Citroen C3 Picasso to Get New Micro-Hybrid System in 2010

Citroen is to launch a new micro-hybrid system on the just revealed C3 Picasso. The system was previewed on the pearlescent white and orange C3 Picasso study at the Paris motorshow and will be offered in European in 2010, nearly a year after the launch of the vehicle. When the French say micro-hybrid system, what they actually mean is a new-generation Stop & Start system with a combined alternator-starter unit that allows the recovery of energy during braking and deceleration to recharge the vehicle’s battery without consuming fuel. -Continued

Citroen claims that with this fairly simple system that will be available on both petrol and diesel models, the C3 Picasso can achieve a fuel economy of 4.0 lt/100km (58.3 mpg US or 70mpg UK) on the combined cycle as well as low CO2 emissions of just 110g/km.