Since its launch almost four years ago, the third generation Citroën C4 has established itself as a daring model on the automotive market. Mixing the codes of sedans and SUVs, it stands out for its groundbreaking design and exceptional comfort. However, beyond these visible aspects, the Citroën C4 hides a series of technological innovations that deserve to be highlighted. After the first two articles on aerodynamics and wheels, this article focuses on one innovation in particular: the Smart Pad Support, an exclusive feature for this generation.
The Smart Pad Support: a practical and safe innovation
In 2015, Citroën unveiled the Aircross concept, a forerunner of the future C5 Aircross, with a remarkable interior innovation: a touchscreen that could move sideways to be positioned in front of the passenger. This idea, although costly to develop, allowed passengers to surf the Internet or entertain themselves while the driver concentrated on the road. This innovation led, a few years later, to the creation of Smart Pad Support on the Citroën C4.
Smart Pad Support is a unique feature of the third-generation C4. Integrated directly into the dashboard, it is the ideal place for a touchscreen tablet, allowing the passenger to watch films, search for routes or play games in complete safety and comfort. This support has been carefully designed to be compact while ensuring the tablet is optimally positioned and firmly fixed in the event of a collision. In fact, the mount allows the tablet to remain securely in place in the event of an accident, posing no risk to the front seat passenger. The passenger airbag has been specially designed to work in harmony with this innovative support.
To make this innovation accessible to everyone, Citroën has developed specific cases for the Apple iPad Air 2 and the Samsung Tab A 10.5", as well as a universal case for other models. In addition, filters have been added to make the contents of the tablet invisible from the driver's seat, thus avoiding any distraction.
Accessibility for all, a Citroën innovation
The Citroën C4 Smart Pad Support demonstrates the brand's boldness and ingenuity. While other manufacturers have opted for similar but much more expensive solutions, reserved for exclusive models such as Porsche, Mercedes or Jeep, Citroën has created a low-cost system accessible to families with average incomes. Thanks to the specially designed covers, all tablets on the market, especially 10-inch ones, can be attached to the support, allowing the passenger to enjoy their favourite content during long journeys.
There is, however, one small regret: the lack of connection between the tablet and the C4's multimedia system. In particular, this prevents the routes searched by the passenger from being transferred to the car's navigation system. Nevertheless, Smart Pad Support is a practical and useful innovation that makes it easier for passengers to entertain themselves while travelling.
Unfortunately, this innovation has not received the attention it deserves. Poorly understood and poorly explained, it has often gone unnoticed, even though it perfectly reflects Citroën's desire to make its vehicles accessible to all, without compromising on certain wishes.
To sum up, the third generation Citroën C4 is not only distinguished by its strong style and its concept of combining a sedan with an SUV. It is also rich in innovations that make it truly unique, faithful to Citroën's long tradition of daring. Although sales have not reached the expected levels, the C4 is doing better than its predecessor in a market segment that has literally melted over the last 5-6 years, which shows that it has been able to win over a public that is more attracted by B-segment SUVs. Its bold concept, combining saloon and SUV, and its SUV coupé style meet the expectations of today's customers, which explains its good performance compared to the previous generation. By comparison, models such as the new-generation Peugeot 308 are performing significantly worse than their predecessors, mainly due to the significant decline in the compact sedan market in Europe. With innovations such as Smart Pad Support, the Citroën C4 proves that it is much more than just a car, it embodies the brand's boldness and innovation, making every journey more enjoyable and entertaining for all passengers. .
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