What they said when the Citroen C2 was new… (Sep 23 2003)
THE WORD on the streets is that Citroen's new baby is a cool piece of metal.
That was the verdict from more than 2,000 young car enthusiasts when they were given a sneak preview of the Citroen C2.
At a monthly gathering of Max Power fans at the Ace Café in London, the same people who have turned the Citroen Saxo VTR into an icon of trendy motoring gave the thumbs up to its successor.
Citroen is unashamedly aiming the C2 at the young - or young at heart - motorist who wants a car that is as much a fashion item as a means of getting around.
Wild colour schemes, plenty of technology and competitive pricing will appeal overwhelmingly to a 20-something audience.
In true Citroen fashion where a cashback deal or similar incentive has become the norm, the basic C2 is available at £6,995 for the rest of the month - and that's £500 off its list price.
More expensive sporty versions - the top range C2 VTR is £10,995 - are being offered with a year's free insurance.
But this is a car that does not need value added lures to make it succeed. Around a quarter of a million Saxos were sold in the UK and the C2 has all the credentials to follow the same route.
In every department the C2 has something to shout about. From the basic 1.1 litre C2L with the lowest possible insurance grouping of one - and only the Fiat Seicento can match that - to the near 70mpg performance of the 1.4 litre diesel models there is a lot of sense to the C2.
All versions - the line up features 1.1, 1.4 and 1.6 litre petrol as well as the 1.4 HDi diesel - have super, nippy handling and not one fails to average less than almost 45 miles per gallon.
The diesel - the same engine as is already used in the Citroen C3 and the Ford Fiesta - is also ultra-green with a C02 rating of 108g/km and that has plenty of tax advantages. Even the petrol models score and qualify for mid-range tax discounts for private buyers.
For a small car that won't break the bank there are some wonderful features available on the C2.
Snazzy interior trims featuring vibrant colours with matching translucent door handles and gear levers are an absolutely original touch. The three door C2 is based on the platform of the larger C3 - the fastest selling Citroen to date - and it shares the same dashboard which includes a digital speedo and swivelling eye-ball vents.
Manual gearboxes are fitted to the 1.1 litre and diesel versions but the bigger petrol engined C2s come only with Citroen's Sensodrive semi-automatic gearbox.
This takes some getting used to, but the "Playstation generation" at which the C2 is aimed, like such innovations and so this is another plus point on the "trendometer".
The same is true of the onboard computer, remote control central locking and the four airbags which all come as standard throughout the C2 range. Even the older generation will be impressed by some of the C2's practical features.
A split tailgate makes for easy loading and the top section is designed to open when the car is almost parked directly up against a wall.
The rear seat can slide back and forth and can also be adjusted for rake. That makes for plenty of leg room in the back or extra room in the boot, whichever is needed.
As a minimum there is six cubic feet of cargo space and a maximum of eight - but fold down the rear seats and the C2 can accommodate almost four times that.
It is only a four seater, but such is the design with a high roof line there is a substantial amount of room in the rear, especially at the side of the passengers where each has their own storage areas as well as a surprising amount of shoulder space.
Large rear windows also let in plenty of light.
To cater for those who want sporty looks without the penalty of higher insurance there is the C2 Furio.
This looks the same as the hotter C2 VTR, but comes only with a 1.4 litre engine - as opposed to the 16 valve 1.6 litre which keeps alive the "serious fun" reputation demanded by the VTR clan. The real benefit is group three insurance as opposed to group six for the VTR.
However that is lower than the group seven rating of the outgoing Saxo VTR and that is what the new C2 is all about - low cost motoring with bags of style.
The supermini market is booming in Britain at the moment and the C2 is good enough to set it alight. It may only be the size of a Ford Ka but it's as classy as any limo.
Words: Chris Russon
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