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Citro"en C4 Picasso arrives lighter, roomier and Euro 6-approved [w/video]

The 2013 Citroën C4 Picasso brings some unexpected company to the new 2014 Jeep Cherokee and its novel headlight arrangement. And since two such designs are rarely an accident in vehicle design, we'll say this could be a trend. More traditionally, the C4 Picasso brings smaller dimensions outside, more space inside, lighter weight and more technology to Europe's small people-mover game.
Built on PSA-Peugeot/Citroën's Efficient Modular Platform 2, it's lost 140 kilograms (308 pounds) so it weighs as much - or as little - as the Citroën C3 Picasso and its new design has an air drag index that's better than the Audi R8 and Ford GT. The wheelbase is stretched, the front overhang is reduced by 70 millimeters, and the lower position of the engine and floor drop the center of gravity and the wider track makes for a more aggressive stance and delivers better handling.
Inside, the do-it-all center stack is topped by a 12-inch high-definition screen augmented by a seven-inch touchscreen. The dividers in the two-tone instrument panel are black on the driver's side and Champagne or Ardoise on the passenger side. The info display on the larger screen is reconfigurable, while the smaller, seven-inch screen controls functions like the air conditioning, navigation and Multicity Connect apps. The first row of seats is patterned to look like a one-piece bench, the second row can move fore and aft, standard trunk space is a around 19 cubic feet and the tailgate made of composites opens and closes electronically. Airiness is ensured by the panoramic windscreen and glass roof.

Top Gear names BMW i8 Car of the Year, Corvette, Ferrari, Mercedes also win big

The lads at Top Gear have released their listing of the finest cars of the past year, handing the ultimate honor to BMW's revolutionary i8 plug-in-hybrid supercar. "The i8 is a milestone in the annals of automotive history and a glorious statement for an exciting and positive future. The i8 delivers - and then some," the British mag wrote. The i8, though, was far from the only hybridized car to take victories. James May and Richard Hammond both highlighted hybrids as their personal cars of the year, with May saluting the Ferrari LaFerrari and the Hamster, unsurprisingly, heaping praise on the Porsche 918 Spyder. Jeremy Clarkson, meanwhile, opted to shock many by selecting not only an American car as his best of 2014, but giving the honor to of all things, a Corvette. Clarkson wasn't the only person to honor the USA's iconic sports car, with the new, 650-horsepower Z06 variant being named TG's Muscle Car of the Year. Other big winners include Mercedes-Benz, which TG honored for S-Class Coupe (Luxury Car of the Year), the new AMG GT (Sports Car of the Year) and the not-for-US C-Class Estate (Family Car of the Year). The 458 Italia Speciale A snagged a second win for Ferrari. The best of the rest include the Citroen C4 Cactus, Renault Twingo, Volkswagen Golf R, Lamborghini Huracan and Audi TT. Take a look below for the celebratory press blast from BMW. The BMW i8 wins Top Gear Car of the Year The BMW i8 has been named as Top Gear magazine's global Car of the Year 2014. The plug-in hybrid performance vehicle beat off some stiff competition from a host of other premium and luxury manufacturers to win the overall award. The editorial team of Top Gear commended the BMW i8 for its breadth of abilities. Its 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine combined with an electric motor gives searing acceleration and driver enjoyment but all wrapped in a package that takes BMW's EfficientDynamics philosophy to the extreme courtesy of CO2 emissions less than 49g/km and a 135mpg combined cycle figure. Charlie Turner, Editor in Chief at Top Gear magazine, said: "The BMW is a milestone in the annals of automotive history and a glorious statement for an exciting and positive future. The i8 delivers – and then some. It's the kind of car we should celebrate, a beautiful vision of the future, delivered now.

2014 Citro"en C4 Picasso proves MPVs can be beautiful

Jelly-bean shape aside, the Citroën C4 Picasso is one people mover we wouldn't be ashamed to drive. It looks like a concept car, except it isn't - it's just a five-passenger MPV that's meant to get a family about as quickly and comfortably as possible. The stylish new Picasso first arrived in April, representing the second generation of the French MPV, and packing a range of small four-cylinder gas and diesel engines. We won't dig into all six engines, but we can promise you this: there's not a hot version of this Citroën.
With it being shown on the Frankfurt show floor, these photos represent the first live look we've had at the C4 Picasso since it arrived at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show as the Technospace Concept. The production form has largely stayed true to the concept's sleek, stylish design. The C4 is far more successful at the twin headlight design that Jeep is trying to make work, while the aerodynamic figure is as flattering as a little, black dress.
The C4 Picasso has just the sort of design flair that we appreciate about French cars, and is one of the big reasons we wouldn't mind seeing them on US roads. Take a look up top for a full gallery of live images from Frankfurt, and then scroll down below for the gallery provided by Citroën, along with a press release and a video staring the new C4 Picasso.