2013 Citroën C-Elysée

The C-Elysée is a car designed so intelligently. It is intended for emerging markets (Russia, Eastern Europe, Turkey, North Africa and China in particular) where the bodies of three bodies are prized but where the purchasing power of the average clientele obligation to offer cars at reasonable prices.

And this is precisely what is the C-Elysée, a car designed to be cheap but without affecting the quality of manufacture and with a body of three volumes ensuring habitability striking back, with much legroom, and a trunk of 500 liters.

The C-Elysée is manufactured exclusively for worldwide plant in Vigo, in Galicia, in mid-2013 will also start to manufacture in China, and it has decided to offer Citroën also in Spain where although the bodies three volumes are not overly appreciated, the brand has sold 3,900 units in a full year by appealing to the characteristics of anti-crisis car model.

To do this, Citroën launched a range composed of three engines, two petrol and one diesel, and two finishes closed without metallic paint options. Prices, which start at 13,650 euros (11,650 if you include Pive Plan) are competitive and the car becomes, thus, an economic alternative to the C-segment sedan and the first direct rival of the new Seat Toledo.

We are in crisis, the crisis demands solutions and Citroën C-Elysée is a solution to the crisis. Spain has used Citroën car that is manufactured in Vigo and the entry into force of Pive Plan to anticipate the launch of this new model, tentatively scheduled for the first quarter of 2013 but has already been offered for sale. The C-Elysée is a car designed to be cheap. Its design and development have been raised with an eye on emerging markets and, therefore, have been adapted to meet the tastes of customers in these countries and robustness requirements of roads posed Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish, Chinese or North Africans, most degraded all that we enjoy in our country. Citroën It therefore is not a car that should break the mold in the Spanish market price but its content, its great roominess, a trunk more than generous and reliability that, on paper, seems bombproof, one could be in store niche in a market generally unreceptive to the saloons of three medium-sized volumes. The approach of the C-Elysée is very interesting from a conceptual standpoint. No car is a low cost but a car designed to be inexpensive to manufacture. For this reason we have chosen a single-frame B-segment platform PSA using the C3 and Peugeot 208 - a high-volume engine production, including the new 3-cylinder 1.2 petrol and diesel HDi 92 hp , and a proper finish that mixes simple pieces with no frills equipment.

To get a cheap car manufacturing, we turn to a simple chassis and amortized. It is what has made the Citroën C-Elysée, a car that despite its generous exterior dimensions (4.44 meters long by 1.74 wide), derived from the Citroen C3. Like the latter, has a rear suspension and torsion beam rear drum brake, simple solutions but no less effective. This solution is similar to that used by Skoda Rapid development and his twin brother, the Seat Toledo, both conducted on the Fabia platform Ibiza. Therefore, the C-Elysée is a saloon segment B, however, length, housing and boot can smoothly cope tri-saloon car body segment derived above a clearly more competitive price. The engine range is known. This is common in other mechanical models of the brand and therefore have required no new developments. In paragraph two petrol engines are available, the new 3-cylinder VTi of 72 hp (same 82 hp unit reporting in Peugeot 208 and Citroen C3 lowered to run lower quality gasolines in their target markets) and a 1.6 of 115 hp. The three-cylinder consumes 5.2 liters per 100 but did not get to try it in the presentation in Barcelona. The 1.6, on the other hand, we did drive it. Spend 6.4 liters, which will be readily between 7.5 and 8 car loaded and its performance is not very satisfactory, especially compared to the smooth ride of diesel, however, is 1,300 euros more expensive. In most cases, however, compensate for the difference. The gasoline engine is a typical low displacement naturally aspirated multivalve and, as such, has no low. Up to 3,500 laps is very lazy and, above this regime, spends a lot and still sounds. In addition, the gearbox, 5 gears only, does not improve the picture.

The 1.6 HDi 92 hp is the perfect engine for this car so much> / no> Citroën Spain that provided that 80% of the units registered in Spain will have this engine. It is the latest evolution of the same (not e-HDi and therefore lacks the Stop / Start system) but spends very little and has a remarkable push. The diesel is the C-Elysée more dynamic range and far more logical option for its consumer-benefit ratio. Too bad neither in this case does not involve a six-speed. A cost issue. I tried the C-Elysée in a varied course, by highway, twisty roads and city and the result fully convinced me. Considering that this is a car with a versatile chassis segment B, its dynamic behavior is fairly good, something that also happens in what will be his main rival, the Seat Toledo. Citroën has reinforced the chassis, suspension has chosen a firm and kept the trains rolling full view of the countries where they sell and the type of roads that circulate. Citroën, for example, has designed very robust fender (with screws instead of staples) and has tested the car in extreme environments, both cold and heat. The car has also doubles rubbers on doors and hoods to keep out dust and air conditioning equipment and air-conditioning vary depending on the destination country. Therefore we can say that the C-Elysée car must be a robust and reliable, with proven engines and a chassis designed for bad roads. At the wheel is perceived that feeling of robustness. Management has just assistance, braking is modulated easily-no need to distrust the rear drums as well-brakes and suspension absorbs uneven ground with ease. It also has a firm footing and although a clearly understeering car, is very noble in all types of floors. Only highway seemed louder than I could expect even more aerodynamic noise generated by rolling.

The interior is distinguished by its quality of manufacture, which offers great livability, especially in the rear seats, but poor quality materials, sturdy feel and a design that prioritizes cost savings. The dashboard, for example, is one piece and has ornaments glued on that unique piece to give it a more luxurious. The added elements (radio and air conditioning) vary depending on grade but occupy the same space and the instrumentation is simple. The steering, meanwhile, has the flat bottom (poor constumbre), the shutters are also a single piece of plastic and the controls are badly placed, with the very hidden mirrors and windows in the center console instead of in the door. Not many holes to allow the objects but there, especially the glove are large. Best of car is rear habitability. The space between rows is huge result of increased wheelbase (2.65 meters compared to 2.48 of the original chassis) that affects exclusively in this section. Three people can fit in the back with little difficulty thanks to the form of sidewalk and back, not in excess mark the outer seats and the width of the car, right to be a derivative of C3. Also, the trunk is very large with 506 liters in a very regular space and covered with a carpet of not very good quality. In addition, the straps and bulky gate bother loading large bundles. The strange thing is that declares Peugeot 640 liters at 301, the twin brother of the Citroën that will not sell in Spain but it is manufactured in the same line of Vigo also for emerging countries, in this case with those of Latin America including . At first glance, I must admit I do not know how Peugeot has managed almost 140 liters more.

This Citroën is a three-body saloon ideal for those looking for a car but resultón simple approach, with a good diesel engine that spends too little-of gasoline is best forgotten, and with a correct value. The car is designed for markets where roads and, above all, tastes are different from ours, but that does not mean that there are people in Spain that a car of this type will fit perfectly. The equipment is not extensive but everything essential (radio CD, air conditioning, front and side airbags, ESP, power windows, ...) is available from the first of two trim levels and prices are interesting, especially if we take the 2,000 euros Pive Plan. And finally, is a car that goes very well, it conveys a remarkable sense of robustness and has simply presented a satisfactory build quality. The formula for making a car apparent habitable, comfortable and cheap designed for families of four people who do not have a big budget is very smart, especially in these times.