Citron introducing C4 BioFlex in Europe
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With favorable tax incentives for biofuel-powered vehicles popping up across Europe, European manufacturers are making moves to take advantage of them. Renault recently launched its BioEthanol Megane hatchback, and now Citroën has unveiled is entry, the C4 BioFlex, which will go on sale in France next month. When it arrives, the stylish 5-door will be priced identically to its gasoline-only stablemates and will benefit from the same trim levels, as well.
Since Citroën already sells flex-fuel vehicles in Brazil, it didn't have to go to great lengths to source the powerplant in the C4 BioFlex. The 1.6L engine is imported from the Ethanol-happy South American country and makes 110 horsepower and 112 lb-ft of torque when run on E85 compared to 107 HP/108 lb-ft on gasoline. Performance when driven on gasoline only is said to be no different than what's experienced in the C4 1.6i 16V petrol-engined car. As is the case with other flexible-fuel vehicles, the C4 BioFlex can be operated on any fuel blend containing up to 85% Ethanol. It does consume more fuel than the gas-only car (24 mpg vs. 33 mpg), but Citroën claims that it's ultimately cheaper to run because of the price difference between E85 and gasoline. Pricing has been set at €18,650 for the Pack trim, €20,000 for the Ambiance trim, and €22,140 for the Exclusive model.
[Source: Citroën]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Realisticism 4:46PM (8/20/2007)
A Prius knock-off with an uglier grill
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jb 5:04PM (8/20/2007)
Except it was introduced the very same year as the Prius...
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Barney 6:27PM (8/20/2007)
It wouldn't make a go in Canada. There are few, if any E 85 stations. Twenty four miles per gallon versus thirty three mles per gallon, is a big difference and it is assumed in Brazil that the cost savings is considerable.
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SPG 6:31PM (8/20/2007)
This car looks like it was styled by the Corolla team.
Not offensive, not interesting.
What happened to Citroen small car styling?
Better luck next time.
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Eduardo 7:02PM (8/20/2007)
Actually, I own a C3 1.6 16V, non-flex, and according to the brazilian magazines, the gasoline C3 (like mine) is 1,5s quicker in 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph), 10,1s against 11,5s, and 16 km/h (10 mph) 195 against 179 km/h faster than flexible version, this, according to the magazines, is caused by some differences in the setup of the ECU to work properly with the two fuels
Ah, and the costs; the ethanol here costs a third of the gasoline price, roughly 0,39 USD against 1,29 USD of gasoline (average cost per litre) so it is compensating, even considering its shorter range when fueled with ethanol only
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Barney 9:17AM (8/21/2007)
I can see the reason to run on ethanol with a 90¢ difference. The same with propane, where I live. Unfortunately the conversion to run on LPG is to expensive.
Eduardo 10:59AM (8/21/2007)
Here the LPG conversions, and therefore its consumption were rising from 2001 until 2003, when the "Flex fuel" program was launched by the actual government
back there, GM and VW were the "pioneers"
(note: quoted because the ethanol only powered cars were in the market since 1976, but backfired after a huge disagreement between the government and the producers led to sucessive rises in the ethanol prices in the early '90s, therefore the sales of the ethanol powered cars were shrunk almost to zero) then the other brands followed them, of course