 0% to 80% in just 30 minutes. Vehicle charging and pre-conditioning can be pre-programmed using the car’s MyCitroën Drive Plus touchscreen interface or via the MyCitroën app. For added customer peace of mind, the battery warranty for New ë-C4 X is eight years or 100,000 miles, for 70% of the original charge capacity.
New ë-C4 X benefits from Citroën’s new-generation infotainment interface, which was first seen on New Citroën C5 X. MyCitroën Drive Plus offers a highly intuitive new interface using a 10-inch HD screen that can be fully personalised by owners.
The new interface also features natural speech recognition – with a digital assistant prompted by the command “Hello Citroën” – to answer questions and carry out vocal instructions. The natural voice recognition system can understand 20 languages, provide visual feedback and respond to commands relating to vehicle systems, such as the climate control, audio media, phone and connected speech services.
The Citroën ë-C4 X features the brand’s exclusive Advanced Comfort Seats. High-density foam at the core of the seats ensures optimal comfort, particularly on longer journeys, The wide front seat backrests in the New ë-C4 X have reinforced support, lumbar and height adjustment, and the availability of electric adjustment. Citroën’s innovative and exclusive Advanced Comfort Suspension provides further comfort and serenity with a ‘magic carpet’ ride effect when out on the road.
One benefit of the Citroën Advanced Comfort Programme® is particularly noticeable when riding in the rear. Best-in-class 198mm of second-row knee room and a more reclined (27-degree) rear seatback, plus an exterior width of 1,800mm, means three people can comfortably sit side-by-side across the rear bench, with a total of 1,380mm of width at the shoulders and 1,440mm at the elbows.
Along with the 510-litre boot, additional space below the floor is provided for carrying extra items, and for neatly housing the charging cables. The rear seat backrests also fold forwards for additional carrying capacity, and a ‘ski hatch’ in the fold-down armrest allows for loading of particularly long objects so they can extend into the cabin. Up to 16 open and closed compartments add a total storage volume of 39-litres throughout the cabin.
With an overall length of 4,600mm, New ë-C4 X slots neatly into the Citroën line-up between the C4 hatchback at 4,360mm long, and New C5 X at 4,800mm. Its wheelbase at 2.67m, is the same as a C4 hatchback, both use the same ‘Common Modular Platform’ (CMP).
Aerodynamic efficiency is optimised through the body’s sleek, crisp roofline, which results in an impressive drag coefficient of cd 0.29, which benefits the all-electric range. When viewed in profile, the car’s dynamic roofline flows effortlessly and seamlessly, while the rear overhang cleverly disguises the length required to package the large 510-litre boot.
Distinctive new LED taillights carry through into the sculpted lines of the boot lid, pushing around the corners and along the sides of the car, complementing the distinctive front lamps and finishing in an arrow shape before the rear doors, which further amplifies the silhouette’s dynamic appearance. Matt black protective wheel arches and lower body skirts, featuring Airbump® panels with coloured inserts, enhance the feeling of robustness and protection.
The familiar front end incorporates Citroën’s rounded design signature. The high, horizontal bonnet features concave indentations. Trademark chrome chevrons stretch across the width of the body, connecting with double-height front lamps using Citroën LED Vision lighting technology to reinforce the vehicle’s high-tech credentials and to provide maximum visibility for drivers. The matt black lower skirt on the front bumper links to the side and rear protective elements, while air intake grilles use a ‘macro chevron’ pattern similar to that used for the Citroën AMI One and 19-19 concept vehicles. The hexagonal lower grille is flanked on each side by distinctive fog lamp bezels.
The car will be launched in selected markets with petrol, diesel and battery-electric powertrains. In the UK, customers will be able to order the all-electric New Citroën ë-C4 X early in 2023.
