Citroen - A A Feat By Itself

Selecting from the range of Citroen contract hire cars

One of the latest in the current range of Citroen cars is the C1 which is a highly economical and practical city car designed for the urban parking and traffic. Although being very compact the C1 still manages to offer ample of interior space for luggage and passengers as it efficiently utilizes the adaptable folding rear seats. You also have the choice of three doors and five door versions available for this 1.4 DHi or 1.0i diesel small but excellent vehicle.

Citroen C2 Contract Hire

As you move up the range of Citroen cars you will come across the C2 car which is practical yet a specious sporty car that is well suitable for cross country and city driving. There are a number of great features included in the car that include split tailgate, two diesel HDi engine or three gas engines to choose from including the high performance 1.6i 16V, 125 hp.

Citroen C3 Contract Hire

When you move ahead the next Citroen option is the C3 which is five doors elegant and spacious Citroen C3 car that offers a lot of driving fun and pleasure. The Citroen C3 also characterizes the French flair for its elegant and sleek styling that is cleverly combined with perfect high tech features. These high tech features includes SensoDrive transmission which utilizes the latest and contemporary in fuel saving start stop technology in order to help save the planet although saving your petrol expense.

Citroen C4 Contract Hire

Citroen was a brainchild of Andre Citroen. He converted the munition factory at Quai de Javel in Paris into a car factory in 1919. This factory was actually owned by him, where he used to produce armaments for France during the First World War. He wanted to put his factory, which was not producing anything after the war, to some good use. Andre was inspired to get into car manufacturing after being influenced by the industrial model developed by Henry Ford in America.

Andre Citroen had quite a few unique views. He thought about how a car could reach the common man. So he always wanted the cars to be produced in large numbers, hence reducing the costs and thus making them within the reach of the layman. But do not be mistaken, as his idea was to not only produce cars in hoards but to also maintain their quality and standard. With this goal in sight he started manufacturing the first car. The first car made was the Type A model. It was the first of its kind in Europe which was mass-produced, low cost, and yet very well equipped It is known to be the first French car with a left-hand drive. The logo of this company is the Òdouble chevronÓ, for this too, Andre Citroen drew inspiration from his earlier business of gear cutting. The business included mass production of double helically cut gear teeth, which meshed together to form a chevron!

Andre Citroen was also a very good and concerned employer too. He realized that if his cars were to be the best then his employees too would have to be the best. And this required that they stayed in good health mentally and financially. He, in fact, raised the bar of employee facilities at his factory because he cared for them. Facilities like a dental surgery, a sick bay and even a cr�che!

After the first car was made, Citroen suffered huge financial losses as it was sold at very low costs while at the same time its competitors were quickly getting newer cars into the market. Another reason for the losses suffered by Citroen was the innovation of the ÔTraction AvantÕ in 1934. It was the first mass produced front wheel drive car. Many automobile companies had ventured into this area but had failed due to several constraints. But Citroen emerged successful, only to be let down later on. As, though the traction was bold and beautiful, its production took a toll on the companies finances and the company was left to face the financial crunch.

Citroen did emerge from the losses for some time, but only to be hit once again, and reached an all time low in 1977. This was due to the weakening of the automobile market after the oil crisis in 1943. Around 1977 bankruptcy had hit Citroen. In the interest of the economy and the workers involved, the government of France initiated talks between Citroen and Peugeot. Thanks to these initiatives Peugeot bought 38% of Citroen and started making all the significant and crucial decisions for Citroen. In 1976 Peugeot went ahead and bought 90% stakes in Citroen. The company from then on, came to be called the PSA Peugeot Citroen. This company too had its share of ups and downs but emerged quickly from them and today is doing extremely well for itself.

All The cars produced by Citroen are renowned as practical and reliable.

The various popular models of this car are C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C3 Pluriel, C4 Picasso, and Berlingo.

Let us acquaint ourselves with them one by one. The C2 was meant as a replacement for the Citroen Saxo. It is a supermini and comes in a 3-door hatchback version. The C3 was also meant to be a replacement for the Citroen Saxo and is a supemini too. It comes in a 2-door convertible or 5-door hatchback version. The C4 was a replacement for the CitroenÕs Xsara Picasso and has 3-door or 5-door hatchback options. The C5 is a huge family car. It comes in 5-door liftback or 5- door station wagon versions and was developed by the PSA group. The C6 is an executive car and was a replacement for the Citroen XM. Its bonnet has a special design and purpose-it pops up if a pedestrian or an animal is accidentally hit. It is an average size luxury car. The C3 Pluriel is one of the most innovative models made by Citroen. It is a convertible and another very practical car from Citroen. C4 Picasso is a five-seater hatchback model and again is an ideal family car. The Berlingo was meant as a replacement for the C15 and is a panel van.

Every model of the Citroen is a feat in itself and is highly original. For those who do not like their vehicle to be like every other car on the road, then perhaps a Citroen could be the right choice for them.

By Lance Dixon.

Visit the Blog about citroen bx

Pimp My 4x4! But Start With The Tyres!

Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4x4 is a term used to describe a four-wheeled vehicle with a drive train that allows all four wheels to receive power from the engine simultaneously. The term has traditionally been linked to sports utility vehicles, or SUVs, which have been very popular in the United States, and are now becoming popular across Europe. The benefit of a car with four-wheel drive is that it allows for normal two-wheel drive on normal roads and superior four-wheel mode for low traction conditions such as snow, ice, slippery surfaces, mud or loose gravel.

In response to criticism by civic groups against using larger SUVs for daily urban trips, car manufacturers are now trying to position the smaller versions as green vehicles, with levels of CO2 emissions much closer to their conventional car equivalents than larger models. For example, Citroen recently launched the C-Crosser, only available with a particulate filter and frugal diesel engines.

These newer models are likely to be popular in Europe, where smaller SUVs have been more successful than larger models, and are likely to be a bigger driving force for sales of 4WD vehicles in the near future. Other examples include the Nissan Qashqai and the Renault Koleos, both combining four-by-four drive and limited off-road capabilities with the handling of a passenger car.

J.D. Power Automotive Forecasting estimated SUVs comprise 1.5 million out of 18.3 million vehicles, or 8% of the car market, in Europe in 2007. Of this quotient, 0.6% are small SUVs, 2.4% are large ones and 5.3% are medium-sized. By 2010, the SUV segment is estimated to grow to 10.1%, with medium growing to 7% and large slipping to 2.2%. By 2014, the SUV market is expected to increase to 11.2%, with medium-sized cars responsible for 7.6% and large cars for 2%. The total European new car market is then expected to be 21.9 million vehicles.

This is of course good news for car workshops. In recent years, TV shows such as MTVÕs Pimp My Ride, have increased the popularity of overhauling, or, if you will, customising cars with things like game consoles, chrome wheels and faster engines. But before 4x4 owners go off trying to similarly overhaul their own vehicles, it might be best to invest in a new set of 4x4 tyres.

Donald Cheach, editor of Top Gear Malaysia, recently told the Malaysia Star: ÒThe first thing I would recommend is definitely a set of better tyres. There is nothing wrong with go-fast upgrades as long as there is an equal effort to improve the safety aspect of the vehicle. The wheels represent the unsprung weight of the vehicle. Generally, the lighter this is, the more efficient the performance. Suspension should be looked at next, followed by engine upgradesÓ.

Ultimately, those looking to buy a new SUV in order to take advantage of its 4x4 capabilities, yet stay environmentally conscious, will find their needs well-met by upcoming medium and small sized SUVs, should they decide to pimp them or not.

By Andrew Regan.