Review of the new Citroen C5 - Technology Focus

It's no secret that there's a lot going on beneath the skin of the modern motorcar. A mind-boggling array of electrical and mechanical systems serve to get us from A to B with the ease and luxury to which we've grown accustomed. Much of the time, we don't even know most of the technology is there but that's exactly how it should be. Citroen's C5 is a prime example of an everyday family car than can be ordered with a vast catalogue of kit. So just how clever a car could you get with the C5 options list and an unlimited budget?

From the outside, the C5 looks a handsome but otherwise unremarkable family car and it basically is. Citroen goes a little further than many of its rivals to incorporate high tech features into its vehicles but most of the stuff on the C5 can also be obtained on a number of other models from other manufacturers. That doesn't mean that you won't be surprised to learn just how much is possible.

One area where Citroen really does stand out from the crown in the medium range family car market is in offering its Hydractive 3 Plus self-levelling suspension. This set up is offered on the higher specification models and helps produce an extremely smooth ride by adapting automatically according to the road surface and driving conditions.

The engines too are highly advanced, particularly on the diesel side where Citroen has been strong down the years. The HDi diesel engines use the latest common-rail fuel injection architecture to deliver highly pressured injections of atomised fuel into the combustion chamber at precisely controlled intervals. This optimises the fuel and air mixture in the cylinder for the most efficient and cleanest combustion. Performance is improved and emissions are reduced as the engine adapts the combustion process according to the driver's inputs.

"There's massive scope to make your next car more efficient, safe and user-friendly"

To further reduce emissions from the C5's diesel engines, the car is fitted with a particulate filter system that traps harmful particulate matter before it exits through the exhaust. This can then be burned off at intervals to refresh the filter. The technology in the C5's diesel engines allows them to return some of the sector's best economy and emissions figures with the entry-level 1.6 HDi diesel managing over 50mpg on the combined cycle with 149g/km of CO2.

Not getting lost is a great way of reducing fuel consumption and the C5 has that base covered. Citroen has developed the NaviDrive integrated satellite navigation and entertainment system for fitment to the top spec models or as an option. In incorporates a 7" colour display screen and a 10Gb hard drive to store information for the satellite navigation system as well as music files. There's also a built-in telephone system with Bluetooth technology. The satellite navigation system itself is capable of downloading the latest traffic information while on the move so that drivers can adjust their routes to avoid congestion in real time.

It seems that the good old handbrake might be one its way in modern cars out but it isn't just executive models that are replacing the traditional leaver with an automatic system. The majority of Citroen C5 models have an electronic parking brake which applies the hand-brake system at the touch of a button. Combined with it is a Hill-Start Assist function that engages when the vehicle is on a slope of more than three degrees. It holds the car in position when the footbrake is released, giving the driver time to apply the accelerator without the car rolling backwards.

The C5's cruise control system has a speed limiter function built in which drivers can set to prevent them exceeding a certain speed. This can be extremely handy on a long motorway journey where it's easy to creep above the speed limit and the C5 has another feature designed to improve safety in such situations. Lane Departure Warning System is a device that warns the driver if they wander out of their lane. It's designed to combat drowsiness and inattention on the motorway and will vibrate the side of the driver's seat to warn them if they cross a white line without indicating first.

The C5 can offer further assistance with the dreaded parallel parking manoeuvre. The Parking Space Measurement system uses ultrasonic sensors to measure whether a parking space at the side of the road is big enough to accommodate the vehicle. Once activated and when a large enough space is found, it emits a bleep and gives a visual display indicating how difficult it would be to get the C5 in there. Then it uses the front and rear parking sensors to assist further in the parking exercise.

At night, the C5 can enhance visibility with the aid of its directional headlamps. Citroen was the first manufacture to offer this technology way back in 1965 but it's only now that the systems are being made widely available. The headlights actually swivel with the motion of the steering wheel to illuminate the apex of corners and any objects that are in its path more clearly.

These are just some of the advanced systems that can be installed on the Citroen C5 and many other modern vehicles. There's massive scope to make your next car more efficient, safe and user-friendly with technology like this and more and more car buyers are taking the plunge. It's hard to say what other gadgets might be available in the future but it's more than likely that Citroen will be at the forefront of the development work, just as it has been up till now.

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Citroen C5 1.6 HDI 16V VTR+ Nav 4dr Diesel Saloon
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