Citroën C5


The Citroën C5 is a large family car produced by the French manufacturer Citroën from March 2001 until February 2017, in two generations. It replaced the Citroën Xantia, in the large family car class, and is the first modern Citroën with "Cx" naming nomenclature, previously used by its ancestors, the C4 and C6 from 1930. The third generation is expected to be released in 2020.

First generation (DC/DE, 2001–2007)

The first generation C5 was available as a five door hatchback or five door estate styles only. Unlike its predecessors, the C5 was a hatchback with a three box notchback design and a hatch. This form actually disguised the hatch, so Citroën had completely reversed the design philosophy from the fastback saloon era of Robert Opron. Production commenced in the end of 2000. Sales in the United Kingdom commenced in April 2001.
Power came from 1.8 and 2.0 litre straight-4 and 3.0 litre V6 petrol engines, as well as 1.6, 2.0 and 2.2 litre direct injection diesel engines. The first generation C5 was the last Citroën developed under the chairmanship of Jacques Calvet. The C5 had a further development of Citroën's hydropneumatic suspension, now called Hydractive 3.
The major change with this system was the use of electronic sensors to replace the mechanical height correctors seen in all previous hydropneumatic cars. This allowed the suspension computer to automatically control ride height: at high speed the suspension is lowered to reduce drag and at low speeds on bumpy roads the ride height is raised.
Manual control of ride height was retained, though it was overridden by the computer if the car was driven at an inappropriate speed for the selected height. Certain cars also featured the computer controlled ride stiffness, called Hydractive 3+.
In a major break with Citroën tradition, the brakes and steering were no longer powered by the same hydraulic system as the suspension, but the power steering used the same LDS fluid with its own pump. It has been speculated that the primary driver for this was the cost of developing electronic brake force distribution for the system, when the PSA Group already had an implementation for conventional brakes.
Another factor may be the highly responsive nature of 'traditional' Citroën brakes, which some have found hard to adjust to on other hydropneumatic cars, though it is felt by some to be superior.
In September 2004, the C5 underwent a major facelift to bring it into line with the look of the new Citroën C4. The hatchback was lengthened from to and the wagon from to. Also, this new version got swivelling directional headlights.
The Hydractive suspension improves ride quality, keeps the car levelled, and enables the car to drive on three wheels if one tire is flat. The suspension is derived from the Hydropneumatic suspension used in the 1950s Citroën DS. Variations in height using the Hydractive suspension range up to in the front and in the back.
Production ended in December 2007, with the final production number being 720,000. In the United Kingdom, from 2001 to 2004, 45,502 models of the car were sold.
EngineDisplacementPowerTorqueTop speed0–62 mph
1.8 L EW7 I41749 cc at 5,500 rpm at 4,000 rpm122 mph 11.1
1.8 L EW7 I4 with automatic1749 cc at 5,500 rpm at 4,000 rpm122 mph 11.3
2.0 L EW10 I41997 cc at 6,000 rpm at 4,100 rpm129 mph 9.8
2.0 L EW10 I4 HPI1997 cc at 6,000 rpm at 4,000 rpm130 mph 9.6
2.0 L EW10 I4 VVT1997 cc at 6,000 rpm at 4,000 rpm130 mph 9.1
3.0 L ES9 V62946 cc at 6,000 rpm at 3,750 rpm144 mph 9.7
3.0 L ES9 V6 VVT2946 cc at 6,000 rpm at 3,750 rpm143 mph 8.6
1.6 L DV6 HDi diesel I41560 cc at 4,000 rpm at 1,750 rpm118 mph 11.3
2.0 L DW10 HDi diesel I41997 cc at 4,000 rpm at 1,900 rpm112 mph 13.1
2.0 L DW10 HDi diesel I41997 cc at 4,000 rpm at 1,750 rpm119 mph 11.3
2.0 L DW10 HDi diesel I41997 cc at 4,000 rpm at 2,000 rpm127 mph 9.8
2.2 L DW12 HDi diesel I42179 cc at 4,000 rpm at 2,000 rpm127 mph 10,5
2.2 L DW12 HDi diesel I42179 cc at 4,000 rpm at 1,750 rpm138 mph 8,5

Second generation (RD/TD, 2007–2017)

The second generation C5 was officially unveiled in the beginning of 2008, and does not retain the hatchback bodystyle, instead being a regular, three box saloon of an aerodynamic shape. However, this second generation is often criticised, especially by core Citroën fans, for its German like exterior design, which makes it look more like a German saloon, than a French one.
The C5 Airscape, which was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007, gave an outlook on the second generation C5.
It was launched in February 2008, with the estate version following in May 2008, and receives the name of Tourer. This C5 won 2009 Semperit Irish Car of the Year, as well as being awarded 2008–09 Japan's Import Car of the Year. The second generation was presented on 15 January 2008, having its world premiere at the Brussels Motor Show.
The second generation is available with conventional springs, as well as the hydropneumatic suspension and 2.7L Ford AJD-V6/PSA DT17 engine from the Citroën C6. In 2009, the 2.7L was replaced by an updated 3.0L unit which, despite offering more power, has improved fuel consumption and emissions.
In 2010, the 2.0L HDi 140 and the 2.2L HDi 173 engines, were replaced by the 2.0L HDi 160 engine, mated to a six speed automatic or manual transmissions to comply with the Euro 5. Similarly, the 2.0L 16V 143 bhp petrol engine was replaced by the 1.6L THP 155, from the DS3 mated to a six speed manual transmission.
In 2011, the C5 was given a mild facelift, with a few cosmetic changes, such as LED lights. Three engines were added to the range consisting of two diesels, 2.0 HDI 160, and a 2.2 HDI 200 as well as a petrol engine, 1.6 VTI 120.
In July 2012, the C5 was given another mild facelift, with a few cosmetic changes, such as softer chevron badging, modified badging of C5, softer chevron "grille" as per the recently updated C4, and exclusive badges on the sides in front of the front doors. For the Exclusive, the onboard GPS/radio head was also changed to the eMyWay unit which features full Bluetooth connectivity and iPod/USB interface.
In May 2016, the C5 was officially withdrawn in the United Kingdom, due to disappointing sales of 17,105 since 2008. In 2015, only 237 cars were sold, the lowest number since the car's launch. This is comparison to 6,549 sales in France within 2015. However, this could be due to the model being launched at the start of the financial crisis in 2008, as well as increased demand for crossover models.
Sharing the same underpinnings of the Citroën C6, which has since been discontinued, this generation of C5 is often referred to also as the "X7". It is observed that on these cars two technical entities, the hydropneumatic system and the double wishbone layout, are utilized in conjunction.
eTouch
Comprising a package of services including the emergency and assistance calls, Citroën eTouch also proposes a virtual maintenance manual, and an Eco Driving service accessible via the MyCitroën personal area on the web. For calls, Citroën eTouch works completely independently.
The system is equipped with a GPS module, and a SIM card, with no need for a call plan and unlimited over time. The vehicles features two buttons, "SOS" for emergency calls and "Double Chevron" for assistance calls.
The emergency call gets emergency services to customers faster, for accident victims and bystanders alike. The two services are free and available at any time. In China, the C5 was heavily restyled in 2017, while in Europe, production officially ended. Since March 2017, the saloon became no longer free to order. However, the Tourer and the CrossTourer remained configurable.
EngineDisplacementPowerTop speed0–62 mph
Economy
CO2 emissions
1.8 L I41749 cc11.06.57188
1.6 L I41598 cc12.26.2144
2.0 L I41997 cc9.77.00198
1.6 L I41598 cc8.66.69153
3.0 L V62946 cc9.210.50248
1.6 L diesel I41560 cc12.24.67149
1.6 L diesel I41560 cc11.64.6120
2.0 L diesel I41997 cc10.64.99157
2.0 L diesel I41997 cc10.65.7139
2.0 L diesel I41997 cc9.15.29139
2.2 L diesel I42179 cc9.25.41172
2.2 L diesel I42179 cc8.35.9155
2.7 L diesel V62720 cc8.97.00223
3.0 L diesel V62992 cc7.76.19195

Sales and production