Rate your favorite Citroen: The World Wants to Know
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As the tsunami of desire for the Alfa MiTo suggests, small-car fever has gripped America, and America has noticed that -- not to put too fine a point on it -- most small cars over here are really lame. Why can’t we have cool European cars? They ask, not unreasonably. This from one of our readers:
’...We were in France in May (and also July last year). I LOVE the Citroen line of vehicles. Something fuel-efficient for everyone, from the C 1, 2, 3, 4, to the Berlingo and Picasso minivans. WHY doesn’t someone make these or import these for the USA market?’
First, because Citroen doesn’t have any infrastructure here and the U.S. market is vast. A company needs scores of dealerships just to have a minimal presence in the U.S. Second, because European NCAP and U.S. DOT crash test requirements are different. A move to make crash test standards the same worldwide -- ‘harmonize’ is the term of the art -- is moving forward so that, by 2015, most cars will meet the same standards, whether they originate in Asia, Europe or the U.S. Third: Citroen’s partner, Peugeot, ALSO doesn’t have a presence here. That means no possibility of manufacturing stateside and that means taking it in the shorts because of the strength of the Euro.
All that is stipulated. Still, the craving for efficient, stylish cars is huge, and Citroen could come back. So which Citroen would you like?
PS: Dan’s favorite luxury sedan under $100,000 is the Citroen C6. Yum. Gush. Smack!
-- Dan Neil
Photos: Citroen