Press Release
DRIVING PLEASURE AND PEACE OF MIND
The C-Crosser is a pleasure to drive with its vivacious, environmentally-friendly diesel engine, and boasts responsive, dynamic road manners. Always a Citroën strong point, the running gear of the C-Crosser provides an excellent trade-off between comfort and roadholding.
Peace of mind at the wheel also results from the vehicle’s all-wheel drive system and a full range of top-level safety functions.
A high-performance diesel engine that respects the environment
The C-Crosser will be available at launch with a new 160 bhp (115 kW or 156 bhp EEC) HDi diesel engine fitted with a particulate filter (DPFS) and mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.
With its 2.2-litre capacity, variable-geometry turbo, generous torque and DPFS, this engine is at once flexible, smooth and frugal, and respects the environment. It develops 156 bhp at 4,000 rpm and a full 380 Nm of torque at 2,000 rpm, while boasting fuel consumption of 7.3 l/100 km over a combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 194 g/km.
One of the new-generation HDi engines developed in partnership with Ford Motor Company, the engine is based on the 173 bhp HDi DPFS unit available on the C5 and C6. It benefits from a variable-geometry turbo and a new combustion chamber, the ECCS (Extreme Conventional Combustion System), which optimises the air/fuel mix, along with a third-generation common rail system, in which pressure is increased to 1,800 bars for finer fuel spray. This combination cuts pollutant emissions and fuel consumption while improving performance.
The engine also gets two balancer shafts that significantly limit vibrations and increase driving pleasure. Particular attention was also paid to soundproofing the engine compartment for a peaceful interior ambience.
Optimised running gear
The characteristics of Citroën’s first SUV are thoroughly up to brand standards following the considerable efforts made on the original vehicle to provide the C-Crosser with the best possible trade-off between ride comfort and roadholding.
The vehicle is fitted with MacPherson-type suspension at the front and multi-link axles combined with a large track and a 20 mm anti-roll bar at the back, for enhanced vehicle stability and active safety. The multi-link rear axle and its geometry provide excellent comfort by maintaining load height. The C-Crosser thus combines a top-flight ride with impeccable roadholding for segment-leading driving pleasure and handling.
This achievement is boosted by 18-inch wheels fitted with special 225/55 R18 Michelin tyres.
The centering, linearity and elasticity of the steering system have also been engineered to optimise comfort, whatever the road surface.
The C-Crosser features hydraulic variable-assistance power steering with a decreasing-flow pump, thus linking the system to engine speed.
To round out its road prowess, the C-Crosser has an aluminium roof weighing 5 kg less than a metal equivalent and lowering the centre of gravity by 4 mm.
High-performance brakes
The C-Crosser brakes were developed to respect Citroën standards on brake pedal feel in terms of bite, pedal pressure and efficiency.
The C-Crosser’s braking system features ventilated discs with twin-pot callipers at the front and discs at the rear, combined with ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD).
Standard equipment also includes the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which can be deactivated using a button on the fascia band to the left of the steering wheel. It is coupled with traction control to prevent skidding.
All-wheel drive for safe journeys
With the C-Crosser’s all-wheel drive system, drivers get to choose from three transmission settings, depending on road conditions and driving style: two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and lock mode, all of which are selected using a single control behind the gear lever.
Two-wheel drive: used on tarmac-surfaced roads, guaranteeing high grip (dry road). The vehicle has a front-wheel drive 2WD system, which cuts fuel consumption by reducing the number of parts in movement.
Four-wheel drive: this is the recommended setting as the torque split between front and rear axles is managed automatically. The front wheels turn more than the rear wheels. Torque is electronically distributed to the rear wheels by an electronic control unit (ECU) according to grip conditions, for optimal roadholding in all circumstances.
LOCK mode: recommended for reduced grip conditions (snow, sand or mud). In this setting, the ECU sends 1.5 times more torque to the rear wheels than in 4WD mode, increasing traction through a better front/rear balance.
This “on request” transmission system is managed by an ECU that automatically varies the torque split between the front and rear wheels for maximum traction. The ECU factors in information including:
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vehicle speed,
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steering angle,
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the difference in rotation speed between front and rear axle,
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the pressure on the accelerator pedal.
With this new-generation all-wheel drive system, the C-Crosser can run permanently in 4WD mode with optimal front/rear torque distribution, providing optimised roadholding in all driving conditions and thus maximum safety.
Top-level passive safety
Vehicle structure for passenger and pedestrian protection
Considerable effort was devoted to the structure of the C-Crosser in order to comply with the most stringent passive safety assessment standards.
The structure was reinforced using high-strength steel to limit deformation in the event of impact. The front side members were specially designed to absorb energy, as were the padding and the reinforcing beams in the doors, contributing to occupant protection in the event of side impact.
All these features give the C-Crosser’s structure the required stiffness for protecting occupants during highspeed impact and the flexibility necessary for absorbing lighter impact.
The structure of the C-Crosser’s front end was designed to ensure car-to-car “crash compatibility” in the event of collision with a conventional vehicle, thus offering efficient protection for C-Crosser passengers and reducing the risk of injury for occupants in other vehicles.
To limit the consequences of pedestrian impact, the C-Crosser is fitted with:
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boot and wings designed to crumple, with ample space between the panels and the internal structure to absorb impact,
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bumpers fitted with polyurethane foam that absorb energy in such a way as to reduce injury to the legs.
Six airbags fitted standard
The C-Crosser is fitted as standard with two front airbags (driver and passenger), two front side airbags and two front/rear curtain airbags.
The two front airbags are adaptive, with deployment pressure and volume correlated with the severity of the impact.
The passenger airbag can be deactivated using the ignition key, in order to install a child seat at the front. An indicator on the instrument cluster informs the driver that the airbag has been deactivated.
Efficient restraint systems
All the seats in the C-Crosser (5+2) are fitted with safety belts with three anchor points. Driver and front passenger belts also feature pyrotechnic pretensioners and load limiters, to reduce pressure on the chest in the event of impact.
If front passengers are not buckled up or safety belts are unfastened in row two during the journey, an alarm is signalled and a message appears on the instrument cluster.
Finally, Isofix anchor points are available for fixing child seats to the side seats in row two.
