New Citroen Grand C4 Picasso: First Official Details

The new Citroen Grand C4 Picasso is officially out in the open. The use of the EMP2 architecture means that the seven-seater is up to 110 kg lighter than before, and although it is just as long as the previous car at 4.59 metres, the wheelbase has been extended to 2.84 metres.

The engine bay and floor are respectively 50 mm and 20 mm lower, and the tracks are wider by 82 mm at the front and 31 mm at the back, resulting in more room inside – there’s 217 mm of knee room in the second row; 108 mm in the third row. Boot volume is 645 litres with the third row folded, and more than 700 litres with both second and third rows folded.

Apart from being larger, as our spyshots have depicted, the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso differs from the C4 Picasso in its front bumper, boomerang-shaped 3D-effect LED tail lamps and roof rails that flow into the D-pillar. 16- to 18-inch alloys can be specified.

Citroen says the interior is loft-inspired, with 5.7 square metres of glass area (0.4 square metres more than the C4 Picasso) and a panoramic windscreen contributing to the airiness of the cabin. There’s also LED lighting in the headlining, cubbyholes, tray tables, and inside door handles. A glass roof is available as an optional extra.

Other notable elements inside include the asymmetric dashboard with satin chrome and gloss inserts, individual second-row seats and third-row air vents. The Lounge Pack (front massage seats, ‘Relax’ seat and headrests) offered on the C4 Picasso can also be ordered here.

A seven-inch touchpad controls the dual-zone climate control, navigation and audio, amongst others, while a 12-inch panoramic HD screen displays essential driving information.

Safety features include radar-guided active cruise control, 360 VISION camera, an anti-collision warning system, active seatbelts, Lane Departure Warning and Blind Spot Monitoring, while keyless entry and start, a motorised tailgate and reverse camera sit amongst the other features on the menu.

Like the C4 Picasso, confirmed powerplants include a new and very green Euro 6-compliant 1.6 litre BlueHDi 150, 1.6 litre e-HDi 115 and 1.4 litre e-HDi 90 Airdream. The diesels come with stop-start as standard.

The petrol line-up (yet to be made official) should include 1.6 litre VTi 120, 1.4 VTi 95 and 1.6 THP 155 units, while reports say there could be a HYbrid4 version as well.

Three gearboxes are offered – six-speed manual, six-speed auto and a clutchless manual ETG6 (six-speed Efficient Tronic Gearbox) for the e-HDi 90 and e-HDi 115 engines. The ETG6 also has an automated mode.

The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso could surface at the Frankfurt show in September, before going on sale in Europe next year.