En avant Citroen

PITSTOP

Citroen has unveiled a car (or two) to take on the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Opel Astra and fellow French car maker Peugeot's 307. It's the new C4, the Xsara's replacement, first shown as a rally concept at the Geneva Motor Show this March.

To be seen officially at the forthcoming Paris Salon, the C4 is two cars in one, or rather one car in two. Or is it the other way around? Never mind.

Like the Fiat Stilo, which came in two different versions "� a three-door coupe format and a five-door hatchback "� the C4 will also be available in two quite diverse personalities. The saloon is rounded while the coupe looks sharp.

The C4's face, which has been seen in many concept cars for a long time, is now making its first production appearance. Inside, the C4 gets a unique fixed steering wheel boss which holds a lot of functions, plus ambient lighting and a high tech instrument display.

And it also comes loaded with a host of expensive safety features, including a lane departure warning system, xenon dual-function directional headlamps, speed limiter and low tyre-pressure warning system. The C4 will have most of Citroen's powertrain line-up to choose from.

Five petrol engines, ranging from 1400cc to 2000cc and developing between 90 and 180 bhp and three new-generation HDi diesels with outputs from 92 to 138 bhp will be available from launch.

Citroen will also be developing an estate, an SUV-like hybrid and a replacement for the Xsara Picasso MPV from the C4 platform in the future, while Peugeot is also eyeing it to develop a replacement for the 307.

Designs on you

General Motors India have launched a special Design Edition version of the Chevrolet Optra. Based on the Optra 1.8 LT, the Optra Design Edition will be available only in Shimmering Black and Meadow Gold, and is distinguished by a chrome-finished front grille, xenon 'effect' headlamps, 15-inch alloy wheels with wider 195/55 R15 rubber and wood finish inserts on the central console and on the steering wheel.

Besides, it comes with two in-car entertainment systems "� a dash-mounted 5-CD changer and a DVD player with a 7-inch roof-mounted screen plus a remote control and two cordless headphones. Only 150 units of this limited edition Optra are on sale and its ex-showroom Delhi price is Rs 10,49,566.