Citroën chose the Paris Motor Show today to roll out its updated C5 sedan and estate (Tourer) models. The French firm's VW Passat rival has been refreshed for the 2011 model year with some modest styling changes and technology upgrades.Since the C5 has only been out since early 2008, the cosmetic updates were kept to a minimum and concern the front headlamps that gain a strip of LEDs and the revised tail lamps that receive a new "Dark Crystal" treatment with clear glass in the central section.
There are more important changes under the hood with the introduction of a new e-HDi engine and a new generation 2.2-liter turbo diesel unit.
The e-HDi marries a 110HP four-cylinder diesel to Citroën's 'micro hybrid technology' featuring a stop-start system and a smart alternator able to recover energy during braking. This model also gets an EGS6 electronic gearbox system with steering-wheel paddles and low rolling resistance tires. According to the French automaker, the C5 e-HDi returns a combined fuel economy figure of 4.6 lt/100km (51.2 mpg US) and emits 120 g/km of CO2.
The second new engine in the range is a 2.2-liter turbo diesel producing 200-horsepower and a maximum torque of 450 Nm. Mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, this engine offers the C5 a top speed of 230 km/h (225 km/h for the Tourer), a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 8.3 seconds (Tourer: 8.6) and a combined cycle fuel consumption of 5.9 lt/100 km or 39.9 mpg US (Tourer: 6.1lt/100km). The saloon emits 155 g/km of CO2 and the Tourer 159 g/km.
Citroën said the new C5 model range will go on sale across Europe in the fourth quarter of the year.
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