Citroen will offer its innovative new Stop & Start technology on the C1 city car, although it won’t be standard fit, according to PSA Peugeot-Citroën’s innovation and quality boss Robert Peugeot.
About to make its debut on the C3, the system cuts the engine when the car is at a standstill, with a reversible alternator replacing the regular starter motor. When Autocar tested it back-to-back with a standard C3, we found a 27 per cent reduction in urban fuel consumption.
But according to Peugeot, the technology will be added to the C1 as a cost option – Stop & Start is sold as a separate model in the C3 range. ‘There is no sense in introducing it on the C1 as standard when the concept is to provide the cheapest Citroën,’ he said, ‘but we will offer it as an option.’
At the moment, Stop & Start is only available with petrol engines and the Sensodrive automatic gearbox, but Peugeot said PSA is working towards extending it to cover both manual ’boxes and diesels.
The C1 arrives in the UK next June as one of three city cars spun off the same base. The project is a joint venture between Citroën, Peugeot and Toyota. Peugeot’s model is called the 107 and Toyota’s Aygo. All three will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next March.
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