CITROEN will spend the winter targeting fleets with its revitalised medium car range, following the unveiling of the new C4 lower-medium hatch and revised C5 at Paris this week.

And the firm has been gearing up for the on-sale date of the C4 in November by previewing it to UK fleets.

John Hargreaves, Citroen national fleet sales manager, said: ‘We’ve shown the car to a select number of fleet operators recently and there’s been a very positive reaction.

‘Leasing companies have seen it, as have end-user fleets and the residual value guides. We’re expecting much stronger residuals, as it’s got much more style, more equipment and very strong diesel engines.’

The Xsara did well in restricted badge and pool fleets – particularly earlier in its life – failed to spark much interest in the profitable user-chooser market. Hargreaves reckons that the new, considerably less bland C4 will fare much better in that sector.

‘It’s a desirable product with attractive terms, and with sporty handling and technology such as adaptive headlamps and the lane departure warning system, we should do well with drivers choosing their own cars,’ he added.

Fleet News got an exclusive look at the car at a secret location. Its stand-out styling, better quality interior and quality diesel engines should ensure it has a better time among fleets than the Xsara.

Full details of the new car on FNN next week

See the Roadtest section for an appraisal on the revised Citroen C5