That starts with a choice of power source: petrol, diesel, or battery electric. Unlike some others, Citroën is hedging its bets and taking a single-model approach to energy alternatives. While we can imagine what the conventional engine choices will be – current models use either 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol or 1.5-litre diesel – it is less clear what the electric version, to be called ë-C4, will be like. Citroën is so far not giving us any tech details. The ë-C4 will be Citroën’s fifth electrified model to be announced in 2020.
The design is all Citroën and, says the company, marks the beginning of a new era of Citroën style. From these first pictures, it’s more than a hatchback but less than an SUV, which is a compromise likely to please many. Inside, Citroën is promising a high-ish seating position, lots of glass, plenty of space, high-tech features and an emphasis on the brand’s rediscovered attribute of old: comfort. Seats, “hydraulic cushion” suspension and all else in the firm’s Advanced Comfort programme will feature, along with a so-far undisclosed innovation for the front passenger.
Stylish, comfortable and innovative like a latterday GS half a century on? We’ll know more on 30th June, and then the new C4, including the electric version, should be in the showrooms later this year when it will replace the Cactus (that’s been spiked) with a likely wide range of models from around £20,000.