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  • Citroen Numero 9 Concept exudes dark glamour

    In Cars, China, Citroën, Concept Cars, International News / By / / 6 comments

    C’est magnifique! Having whetted the appetite of the world’s press with pictures of its Numero 9 Concept beforehand (we ran an earlier story here), Citroen finally bared all at Auto China 2012 in a dark, classy setting, complete with intricate chandelier hanging just inches from the car’s roof.

    Take in that aggressively raked windscreen and rear end adorned with a C-shaped rear spoiler, and those flashy 21-inch wheels. It’s got a profile not unlike that of a shooting brake, and brings a Ferrari FF to mind. Citroen say this concept combines the design cues of a future C- and D-segment sedan and SUV for the DS brand.

    You say 9 in French – neuf – and this svelte black beauty could well become the DS9, the big, luxury sedan in the premium DS range, and therefore the true spiritual successor to the legendary Citroen DS of the 1950s. To illustrate this, an original DS 23, in immaculate condition, was placed just across the stand from the new car.

    The Numero 9 has a plug-in hybrid powertrain involving a 225 hp 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and an 70 hp electric motor. There is a ‘boost’ function that when activated, Citroen say, will unleash all 300 hp for a 5.4-second 0-100 km/h time.

    Citroen’s upmarket DS range currently comprises the DS3, DS4 and DS5, all of which are about to go on sale in China.

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  • Citroën Numéro 9 concept car to be unveiled in Beijing

    In Cars, Citroën, International News / By / / 34 comments

    It looks like Citroën will be very busy during the Beijing Motor Show because the French carmaker will be introducing the DS line to the Chinese. And to highlight the occasion, Citroën will be unveiling their latest DS concept, Numéro 9.

    Penned in Paris, the Numéro 9 is Citroën’s interpretation of the shooting brake body style, which is basically a love child between a coupé and an estate. And since it is part of the DS line, Numéro 9 gets all of the radical styling like the floating roof and signature grille as well as proportions purposely designed to contribute to the car’s aerodynamic efficiency, which is rated at a CdA of 0.61.

    The dimensions for the Numéro 9 are 1270 mm tall, 1,940 mm wide, 1,270 mm tall and a wheelbase of 3,000 mm. Plenty of space for the passengers. The sheet metal features subtle hints of violet on deep-black bodywork. The finishing is called ‘Whisper’, which Citroën says is a perfect match for the warmer ‘Californian’ chrome finish. The Numéro 9 uses the ‘Créative Technologie’ that endows the car with a combination of comfort, safety and respect for the environment.

    The powertrain consists of a conventional petrol or diesel engine (depending on the market) with an electric motor that drives the rear axle. The motor develops 70hp and 200Nm of torque and is powered by lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged in just 3.5 hours from a standard home socket. Citroën will display the Numéro 9 with the 1.6 THP petrol engine that generates 225 hp and 275 Nm of torque.

    According to Citroën, the plug-in hybrid car has a range of 50 km in all-electric mode and uses both sources of energy to move in typical city conditions. It also puts the combustion engine on standby when it is not needed. On highways, the combustion engine works full time to deliver performance. There’s also a ‘boost’ function that adds the power of the electric motor to give the more power, up to 295 hp. It takes Numéro 9 5.4 seconds to complete the century sprint and 25.3 seconds to travel 1,000 metre from standing.

    As for grip, the car switches to four-wheel drive mode; the electric motor helps the rear with the combustion engine powering the front. The driver can manually select 4WD mode if conditions get too difficult. Suspension system uses a hydraulic active setup.

    I guess we’ll have to wait for more information that will come when the car is fully unveiled.

     

  • PSA Peugeot Citroën forms alliance with GM – platform sharing, joint purchasing and development on the cards

    In Cars, Citroën, General Motors, International News, Peugeot / By / / 8 comments

    PSA Peugeot Citroën and General Motors have formed an alliance. The move will see the US carmaker buy a 7% stake in PSA as part of a share issue by the French automaker. GM says it expects to spend from $400 million to $470 million on that.

    “This partnership brings tremendous opportunity for our two companies. The alliance synergies, in addition to our independent plans, position GM for long-term sustainable profitability in Europe,” said GM CEO Dan Akerson. But “each company will continue to market and sell its vehicles independently and on a competitive basis,” the statement added.

    The scope of the alliance includes the sharing of vehicle platforms, components and modules, and the creation of a global purchasing joint venture for the sourcing of commodities, components and other goods and services from suppliers with combined annual volumes of approximately $125 billion. Bigger buyer gets better deals, as always.

    There is also talk on joint development. GM and PSA said the alliance will at first focus on small and midsize vehicles, MPVs and crossovers. The carmakers may also develop a new common platform for low emission vehicles, with the first model expected to debut in 2016.

    Cost savings from the deal will be limited in the first two years, but will eventually amount to $2 billion annually, split equally, the companies said. The deal is expected to close and take effect by the second half of this year.

    GM is certainly not new in linking up with other companies. The US carmaker had shares in Suzuki Motor Corp, Isuzu Motors and Subaru maker Fuji Heavy Industries before disposing off the stakes few years ago. In the same period, but in Europe, GM had to pay Fiat to end an unsuccessful alliance. They also flirted with Renault-Nissan before. GM’s Opel brand is not doing well at all in Europe, and this move has it in mind.

    On the other hand, Peugeot has a better track record with other carmakers, including JVs to build commercial vans with Fiat and an engine partnership with BMW. PSA also makes diesel powertrains with Ford and sells Mitsubishi models in Europe with its own face and badge.

     

  • Citroën C4 Aircross set for world premiere in Geneva

    In Cars, Citroën, International News / By / / 10 comments

    It was announced back in September last year, but now the real deal is set to make its official debut in Geneva. The Citroën C4 Aircross will get its world premiere next week at the Swiss show, and the French take on the Mitsubishi ASX will wear a special colour for the occasion.

    The Geneva show car will be finished in an all-new Vapor Gray frosted-texture paint. The roof bars, door mirrors and door handles are all chrome-finished to match the new colour, while the two-tone diamond-effect wheel rims sport the same Vapor Gray tone as the interior.

    Engine choices for the vehicle, as previously reported, are PSA’s 1.6 litre HDi 110 engine, mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox as well as a HDi 150, both available in 2WD or 4WD form. There’s also a 115 hp 1.6 litre petrol engine with 2WD and 5-speed manual transmission option.

    The C4 Aircross will feature a wide range of equipment, including NaviDrive satnav with touch screen & reversing camera, hands-free access and ignition, a Rockford Hi-Fi system as well as an integrated server for storing music.

     

  • Citroën DS3 Racing S. Loeb limited edition – just 200 units

    In Cars, Citroën, International News / By / / 24 comments

    Now, if you’ve got a highly bankable name, why not use it on a special edition? Well, Citroën have decided to do just that, slapping Sebastian Loeb’s moniker on the DS3 Racing and coming up with the DS3 Racing S.Loeb limited edition, which will debut in Geneva.

    The model is a signed and numbered series of just 200 examples, based on the DS3 Racing variant, and features distinctive use of colours and materials. The body is cloaked in a unique matte black colour, with a textured effect.

    The company says the special finish is not only robust, but also highlights the lines of the car. Meanwhile, the roof, door mirrors, grille, dashboard fascia and gearstick base all feature a contrasting shade of red, and the car also gets special decals and, as an exclusive limited series, sports a numbered identification plate on the roof lining.

    There’s no mention of whether the car has been souped-up any more than the base version, which offers 200 hp, a 0-100 km/h time of 6.5 seconds and a 235 km/h top speed.

     

  • Citroën DS4 Racing concept – a 256 hp 1.6 litre scorcher

    In Cars, Citroën, International News / By / / 66 comments

    Citroën is set to debut a hot-blooded concept in Geneva next month, and this one will feature the most horsepower ever seen in a Citroën series production car. It’s called the DS4 Racing concept, a barnstormer developed by Citroën Racing, the brand’s seven-time WRC winning motorsports division.

    Its Citroën Racing-derived 1.6 litre turbo petrol engine offers 256 hp (essentially, 160 hp per litre), which should translate to pretty quick. In addition to plonking in the merry mill, the boys at Citroën Racing have modified the chassis and running gear – the chassis has been lowered by 35 mm, and the track widened by 55 mm at the front and 75 mm at the rear.

    Meanwhile, the braking system boasts fixed four-piston callipers at the front together with special 380 mm diameter discs, and the DS4 Racing gets kitted out with 19-inch wheels and 235/40 series tyres. New carbon fibre components are also on, and these include an air diffuser, front splitter and wheel arch extensions.

    The car will be finished in a textured-effect matte grey paint, which the company says catches the light to further enhance the lines of the car. Further exterior refinements include a two-tone roof, and the special DS4 Racing design wheels are also done in a two-tone finish.

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  • Citroën C3 Picasso Code – playing dress up, this SE

    In Cars, Citroën, International News / By / / 1 comment


    Click to enlarge.

    Yes, another special edition, this time from Citroën; over in the UK, the company has introduced the C3 Picasso Code, which replaces the previous Blackcherry special edition. The Code edition is effectively a HDi 90 manual VTR+ version, with added equipment.

    The base car already has a fair amount of kit, but the C3 Picasso Code gains a ‘Look Pack’ that features more dress-up bits, like 17-inch ‘Clover’ alloy wheels in either Polar White or Cherry Red, depending on body colour, chrome lower bumper inserts and shiny black painted door handles, again featuring chrome for the inserts.

    There are also Obsidian Black painted front/rear bumpers and door mirrors, the latter tarted up further with a shiny black surround and base plate, as well as longitudinal roof bars. A choice of four external shades – Polar White, Cherry Red, Belle Ile Blue and Thorium Grey – round off the list.

     

  • Citroën C4 launched, RM126k – DS4 coming Feb 2012

    In Cars, Citroën, Local News / By / / 154 comments

    Brooklands Motors has officially launched the second-generation Citroën C4 in Malaysia – the five-door hatch was unveiled last night at the company’s new 3S centre and HQ in Petaling Jaya. The night also saw the introduction of the DS4, which will arrive in February next year.

    The C4 is available in a single engine form, the familiar THP156 1.6 litre turbo mill, with 156 hp and 240 Nm of torque, mated to a six-speed EGS auto gearbox. Performance specs for the car are a 212 km/h top speed and 0-100 km/h sprint time of 9.6 seconds.

    The RM125,990 car comes in a single trim line, this being Exclusive, and standard to the level are 17-inch Phoenix alloys and 225/45 series tyres as well as seats finished in Mistral ‘Saint Cyr’ cloth. A RM7,000 optional accessories package bags 18-inch Newport wheels – and 225/40 rubbers – and Mistral ‘Claudia’ leather seats, which come with a built-in massage function. The package also adds dynamic bi-xenon headlamps into the equation.

    Among the standard kit are a dual-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, blind spot monitoring system, front fog lamps, Denon audio system, USB connectivity and an adjustable colour meter cluster, as well as four distinct polyphonic sound themes for driver alerts.

    There’s a choice of nine external colour shades, these being Babylon Red, Polar White, Fluid Grey, Motivoire Beige, Bourrasque Blue, Arctic Steel, Shark Grey, Hickory Brown and Perla Nera Black.

    Meanwhile, two Prince engine choices are to be had for the upcoming DS4, the THP 156 and THP 200, the EP6CDTX offering 200 hp and 275 Nm for numbers. Two transmission options abound, the THP 156 with the six-speed EGS and the THP 200 with a six-speed manual.

    Fitted kit includes a blind spot monitoring system, cruise control and panoramic sunroof, and plenty of customisable options for the interior, which features a lot of chrome detailing – there’s a choice of five leather combinations, including two-tone options, and range-topping models are also equipped with high quality leather complete with a ‘Bracelet’ design on the seats, much like the links of a watch strap.

    As standard, the DS4 wears 18-inch wheels, but there’s a 19-inch option. The DS4 is expected to be priced from RM150,000 onwards – for the THP 156 – when it goes on sale in February.

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  • WRC star Sebastien Ogier leaves Citroen for Volkswagen

    In Citroën, Motorsports, Volkswagen / By / / 10 comments

    Highly rated World Rally Championship (WRC) driver Sebastien Ogier has joined Volkswagen after exiting the sport’s top team Citroen. The Frenchman, who was a strong and competitive teammate to 2011 champ and living legend Seb Loeb, will be replaced by Finn Mikko Hirvonen at Citroen.

    Ogier, who left Citroen with a year remaining on his contract, is joining Volkswagen effective immediately. The 27-year-old ex Junior World Rally Championship champion will now be helping the development of the Polo R WRC for VW’s planned 2013 entry. This means that we won’t see him in action next season.

    “Volkswagen is the number one in Europe and will soon be number one in the world. I’m sure that they’re going to compete with the goal of clinching the WRC title. And I’m happy to be part of this from the outset,” Ogier said.

    “We are proud that such a successful and quick duo as Sebastian Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia have decided to join Volkswagen. The aim of putting a competitive Polo R WRC on the road for them as quickly as possible will additionally drive our team. We look forward to working with them and are hoping for many victories and titles in the future,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen.

    VW confirmed its 2013 WRC entry and previewed the Polo R WRC back in May. Click here to view a video of it.

     

  • Citroen DS4 at Brooklands Sungai Besi – launching soon?

    In Cars, Citroën, Local News, Spyshots / By / / 47 comments

    Reader Theyson snapped some pics of this Citroen DS4 at Brooklands Motors’ Sungai Besi HQ in KL. We can’t confirm, but according to him, this sole unit is brought in for JPJ testing purposes, which could mean that Brooklands is looking to introduce this model in Malaysia soon?

    Unveiled at Paris 2010, the DS4 is the second model in Citroen’s DS range after the DS3. It is based on the Citroen C4, but with difference is styling as well as a higher grade interior. It’s available with a choice of five engines in Europe – two HDi diesels and three petrol engines. The most powerful of the latter is a 200 hp THP, joined by a THP 155 and a VTi 120. All three are variants of the 1.6-litre BMW-PSA Prince engine that also feature in Peugeots and MINIs.

    But while sister brand Peugeot mates the engines with a six-speed automatic, Citroen prefers its EGS transmission, which is an AMT-style automated clutch manual. The good old stick shift is the preferred choice in Europe.

    With the path opened by Peugeot and VW, there has never been a better time than now to bring in European hatchbacks. The DS4 won’t have the backing of a huge support network, but the few who buy it will surely stand out in a sea of 308s and Golfs.

    Read all about the DS4 and view the official gallery here.

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