A Future Vtr

[Guest chris g]

Hi,

 

my name is Chris Gentry,

 

I am studying Transport Design at Staffordshire University, for my final year project i am wanting to design a flagship "model VTR". Im thinking 4wd and about 280bhp it would hopefully revive the VTR brand to what it was before they put it on any old citroen (i believe you can get a C4 mpv VTR).

 

My idea was to design a car to appeal to the buyers of the original saxo/xsara vtr models as when these models production was ended there was nothing for you to move up to once u'd outgrown them.

 

My idea is to design a car that would appeal to original VTR owners needs now, in their mid-late 20's. I.e more toned down more grown up, more comfortable and more suited to your lifestyles now.

 

I would love any input you could prodide, wat things should it have (No of doors/ hatch saloon/styling). what cues must it keep from the old models, wat would you have changed from the old models?

 

If any of you have moved on from a vtr what car did you buy?, what have you got now?, what car currently on the market would you like?

 

any input would be very much appreciated-thanks

 

chris

[wozza]

Citroen are already sort of building a spiritual successor to the VTS. In the next model C3 which many people are expecting to have the 1.6 Turbo 175hp engine which is actually 190/200hp typically according to most of the automotive press.

 

New C4 carries a slightly detuned version of the engine at the moment but will likely end up getting either the 175 or 215hp versions in the future. But the brand is more about promoting green cars at the moment. There are still the fun nimble quick hot hatches in the C4 VTS and C2 VTS. The VTR's were always the slower cars VTS was always the quick ones.

 

I moved from a C4 VTR with 110hp to the C4 VTS with 180hp and more than happy with the upgrade. Going to be getting a few mods done which should see power rise to 190 - 195hp and mid to low 7's 0-60. So plenty quick enough while still being comfortable and a great looking car.

 

Still had Citroen gone all out and made a 2.0 Turbo C4 VTS with 220+HP I would have preferred that. Doesn't even need to be FWD just tweak the suspension and brakes a bit add a Limited slip diff and a decent close ratio 6 speed box that had a nicer change and it would be fine. Although a balls out 300hp 4WD version would be amazing.

 

However if you want that kind of power there are plenty of companies around willing to slap a Turbo or Supercharger onto the VTS for £6000ish.

[Guest chris g]

brilliant,

 

lots of good pointers to take on board, especially about the VTS rather than VTR brand.

 

the idea was for a scirrocco/brera hardcore 'coupe/hatch' but really go for it in the styling department as all of the recent concept cars are stunning if not a bit mad (mad i s good, lol).

 

i was originally thinking 4wd wrc style scooby/evo as citroen dont seem to draw attention to their dominance in rallying appart from a few special edditions, but i can see how it would probably be more suited as one of these new "superhatches" similar to the forthcoming focus rs or megane r26r as the magane especially has had allot of good press.

 

it does seem to be the direction things are going, seeing as the new scooby is a hatchback and the lancer sportback is not far of, the nissan gtr moving away from that sort of scene maybe its a dying market segment?

 

there could always be a "loeb" limited homologation edition with 4wd or even a wrc competitor?

 

anyway thanks for taking the time to write, its given me allot of things to take away and think about.

 

thanks wozza,

 

chris g

[wozza]

The segment itself isn't really dying. It is the general state of the current economy forcing people out of performance cars. That and the recent tax hikes. I mean my C4 is £300 a year to tax next year £210 this year.

 

Some of the other cars are £400+. Which is a fair sum of money. Mix in increased insurance costs and petrol costs and you can see why the cars aren't selling.

 

Once things settle down though it will pick up again. The amount of performance cars coming to the market now is pretty much higher than ever before. Even the Americans are getting in on the act. The new Chevrolet Camaro is coming here. There is rumour that the Ford Mustang will be hitting Europe in 2012 when the new one is due as they are also designing it with RHD markets in mind.

[Guest chris g]

mmm yeah i know what you mean about the road tax, i bought a 306 dturbo with my summer job wages had to shell out £101.75 (6months) about a week after i got it. bit of a shock for a tax dodging student like myself, they obviously didnt have particulate filters in 1997 lol.

 

yeah they're very big on muscle atm, u just know theyll be horrible tho esp inside. not sure even the noise would compensate for single figure mpg and those 'good old boys' leaf springs lol (camaro aside).

 

lets hope it changes soon, knowone wants more prius's on the roads and the goodie 2 shoes who drive them. wouldnt be so bad if they wernt so ugly but they not even that 'green', dont get me started on g-wizz's where do ppl think electricity comes from? erm...POWERSTATIONS, i'd rather have a table lol.

(sorry i watch jeremy clarkson too much)

 

the gt concept unveiled at paris looks amazing, prefer the c-matisse myself but theres definatly a few styling cues for my design-gottta love concave windows

 

cheers for your comments

 

chris

[Guest Colin Hunter]

Hi Folks!

Any car registered before March 2001 won't be party to the new emissions taxation. If it's below (I Think) 1560 cc it's taxed at £125, if above it's £215. Sorted! SO! this means that your 1997 1.9 DIESEL will attract a higher level of taxation than a 1.4 Petrol. Add together the higher insurance of the better performing Diesel and the Higher cost of Diesel fuel and it's better fuel economy soon disappears into a Maw of incompetent Government Bullshit! This current BolloX does NOT take into account the many people, like yourself, who thought they were doing the planet, and their own pocket, a favour, by running an older diesel car. With Petrol these days costing less per litre than Gods own Fuel (DERV)! it galls me to say that a sub 1500cc petrol car from before March 2001 is the best and cheapest to run. And that from a dyed in the wool DIESEL Man!

 

Gawd Help Us All!!!!!!! ;)

[Guest chris g]

your right there,

 

mind u the insurance was only £700 and im 20 with claims, couldnt belieive it was cheaper than the 1.4, i tried a non turbo but its same tax+ins as dturbo so i thought sod it! go for the turbo lol

 

so worth it, every time it strays over 3,000rpm i can forgive it, it is a lil rocket or it pootles about town in 4th iwhich is quite handy, and the fact that whenever i leave in the morning it must wake half the street up ;)

 

way btr than my other cars that were 1.2 clio and corsa which were rubbish on motorway

 

ill just have to work harder lol

 

Any overtime! lol

 

chris