While the U.S. market is focused on the new super-sized Honda Accord and redesigned Chevrolet Malibu, the midsizer making news on the other side of the Atlantic is the new Citroen C5, the latest from the land of Monet, Napoleon, and the Eiffel Tower. Though best known in the U.S. for its success in the World Rally Championship and the strange 2CV, the second brand in the PSA Peugeot-Citroen umbrella sold some 1.4 million vehicles last year across the globe.
Departing somewhat from the love-it-or-hate-it design so characteristic of French automobiles, the C5 is a stylish sedan with a 111 inch wheelbase that nobody will accuse of looking like a late-model Saturn. Its 188.2 inches long, 73.2 inches wide, and 57.1 inches tall with a rounded front, slightly boxy rear and a sloping rear roof that should encourage those over six feet tall to get good at calling shotgun. In the eyes of some, the new C5 could qualify as one of those four-door coupes German automakers are scrambling to build. The wagon, while not as stylish, does not force rear passengers to bend forward and hug the front seats to avoid neck pain. It eschews the previous-generation model's vertical taillights in favor of horizontal ones that extend into the quarter panel to provide a continuous look to the side crease. It's an unconventional but effective touch that compensates for the wagon's extra size - its two inches longer and 1.2 inches taller than the sedan.
On the business end of things is a choice of seven engines -- three gasoline and four diesel. The two gasoline four-bangers (a 127-horse 1.8-liter and a 143-horse 2.0-liter) and a 215 horsepower 3.0-liter V-6 would all be considered underpowered by U.S. standards, but the 208 horsepower, 324 lb-ft 2.7-liter V-6 and 173 horsepower 273 lb-ft 2.2-liter inline-four HDi diesels should prove more than capable of moving the C5 at an ample clip. Those more interested in fuel economy can opt for the smaller 2.0-liter diesel with an output of 138 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque or the fuel-miserly 1.6-liter that makes 110 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Gearbox options have yet to be announced but will most likely include five- and six-speed manuals, four- and six-speed automatics and a six-speed sequential gearbox.
Stopping power comes in the form of front discs that range in size from 12.0 to 13.0 inches and rear discs sized 8.2 inches, all of which are equipped with ABS. The braking system is also fitted with electronic brake force assistance and emergency braking assistance systems to help avoid or minimize the damage of an accident.
The suspension is of a double wishbone front and multilink rear configuration that can be supplanted by Citroen's adjustable Hydractive 3 Plus setup which adjusts spring and damping rates to suit driver needs. Two modes -- sport and comfort -- are available.
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