CITROEN C4 Coupe Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Citroën came up with a fresh idea of a three-door hatchback in the European's compact segment when it launched the C4 Coupe in 2004, but fast forward four years, and the car needed a refresh.

While the sales were nothing to write home about it, the C4 was an appreciated vehicle on the market. Moreover, those looking for a half-coupe and half-hatchback car were attracted by Citroën's compact, three-door auto. Still, since the lineup had to be refreshed to comply with the Euro5 standards, the French automaker considered applying some makeup on the vehicle.

The front side featured a curvier hood and a different bumper design that incorporated a broader grille on the lower side and chromed surroundings for the fog lamps. Its "double-chevron" badge followed the same design pattern as its bigger brother, the C5, with longer chromed lines that spread between the headlights. Citroën changed the lights both front and back and installed clear lenses on them.

Inside, a significant improvement was for the infotainment unit, which was available as an option with a new screen installed on the center stack. In addition, the carmaker improved the interior materials used for the door panels, seats, and dashboard. It kept the same steering wheel as before, with the fixed center-mounted buttons. Furthermore, the automaker changed the backlights for the instrument panel from green to amber.

The drivetrain was developed together with BMW for the turbocharged 1.6-liter engines, both gasoline and turbodiesel. At the same time, the French automaker kept some of the variants powered by its own powerplants. Still, the automatic transmission was scarce and only provided for specific versions.

The C4 was not as explosive as its name suggested, but in the coupe shape, it was a magnet for the younger generation, and with the proper engine, it provided some decent performances.

Citroen was known for its creative design, and there are numerous proofs for that, starting with the Traction Avant (TA) and continuing with the marvelous DS, the CX, the XM, and, in 2004, with the C4 Coupe. The carmaker built it on the same PSA PF2 platform as the Peugeot 307/308 but enhanced it to match the car's sporty image.

While some considered that the C4 Coupe was inspired by the Honda CRX or the 1994 Mazda 323 Coupe, the shape was actually inspired by the 1973 Citroen SM Michelin Proto, a French beast with over 300 ponies under the hood and the same split windscreen in the back as the C4 Coupe. At the front, the car featured boomerang-style headlights swept back over the hood and front fenders. Depending on the engine version, the carmaker installed a roof spoiler at the back.

Inside, Citroen installed the same unusual fixed-hub steering wheel, where only the rim was turning on two spokes, while the center stood fixed, with the buttons and switches in the same place. The wide and long dashboard sported a center-mounted instrument cluster with a large LCD for the speedometer. In front of the driver, the carmaker added another display for the tachometer. Due to the unusual greenhouse shape, the car offered enough interior room for four adults.

The C4 Coupe received a choice of engines ranged between the entry-level, 1.4-liter 88 hp and the top-spec VTS with 2.0-liter and 175 hp.