Citroen C2: Test Drive

Citroen announces the C2, a new 3- door saloon scheduled for launch in the last quarter of 2003. Designed to carry four people in comfort, the C2 rounds out Citroen’s compact vehicle range, alongside the C3 and the C3 Pluriel. The C2 is an eye-catching car with real character. Looking beyond styling, the C2 introduces an innovative concept in modular interior design and boot access, through which it is able to adapt to all situations.
The C2, a more compact three-door saloon, is a car that brings dynamic performance to mind with its striking style and strong personality. Its design lines play on visual appeal and on the break created by the recessed side windows. Inside the car, the bright colour schemes and translucent trim underline the emphasis placed on modern design.
A car that places the emphasis on vitality and innovation, the C2 boasts a unique concept in modular design. Two sliding, independent rear seats, designed to fold down easily, let the user modify the vehicle interior to cope with a full range of everyday situations.
The cleverly designed tailgate opens in two sections, so that the boot can be accessed in all circumstances, even when limited space is available. Compact, easy to handle, and very much at ease in the city, the C2 offers a passenger compartment with four real seats.
Citroen now has three vehicles with different styling but shared qualities in terms of roadholding and safety. Four engines are available for the Citroen C2: three petrol and one diesel (1.4 HDi). Two of the engines can be coupled with the SensoDrive gearbox, recently inaugurated on the C3. The car can be fitted with wheels and tyres of up to 16 inches in size, underlining the visual perception of the C2 as a vehicle with a strong on-road stance.
The C2 is available with a range of comfort equipment (standard or optional) usually found only on segments further up the market. This equipment includes variable assistance electric power steering, air conditioning with automatic temperature control, electronic parking assistance and cruise control. In terms of safety, the C2 is a front-runner on its segment with ESP, ABS, emergency braking assistance and six airbags.
The C2 shares the same platform as the C3 and the C3 Pluriel which are recognised as a reference in their segment in terms of road handling. Today's platform organisation has enabled Citroen to produce three vehicles, each with their own distinct personality, on a common base that incorporates the latest upgrades in safety and comfort equipment, together with a wide range of engines.
The C2 uses a version of the platform 1 with a short wheelbase of 2.31 m (2.46 m for the C3 and C3 Pluriel). 3.66 m wide and 1.66 m high, it is positioned in the middle of the compact 3- door vehicle segment. The new C2 therefore slots naturally into place in the Citroen range. It shares many features with the C3 and C3 Pluriel while boasting its own – strong personality.
Modern and dynamic exterior styling The exterior styling of the C2 is specific to this vehicle, even though it uses many parts from the shared platform 1. The C2 has its own strong personality that sets it apart from the C3 and the C3 Pluriel. The front end is dynamic with strong curves. The rounded bonnet, large vertical headlamps and radiator grille built into the bumper underline its modern, robust character.
From a 3/4 front view, the curves of the wheel arches highlight its good on-road stance. Viewed from the side, the C2 breaks with habit to reveal its turbulent character, expressed primarily by the marked break in the body line between the side windows. This styling feature underlines the personality of the car and offers remarkable side vision for passengers at the rear. The sizing of the rear lights, the volume of the wheel arches and the deep-chinned bumper give the rear end an elegant, well-balanced appearance.
A VTR version with specific body parts conveys a particularly sporty image. It can be recognised by the additional painted parts on the lower part of the front bumper and by its sills. A spoiler positioned above the rear window completes the trim.
A bright and generous interior Daring to be different, the C2 innovates with a range of bright and original interior design schemes. The amber, blue, green or grey of the seat upholstery is matched by the trim on the front door panels. The translucent gear lever knob and interior handles add an original touch of colour. The single-colour dashboard sets off the brighter colours of the interior design schemes.
Modular design becomes child’s play The C2 features an ingenious design concept through which the rear part of the vehicle can be adapted to the needs of the moment. The two independent rear seats, controlled by a support strap, slide or fold “portfolio style” without any effort on the part of the user. The rear seats pivot and fold up against the back of the front seat at the press of a button. This unique system provides the basis for a wide range of configurations, enabling the C2 to carry three adults in the car while ensuring generous load space. Practical and easy to use, the rear seats can also be folded and removed from the boot.
A two-part tailgate to make the boot accessiblein all circumstances The C2 makes everyday life simpler. The original design of the two-part tailgate was designed to ensure easy and convenient access to the boot: - The upper tailgate, which is smaller, can be opened easily in a tight space. In situations frequently encountered in the city (car parked near a wall or bumper to bumper, for example), this design makes it possible to open and access the boot. This feature, identical to that of the C3 Pluriel, is new in this segment. The upper tailgate of the C2 is more than just a rear window that is designed to open. Opening the window also draws out the parcel shelf to offer complete access to boot space. The electrically controlled opening mechanism can be activated with a fingertip. The tailgate is light enough to be opened and closed easily.
- Opening the lower tailgate makes it possible to place heavy objects, to provide support for loading or to sit down (loads of up to 100 kg). Closing the tailgate makes it possible to use the entire height of the boot and thus to gain significantly greater loading space than with a conventional tailgate. It also features a neat closed stowage compartment with a capacity of 5 litres, which can be used to hold personal belongings or a vehicle tool kit. This compartment is accessible in both the open and closed position of the lower tailgate.
A range comprising three petrol engines and one diesel The range comprises three petrol engines and one diesel HDi engine. - The entry-level 1.1i engine develops 44.1 kW (61 bhp) at 5,500 rpm with torque of 94 Nm at 3,200 rpm. - The 1.4i engine develops 54 kW (75 bhp) at 5,400 rpm with torque of 118 Nm at 3,300 rpm. - The 1.6i 16V unit is the most powerful engine in the range, developing 80 kW (110 bhp) at 5,750 rpm with maximum torque of 147 Nm at 4,000 rpm. - The diesel offering comprises the 1.4 HDi engine developing 50 kW (70 bhp) at 4,000 rpm for torque of 150 Nm at 1,750 rpm. Particularly quiet and economical, this second-generation HDi common-rail engine also offers an excellent level of performance for an engine of this capacity.
The SensoDrive gearbox more widely available The market launch of the C2 is an opportunity to extend the use of the SensoDrive gearbox to the 1.4i engine, alongside the 1.6i 16V engine. The SensoDrive is a robotised manual gearbox with two modes of use: manual and automatic. The driver can choose either automatic, by a button on the central console, or manual, using the paddles behind the wheel or the manual gear lever.
Running gear, brakes, ABS, ESP… The running gear is similar to that of the C3, but it has been adapted to the new characteristics of the C2, including weight and aerodynamics. The C2 also offers a high level of active safety equipment including ABS with electronic brakeforce assistance, emergency braking assistance, automatic illumination of hazard warning lights, ESP and traction control. The driver can therefore undertake long journeys with complete peace of mind. The wheel size ranges between 14 and 16 inches, depending on the engine and the level of trim.
Variable-assistance electric power steering While maintaining easy handling in the city, the C2 is equipped with an electric power steering system that varies power continuously as a function of vehicle speed and guarantees a high level of driving pleasure on all types of road and at any speed. An electronic unit provides smooth and gradual control of the level of assistance. The power steering combined with the small turning circle (9.60 m between kerbs with 14-inch wheels), offers a level of driving pleasure that is truly exceptional for urban use.
Occupant protection Complementing the new platform, the C2 features a wide range of safety equipment including reinforcing bars in the doors, a steering column that retracts over 50 mm, four front and side airbags plus two curtain airbags (depending on the version).
Compact exterior dimensions and a spacious interior The exterior dimensions of the C2 position it squarely in the middle of the compact 3-door vehicle segment. Measuring 3.66 m in length and 1.66 m in width, the C2 is a tall car that stands 1.46 m high. As a result, it combines all the requirements of compact design with a bright and airy interior and the excellent interior space of the C3 at the front.
At the rear, the sliding seats make it possible to adapt passenger space and boot volume to the needs of the moment. Rounding out the range of features provided for comfort and driving pleasure, the C2 includes a function that automatically locks the doors and boot when the car is moving, as well as – depending on the versions – electronic parking assistance and power-folding rearview mirrors.