Citroen Reveals Family-Sized DS5 Crossover ahead of Shanghai Premiere
April 18, 2011
Citroen has officially dropped photos and information on its all-new DS5, which is the latest addition to its DS sub-brand and the largest one yet. Measuring 4.52 meters in length, 1.50 meters in height and 1.85 m in width, the DS5 sits between the C4 and the C5 in Citroen's range, with the company describing the car as an alternative to the more conventional C5 with a higher ground clearance, more refined interior and a crossover shape.
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New Citroën DS5 to Break Cover at Shanghai Auto Show Next Week
April 13, 2011
Prepare for impending teasing over the next few days as Citroën has released the first in a likely series of preview images of the third member in its distinctive line of DS models, the DS5, which will receive its world premiere on 18 April at the Shanghai International Motor Show.
Aside from the image pictured above, the French carmaker is keeping mum on all the details simply stating that the “DS5 is set to bring distinctive new elegance and panache to the executive class”.
Read more »Toyota, PSA and BMW Closest to Achieving EU’s New CO2 Targets
March 30, 2011
Toyota, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and BMW are the carmakers closest to reaching their CO2 targets next year, according to a report by market research firm JATO Dynamics. The targets are imposed by the European Union, whose objective for 2015 is to enforce a fleet average CO2 level of 130 g/km for manufacturers selling cars in Europe.
In order to reach that objective, CO2 targets are lowered progressively each year. In 2009 the average was 145.9 g/km and in 2010 it went down to 140.9 g/km. Emissions regulations will be imposed starting next year, with significant fines to be enforced to automakers that will not comply with the new emissions limits.
Former F1 Champion Kimi Raikkonen Moving to NASCAR Truck Series
Kimi Raikkonen surprised the motorsport world this week by announcing he will switch to NASCAR this year. The 2007 Formula 1 champion will start racing with a new team called ICE1 in the Truck series and will later move to the Nationwide and Sprint Cup series. Most likely, the team will be supported by Raikkonen himself, whose current WRC team is called ICE1 as well and is backed by the driver and sponsors from Finland.
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2011 Shanghai Auto Show Promises Several World Premieres
March 16, 2011
China’s auto shows are growing bigger and bigger by the year as the local market continues to expand in sales. The most significant car show is the Auto China, which is held alternatively in Beijing and Shanghai every other year. This year’s edition will take place in Shanghai.
More often than not, leading American, European, Japanese and Korean automakers present their newest offerings at well-established car shows like Geneva, Frankfurt, Paris and Detroit, but in the past few years, we’re seeing increased numbers of new models being unveiled in China.
This year show will be no exception, as many new cars are planned to be revealed in Shanghai (April 23-28), despite the fact that it overlaps the 2011 NY Auto Show (April 22 - May 1).
Read more »VIDEO: Citroen C3 Ad Takes a Humorous Swipe at Poorly Equipped Cars
March 10, 2011
The clever minds over at the H-Paris agency are behind this new ad for Citroen’s Fiesta-rivaling C3 supermini called the ‘Bip Bip’. The witty commercial stars a young owner of an Innocenti Mini, which is a re-bodied version of the original Mini designed by Bertone. The spot shows the man trying to emulate the sounds of a modern day car’s electronic amenities. Not quite strong, but funny nevertheless. Hop over the jump to watch the extended-cut version of the commercial. Read more »
Internet Sales, the Next Big Thing for Renault's Dacia and PSA’s Rumored Simca Budget Brands
March 3, 2011
A low-cost company has to find low-cost ways not only to produce, but also to market and sell its products. This is why Renault devised a strategy to sell Dacia models online, through an Internet sales program that will be implemented in Europe.
“Internet sales will quickly become a reality. Many of our customers know what they want before they step into our showrooms, so an online sales channel makes sense,” said Gerard Detourbet, head of Renault's low-cost program.
But that isn't the only reason. Renault will be soon facing the threat of a low-cost rival coming from the French group PSA Peugeot-Citroen. Rumored to receive the abandoned Simca name, the new make could sell its vehicles exclusively through the Internet, as sales chief Jean-Marc Gales hinted at the Geneva Motor Show.
Read more »Citroën to Show DS4 Purple, C3 Red Block and C6 Noir et Blanc Concept Models at the Geneva Salon
February 22, 2011
With the 2011 Geneva motor show only a week away, Citroën has published photos but very few details on three new concept cars based on the firm's production models that it plans to reveal on March 1. The design studies are the C3 Red Block, DS4 Purple and the C6 ‘Noir et Blanc’. Read more »
Vive la DS! Ugo Spagnolo Imagines the Duchesses’ 2019 Successor
February 10, 2011
Ask any French car fan what the most beautiful and technically advanced executive sedan of the 1950s was and most will reply, “The Citroen DS.” You only need to look at the styling of some of the DS’s competition – take the Alfa Romeo 1900 Ti, Austin A95 Westminster or BMW 501/6 for example – to see just how far ahead of its time it was.
Here was a car with a fully independent and auto-leveling suspension set up, front power disc brakes, power steering, a fiberglass roof and a hydraulically operated clutch and transmission. And the styling...
So if there’s any car worthy of a modern day revival, it’s the venerable DS. While studying at France’s Institut Superieur de Design, design student Ugo Spagnolo took on this challenge as part of his internship with Citroen.
Citroën E-3POD Antistatic Concept for a Futuristic Electric Vehicle
February 8, 2011
This here is the E-3POD Antistatic design study and it was revealed at the Royal College of Art’s Interim Degree Show in London as part of the Double Challenge project sponsored by Citroën and aerodynamic simulation software company EXA. The task of the second year students was to envision an ultra-compact vehicle that could influence the design language of the automaker’s future electric cars. Read more »
BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroën Form Joint Venture to Produce Hybrid Components
February 2, 2011
Already partners in developing 4-cylinder petrol engines, BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroën have decided to set up 50-50 equity joint venture named the BMW Peugeot Citroën Electrification, which will primarily focus on developing hybrid components. Sharing the cost of research and development as well as production and component purchasing, the two companies expect to achieve significant economies of scale. Read more »
Euro NCAP's Best and Worst Performers of 2010
January 27, 2011
The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), which is similar to the American IIHS testing regimen, has released a list with the safest car in each vehicle category and the two worst performers overall of 2010. The cars that attained the coveted five star rating and achieved the highest overall score in their respective segment are: ------ Executive category: BMW 5 Series
------ Small Family category: Alfa Romeo Giulietta
------ Supermini category: Honda CR-Z
------ Small off-road 4×4 category: Kia Sportage
------ Small MPV category: Toyota Verso
On the other side of the fence are two models that achieved the poorest results of 2010. These are the Citroen Nemo with three stars and China's Landwind CV9 that received only two stars.
Read more »My Top 10 Concept Cars of 2010
December 21, 2010
In less than two weeks, 2010 will draw to a close. So what better time to look back at the real stars of this year’s motor shows: the concept cars! Enter into a world where considerations like practicality and profitability fall by the wayside and the world’s designers and engineers show us their true potential. Let’s count down...my Top 10 Concept Cars of 2010!Read more »
2010 Citroen Metropolis Concept Wallpapers
November 4, 20102011 Car of the Year: 7 Finalists Announced
November 3, 2010
There were 41 candidates eligible for the European 2011 Car of the Year (COTY) award, with quite a few big names being mentioned, such as the Audi A7 Sportback and A8, BMW 5-Series and X3, Jaguar XJ and Mercedes Benz CLS. This week, the list was narrowed down to just seven finalists and, as in previous years, some of them weren't really expected to make it this far.
Our summary presents the remaining candidates in alphabetical order, with the winner set to be announced on November 29. We'd really like to know which of the seven cars would get your vote, though, so comment away below.
Citroën adds "BLACKCHERRY" Edition and New EU5 HDi Engine to C3 Picasso's UK Range
October 28, 2010
For the new model year, Citroën has updated the range of its UK market C3 Picasso with the addition of a limited edition version called the "BLACKCHERRY " and the introduction of a new Euro 5 HDi 110 diesel engine matched to a 6-speed transmission.
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Bonnes Nouvelles! Citroën Boss Says Metropolis Concept will Spawn DS9 Limo Made in China
October 26, 2010
Citroën's CEO of Asian operations, Gregoire Olivier, has revealed that the company is planning a production version of the beautifully styled Metropolis concept car to compete against German luxury brands, primarily in China.
The sporty looking limousine, which will most likely be called the DS9, will be built by PSA/Peugeot-Citroën's joint venture with Changan Automobile Group in China.
"The Metropolis will happen -- it will become a real car," Olivier told Autonews China on the sidelines of an industry conference in Shanghai. "The same styling elements will be used for a high-level Citroen car to be developed in China. We want to build up the premier line in China -- the Metropolis is emblematic of our approach."
Citroën Announces UK Pricing on Updated 2011MY C5
October 25, 2010
The modestly refreshed 2011 model year Citroën C5 will be arriving in both sedan and Tourer forms at the firm's UK dealerships in November with O.T.R. prices ranging from £19,195 to £29,595, the automaker announced today.
The Saloon and Tourer versions of the mid-size C5 have been upgraded with revised headlamps that incorporate LED daytime running lights, darker tinted rear light clusters, and re-homologated engines.
Citroen Metropolis and Survolt due for production
October 20, 2010Citroen to target 'iPod generation' with new product plan
