Citroen is a French manufacturer formed in 1919 by Andre Citroen. Since 1976 it has been part of the PSA Peugeot Citroen group. The company has a reputation for quirky design and innovation, for example the DS with its revolutionary hydraulic suspension, and the lightweight 2CV, a favourite of hippies throughout the 1960’s. The 2CV was actually in production for 42 years, from 1948 until 1990, during which some 3.8 million units of the thing were produced. It has been described as one of the most influential cars of all time, in the same league as the Ford Model T and VW Beetle.
In fact, many of the car characteristics we think are recent innovations were already in production Citroens in the 1950’s. Examples are semi-automatic transmissions, power steering, disc brakes, directional headlights and of course the DS’s legendary hydraulic suspension. Even today some Citroens are available with features normally associated with the executive and supercar classes, like head-up displays, xenon directional lights, lane departure warning and a rear spoiler that changes angle according to speed and braking effort, a la Bugatti Veyron.
Current models are more mainstream, though they still harbour a few unusual features like the C6’s curved rear window, showing that the company still hasn’t lost its quirky nature. In New Zealand, you can get your hands on the following cars: the Berlingo, a small van used mainly for light transport; you can also buy the C4- a midsize hatchback famous for its dancing-Transformer TV advert. The C4 Picasso is the small-minivan brother to the mainstream C4 (they are built on the same platform for cost-saving purposes). Then comes the C5, a good-looking midsize sedan, and the C6, a large executive fastback with a one-of-a-kind, inward-curving rear window.
Looking at buying a Citroen? Check the vehicle history of any Citroen by entering its number plate in the field above.