5th October 1999

LE NOUVEAU CITROEN XSARA PICASSO EST ARRIVÉ
EN AUSTRALIE!

The Citroën Xsara Picasso, one of the stars of the 1999 Sydney International Motor Show (15 - 24 October 1999) has arrived in Australia ready to demonstrate the shape of family cars for the new century.

The Xsara Picasso is on display in Australia more than a month ahead of its European launch at the end of November and it is planned that it will go on sale in Australia next year.

The remarkable French car takes up the road space of a small five door hatch, such as the Citroën Xsara on which it is based. Yet, inside there is the space usually only found in large Australian wagons, with five generous adult sized seats and a huge boot that can be further extended by folding, or even removing, the rear seats one by one. All of this space is wrapped up in a stylish and unique "one box shape" that is as eye catching as it is functional.

"Even after months of seeing pictures and videos, it is still a thrill to see it in the metal for the first time," says Miles Williams, the General Manager for Citroën in Australia. "Two things that have really impressed me are the detail design that shows how well it has been thought out and designed for its purpose and the way it drives on the road."

Citroën has not just provided a large box with five seats. Details to make the Citroën Xsara Picasso a pleasure to live with include the design of the rear seats and their seat belts that means with the seats folded or removed, the floor is long, flat and totally free of obstruction, even though each seat has its own lap and sash belt.

Not only are there picnic trays and tables for the rear passengers there are also pockets in each of the four doors designed to take two litre mineral water bottles and cans and cups. In addition there are two large hidden lockers built into the floor and lined with carpet, where valuables can be hidden or toys kept out of the way. The rear table not only has cup holders, it even has clips to hold papers in place and coat hooks are every where.

The rear hatch has two height settings for tall and short people and the dashboard has warning lights to enable the driver not only see if the rear doors are closed but to also check if the rear child safety locks are engaged. There is a large 'panic button' that locks all the doors and closes all the windows. Even the gear stick comes out of the dashboard, not the floor, to make for more space. Safety features abound, from ABS anti-lock brakes to front and side twin airbags as well as lap and sash seat belts and adjustable head rests for every seat.

"Even with Citroën's unique reputation for building cars that offer supreme ride quality, road holding and handling, making a tall car like the Xsara Picasso drive like other Citroëns could be a challenge," explains Miles Williams.

"So it was fascinating to get it out on the streets of Sydney for a secret preview and see how it goes under our demanding conditions. And I have to report it's really impressive. Unlike some of our competitors, Citroën has managed to keep a soft pliant ride quality that absorbs the worst Sydney roads can dish out, but, at the same time, it is as stable as normal car and hangs on in the corners just as all Citroëns."

"Like Citroën's three nominations for the car of the Century, the Traction Avant, the 2CV and the DS, Citroën has thrown away the conventional rule book and designed a remarkable car that sets new standards in every area," says Mr Williams.

"Just as its three predecessors have been copied by every car maker in the world, the Citroën Xsara Picasso will be the benchmark for the 21st Century Family Car and Sydney Motor Show provides a unique opportunity to see the real shape of things to come."

Click here to visit the Xsara Picasso Picture Collection

PLEASE NOTE: This is only a demonstration version of the Citroen web site. Under normal circumstance you can download hi-res blow-up images, but as the files are very large, they have not been included in this version of the web site.

For further information please
e-Mail Miles Williams - General Manager on
100250.3324@compuserve.com

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