Citroën celebrates 85 years in Australia
June 6, 2008 by George Skentzos
Citroën is celebrating an unwavering 85 years of service to the Australian market with a range of special edition models, starting with the C4.
The French car maker has played an unsung role in Australian automotive history with the longest continuous presence on the local market of any brand.
It is for this reason, a Citroën is one of only two cars in the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.
“Citroën’s place in the National Museum of Australia is just as well deserved as Vegemite and the Violet Crumble Bar, the other iconic names that appeared in the same year as Citroën’s Australian debut,” says Miles Williams, General Manager for Citroën in Australia. “Citroën has played a unique roll in Australian history, in opening up the country and paving the way for thousands of other cars to follow.”
The Citroën C4 85th Anniversary model is based on the C4 HDi EGS and adds $4,000 worth of extras including Bluetooth, a CD stacker, 16-inch alloy wheels and dual zone climate control all for $31,900.
It is powered by an ultra-efficient 1.6-litre 80kW turbo diesel engine mated to Citroën’s EGS gearbox returning fuel economy of just 4.5 l/100 km combined cycle, while on the open road it sips just 3.9 l/100 km.
The first Citroën ever to arrive in Australia was a 5CV and already had 48,000kms on the clock. It was bought by 22 year old Neville Westwood who used it to become the first person to complete an automotive circumnavigation of Australia.
The 5CV stayed with the family until 2005 when the National Museum acquired it and completed a full restoration so it could displayed at Australia’s leading Museum of the Nation’s history.
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Even though I ended up buying an i30 (due to the price difference), I have to admit that the C4 is a gorgeous looking car! If only I’d got part of the 58 million last night hehe i’d be in placing my order right now!
wow overpriced fugly eurocrap. BUT very safe and efficient….. surprising to know they are australias longest continuous selling brand with their tiny sales volumes (hmmmm anti spam word Citroen)
^How is the C4 fugly!?
I’m on the side of beauty. That’s 3 out of 4, Tj.
Me to Tj – its a great car. French cars have flair that no-one else seems to be confident enough to pull off.
I might say what a crap photo CA. Who took it? They clearly do not know much about photography. Just look at whats poking around behind the C4.
85 years to many…
you get what you pay for Tj, euro cars cost more cause they are better than there rivals.
Tj, what a bunch of overopinionated uninformed crap you’re spouting.
Long Live Citroen, the true innovator in the automotive industry.
Foogy:”true Innovators”? Cough, cough… Bullsh!t!!
Don’t get me wrong, I reckon it’s good that the citroen and renault range looks different… But I my opinion, I can’t say they look good…
But can’t say all french designed cars look bad, My previous Jeep Cherokee XJ, and my Current LC120 Prado were both designed in French design studios!1 :-)
I think “true innovator” is not an unreasonable accolade for Citroen. Hydropneumatic suspension, self-leveling and adaptive headlights, self-centering zero-camber steering, speed-sensitive steering, rain-sensitive wipers. There would be few manufacturers that could claim more innovations that are still appearing on current cars.
The C4 is gorgeous. You either get it or you don’t.
Well done Citroen.
ALWAYS points to the DS, a car so advanced it should have been voted COTC not the Model T which only won due to branch-stacking” by the US pollsters.
The DS was at least a DECADE more advanced that anything before it, NOBODY has ever been able to emulate that feat.
Cheers
F-0
Well done to Citroen.
Not many car manufacturers can say the same, and being so small and insignificant on this continent makes it all the more sweeter.
The DS was ahead of its time. I think most Cits are. The people who dismiss it because of it’s avantgarde looks haven’t driven a Citroen.
I like my cars with character and style. I like it when I am in something unique or rare. This car fits that bill.
It’s just a shame the timing was bad when I was ready to buy and I ended up with my awesome FIAT Punto. Which I think is more fun than the C4, but the C4 is comfy.
SteveC
Brought a C2 two years ago and from the first day have had major problems every week there is a new problem and now I was told to take the car home after a week of it being in the service department because they don’t know how to fix the problem. citroen australia just don’t want to deal with the lemon which they sold me they suggested to take the car off my hands by giving me a new car but listen to this they want me to pay them an extra $7500 to exchange the car, what for, they sold me the lemon I don’t want a trade in I just want a car with no problems
Dont forget the anti-dive front end under braking. Several tow car of the year awards. Also front wheel drive invented by Andre Citroen. Come on pay homage. I have had two DS’S two CX’s a GS estate, 2CV, AX, BX GtI, Saxo and currently a 1.6 SX auto C4. I have done the Citroen experience. Rgds. a Pom.