What they said when the Citroen C8 was new… (Jan 15 2003)
CITROEN is aiming to entice business executives out of their luxury saloons and into it's new people-carrier, the Synergie-replacing C8.
Surprisingly for vehicles that are so obviously family-orientated, multi-purpose vehicles are apparently bought overwhelmingly as company purchases.
The vast majority are bought as company cars, and used as the main family vehicle, with the employee often using a cheaper, second vehicle to commute to and from work.
Citroen says that it is with this in mind that the all-new C8 is so highly specified, in an attempt to persuade business executives to choose it in preference to Jaguars and BMWs.
The C8 is the first of the new Citroen/Peugeot/Fiat trilogy of people-carrier clones, of which there is also a Lancia version elsewhere in Europe.
Citroen declines to give projected sales of the newcomer for this year, but is hoping for a significant increase over the Synergie's best year of 1,700 vehicles in the UK in 2001.
In addition to its attractive new styling, the company says there will definitely be no van version this time, in a further effort to enhance its image.
The Synergie, which spawned the Dispatch van, was always criticised for being too boxy and utilitarian for a people-carrier, and will continue as a van in its current guise.
The stylish new C8 aims to improve upon the Synergie in every conceivable way, with the emphasis particularly on safety and practicality.
It comes with a plethora of air bags - half a dozen in all - together with many electronic active and passive safety features, and has earned a 4-star Euro NCAP crash test rating.
Among the many firsts for an MPV are twin electrically-operated sliding rear side doors, automatic rain-sensitive windscreen wipers, automatic headlamp illumination with a guide-me-home function, and voice-activation for the telephone and stereo sound system.
There is even an automatic tyre pressure warning system.
The entry level version is the two-litre petrol model with LX trim at £18,295, and there is also a more powerful 2.2-litre version starting at £19,795. However, diesels are expected to outsell the petrol models by more than two to one, with engines of two-litres and 2.2-litres on offer.
The standard 2.0HDi 16V produces 109bhp and 199lb ft of torque, or pulling power, for a top speed of 108mph, a 0-62mph time of 13.5 seconds, and economy in the region of 40mg. It costs £19,795 in LX form, rising to £21,095 in SX guise.
The 2.2HDi produces 130bhp, and 232lb ft of torque, for a top speed of 113mph, a 0-62mph time of 12.5 seconds, and economy of 38mpg. It costs £22,295 in SX guise, rising to £24,595 for the Exclusive.
In their various forms the new C8s come with the option of five, six or seven seats, up to three large sunroofs, and full automatic climate control.
There are as many nooks and crannies, cubby holes, storage compartments, and innovative features as the designers have been able to cram in, including a useful panoramic rear view mirror that pulls down from the roof to give a clear view of youngsters in the back.
Versatility is the key to the new C8, which boasts a huge increase in carrying capacity over the Synergie, with a rearmost cargo space of 3,000 litres.
Great to look at, pleasant to drive, and extremely versatile, the C8 is a welcome addition to Citroen's expanding line-up, which will continue in a few weeks with the trend-setting new C3 Pluriel. Other newcomers will include an automatic version of the Picasso MPV, which also gets a new two-litre engine.
Last year was an all-time record for the company, with UK sales of more than 150,000 vehicles. With five per cent of the UK car market, Citroen is now the sixth best seller, and has 15 per cent of the total European market, with worldwide sales in excess of 1.3 million annually.
The new C8 should prove to be a significant boost to those figures, being arguably the new class leader, and a quantum leap over its Synergie predecessor.
Words: Steve Hughes
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