| Untapped and niche segments in the European market
are about as rare as French cars in America. Most opportunities on this
side of the Atlantic have been exploited, with nearly all gaps in the
market now plugged.
The Citroen Pluriel represents the French carmaker as its most innovative |
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However, Citroën, the French carmaker that embodies value-for-money,
has unearthed another crack and filled a hole after deciding to launch
a diesel-powered convertible supermini, a first for many individual European
markets.
Literally catering for a niche within a niche, Citroën engineers
have put the 1.4 litre HDi diesel unit into the Pluriel.
The thinking behind a diesel powered Pluriel was to combine open-top motoring
with high fuel economy, and with the acclaimed Ford/PSA developed engine,
the strategy has been achieved.
Though a little noisy the Pluriel diesel does its job. Mated to a 5-speed
manual, the 1.4 HDi offers 63 mpg on combined and emits only 120 g/km
of CO2. Power output rates at 71 ps (52 kW) while the torque comes in
at 150 Nm (110 lb ft) at 1,750 rpm, allowing for a top speed of 158 km/h
(98 mph).
Though no official production and sales figures have been released, Citroën
expects for there to be a low uptake of the new model. Yet with the PSA
group closing in on VW to be Europe’s leading carmaker, exploiting
niche markets at this end of the market might prove to be just as fruitful
as VW’s policy of rolling out high-end and very expensive SUV’s
and executive saloons.
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