Yes, that’s true, and the buyer in question is PSA Peugeot Citroën. Mitsubishi has announced the signing of a “Final Cooperative Agreement” that will see the French giant purchase 100,000 units of the i-MiEV electric car. PSA will market the rebadged i-MiEV as the Peugeot iOn and Citroen C-Zero. Both French badged cars will go on sale in Europe by the end of this year, starting with their domestic market.

This sealed deal comes just after both parties failed to agree terms for a capital alliance in the style of Renault and Nissan. Mitsubishi Motors CEO Osamu Masuko and PSA chief Philippe Varin met at Geneva and jointly released a statement that a capital tie-up would not be realistic although both companies would continue to expand business ties.

Besides this latest deal, which would help Mitsubishi achieve better economies of scale for an expensive project, PSA also bases its Peugeot 4007 and Citroen C-Crosser on the Japanese maker’s Outlander SUV.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

The GQbyCitroen concept is a concept car styled by GQ magazine’s editorial team and executed by Citroen’s design team, including Mark Lloyd, the man who was responsible for the new Citroen DS3’s design. If this is the case shouldn’t it be more like a CitroenbyGQ rather than a GQbyCitroen?

In any case, the car looks like a 2-seater to me. It’s just a concept so Citroen can probably say whatever they want in terms of what’s powering it but in this case they’ve chosen a plug-in hybrid system based around a 1.6 liter direct injection turbocharged inline-4 – probably the same 1.6 liter Prince engine found in nearly all of their cars now. 0 to 100km/h is quoted to be 4.5 seconds while CO2 emissions are just 80 g/km of CO2.

Despite the car being released somewhere around the Geneva Motorshow, the car was never shown at the show. Does a physical versions exist? Look after the jump for more shots of the GQbyCitroen and a ‘making of’ video.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

The first ad I noticed once touching down at the Geneva airport was one for the Citroen DS3, which had the headline “anti-retro”. We all know that the DS3 is pitched as a rival to BMW’s Mini, and the ad is clearly a jibe in the direction of the bug-eyed car. I understand the DS3’s appeal for those who either don’t “get” the Mini’s retro looks or simply look at it as a fashion fad. With creative design typical of Citroen and a modern, classy cabin, we reckon that it will do very well in Europe.

At the Geneva show, Citroen Racing (Citroen’s STi/RalliArt) paraded the DS3 Racing that’s set to go on sale in the second half of 2010. Limited to 1,000 units, the DS3R comes with plenty of carbon trim – on the front bumper, lower body trim, wing extensions, door side mouldings and spoiler, to be exact. The grey showcar was nicely contrasted with orange on the roof, wing mirrors, grille and rims (18-inch, looks really wicked) and wore some funky decals. Orange and carbon are also repeated in the cabin, which has a high-quality feel to it.

Citroen took the 1.6 THP engine (as found in our Peugeot 308 Turbo) and boosted output to 200 bhp, while torque is up from 240 Nm to 275 Nm. The gains were achieved by “optimising powertrain components”, modifying the turbo, remapping the ECU and adding a sports exhaust system. With these figures, the DS3R will outpace a Mini Cooper S, but will it outpoint the Brit in the bends?

For starters, the standard front and rear tracks have been widened by 30 mm and the DS3R sits lower by 15 mm. Stiffer springs, retuned shock absorbers and “specific steering mapping” for a more precise helm have been added as well. To cope with the added grunt, Racing spec brakes have been installed – four-piston calipers up front and drilled discs for the back. Also, the switchable ESP system has been tuned for “extra vitality, sportiness and driving pleasure” – in other words, it’s less restrictive.

We’re bound to see more of the DS3 in the sports pages, as it will replace the C4 as Citroen’s WRC machine – the French brand is a five-time WRC champion and is defending both driver and constructor crowns with rally king Sebastien Loeb.

Live images from Geneva and official gallery after the jump!

Citroen DS3 Racing live images from Geneva

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

Here’s a hotter version of the Citroen DS3 that the French company will debut at the Geneva show in early March, limited to just 1,000 production units. The car is rather unimaginatively called the Citroen DS3 Racing and gets its 1.6 liter BMW-PSA Prince engine boosted up to 200 horsepower, up from the original 156hp unit installed in the stock DS3. Torque gets upped to 275Nm from 240Nm.

Citroen achieved the 200 horses with remapping the turbo and ECU control, “modified and optimized powertrain components” (oh such detail) and installed a special tail pipe and exhaust muffler. To cope with the extra power, brakes have been upgraded to 4-pot calipers at the front and all four wheels get new discs, including drilled discs for the rear.

The steering has also had some updates to be more “precise” and to suit the new larger tyros. The suspension gets stiffer springs, adapted front and rear shocks to handle the increased power, front and rear track gets widened by 30mm, and the car gets lowered by 15mm. Finally, the ESP programming has been updated to suit the new components.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

We previously posted a single teaser image of a Citroën concept, and here’s more information and images released by the French carmaker of its Geneva showstar. Called the DS High Rider, it’s supposed to “represent a bold and radical vision of the future, combining compact dimensions with generous internal volumes, dynamic performance, sophisticated style and consummate quality,” according to Citroën.

Typically Citroën, the DS High Rider’s windscreen soars over the heads of its front occupants. The muscular appearance is also brought by the high waistline and 19-inch alloys, while the bold front end features gaping air intakes, long headlights and defined ridges along the bonnet. Citroën says that the roof is covered with a “coated textile material”, whatever that is. Dimensions are 4.26m long, 1.82m wide and 1.48m high. To get a mental picture, that’s the same width as a Honda CR-V, but 20cm lower and 26cm shorter than the Honda.

Under the skin lies a ‘Full Hybrid’ drivetrain that combines PSA’s acclaimed HDi diesel engine with an electric motor located on the rear axle. Citroën says that the DS High Rider has fuel efficiency and power of an HDi diesel engine with the ecological benefits of an electric vehicle. More pictures after the jump.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

What you see above is believed to be a teaser image of the Citroen DS4 and many are saying that it is a concept instead of a production-ready version. This vehicle, concept or not is said to be based on the company’s C-SportLounge concept that was shown back in 2005. Unfortunately we have nothing more to share with you at this moment but we know that Citroen will unveil the DS4 at the Geneva Motor Show which will take place next month. Stay tuned!

Source

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

At times, it’s good to lighten up a little, take our mind off government policies, impending fuel price hikes and overpriced cars, that’s why we’re sharing this with you. Citroën has been the “official car” for Arsenal Football Club since 2008, and the French car company recently placed new luxury pitch-side seats at the North London club’s Emirates Stadium.

I always wondered why footballers would want to watch their teammates in tight Recaros, but these red Citroën seats with the Arsenal crest actually look really plush – I wouldn’t mind them in my living room (by now you must have guessed which team I support). Designed by Loughborough UK based Auto-kit International, the 40 seats are wrapped with top-quality leather. Gunners boss Arsène Wenger said: “We are delighted with the new Citroën dugout seats, which are a real improvement and very much in keeping with the overall stadium design.”

Seen here are Thomas Vermaelen, Manuel Almunia, Craig Eastmond and Eduardo. Perhaps they should spend less time on PSPs and train harder for this Sunday’s must-win match against Chelsea! A closer look at the new chairs after the jump.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

PSA Peugeot Citroën has announced a recall of about 90,000 Peugeot 107 and Citroën C1 cars following Toyota’s 1.8 million car European recall which includes the Aygo. The city car triplets of Aygo, 107 and C1 were jointly developed and roll off the same plant in Kolin, Czech Republic. Should the Aygo have faulty accelerator pedals, it’s likely that its French sisters are affected too.

A spokesman for Peugeot Citroën said that he was not aware of any injuries caused by the problem in the vehicles it is recalling, which were made from 2005 to mid 2009.

Meanwhile the New York Times quoted Toyota president Akio Toyoda as saying: “Customers bought our cars because they thought they were the safest. But now we have given them cause for grave concern. I can’t begin to express my remorse.”

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

This is the new Citroen C3, which the French carmaker touts as the new B-segment benchmark. It replaces the cute and round original that was quite a radical design when it was unveiled back in 2002. Citroen has sold two million examples since then, and the range saw new members over the years, such as the oddball C3 Pluriel and more recently, the funky C3 Picasso MPV.

Launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the C3 has one of the smaller footprints in the supermini class, despite growing marginally in length and width (it’s 5cm shorter than Corsa and 9cm shorter than 207 and Clio). The wheelbase is unchanged but Citroen claims good cabin space and class-leading 300 litres of boot volume.

It’s obvious that the new C3 is a reinvention of the old car rather than a rethink, as it retains the curved roofline and glasshouse its predecessor was known for. What’s new is the ‘Zenith windscreen’ which stretches so far back, it cuts off near the car’s B-pillar. If you’ve ever been in the C4 Picasso MPV, you’ll understand the appeal of this large glass area – the view out its truly panaromic, perfect for sightseeing and it gives the cabin an airy feel. Should you get tired of the light, there’s a sunblind and tinting for the topmost part of the windscreen. The cabin is funky yet classy, not always the case with imaginative French designs.

Four petrol engines are on the list – 61bhp 1.1, 75bhp 1.4, 95bhp 1.4 and a 120bhp 1.6 – the latter two belong to the BMW-PSA Prince family. The French make some of the best diesel engines, and the C3’s three HDi engines with Citroen’s Diesel Particulate Filter System ranging from 70bhp to 110bhp will be the main sellers in Europe. Every range must have a headlining green model these days, and the Airdream+ edition (90bhp 1.6HDi) emits just 99g/km of CO2 – the first Citroën to dip below 100g/km. To further promote economical driving, most versions feature a Gear Efficiency Indicator, which alerts the driver of the optimum moment to change gear.

More photos after the jump.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

The world’s automakers continue to be rocked by the recession and lots of changes are being made to trim fat, find synergies, stay afloat and continue to be profitable, or even continue existing for same! Now we could be looking at another French-Japanese alliance. Aafter all Renault-Nissan seems to be working well. Nikkei English News claims that PSA Peugeot Citroen would be taking up a stake of between 30 to 50 percent in Mitsubishi, if talks go well and an agreement is reached.

Mitsubishi and PSA currently have a few projects together. Most of them involve PSA using Mitsubishi products to plug gaps in their product offering, such as the Mitsubishi Outlander being sold in Europe as the Peugeot 4007 and Citroen C-Crosser. French badges are also put on the Mitsubishi i as PSA’s own electric offerings.

Peugeot did not comment on whether this was true. Mitsubishi didn’t either, but said that it was in talks with the French automaker group to increase their levels of cooperation. They did not deny that a capital tie-up could be one of the options being considered.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

This is basically a rebadged Mitsubishi i MiEV, due to go on sale in Europe in Q4 2010 under the Citroen brand. It is a expansion of an existing collaboration between Mitsubishi and PSA Peugeot-Citroen, where the French marques badge-engineered the Mitsubishi Outlander as their own SUVs. But with the Outlander they made significant changes to the exterior sheet metal, with the C-Zero the MiEV looks very much unchanged.

Drive is via a permanent magnet synchronous motor making 64 horses between 3,000rpm to 6,000rpm and peak torque of 180Nm from 0 to 2,000rpm. The motor is powered by a 330V lithium-ion battery made of 88 x 50Ah cells. You can recharge the batteries via a regular cord into a 220V socket. Regular charging takes 6 hours, and a 80% can be done in half an hour if you use an external charger which supplies a single-phase current of 125A at 400V.

Citroen will be launching more alternative fuel vehicles such as a full hybrid vehicle called the Citroen DS5 in 2011.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

Citroen will be exhibiting the car above at the Frankfurt show but other than this photo we don’t know any other details at the moment, not even whether it is a concept or a production model, though by the looks of it, it should be a concept.

It definitely looks like a small car though, something smaller than the C3, perhaps a new C2 or maybe a C1 (current C1 is a badge engineered Peugeot 107/Toyota Aygo from the B-Zero project). It could also be a smaller car in the new DS premium range.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

Click for enlarged image

There’s bound to be a convertible coming up in the new DS range by Citroen but not right now anyway. After all, other premium small cars like the MINI and the Fiat 500 have drop top versions, but not the MiTo though. Theophilus Chin has whipped up a convertible version of the DS3. Theophilus says this is his idea of what a replacement for the Citroen C3 Pluriel would look like.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

Citroen has unveiled the new DS3, a hatchback that Citroen wants to give a premium positioning. Think MINI and you’ll understand what I mean. It’s for buyers who have seen past the need for a large car and more metal to offer premium features and a premium image.

The DS line of cars will feature three models and this is the first: the DS3. It measures 3,950mm long, 1,710mm wide and 1,450mm tall. This makes it similiar in size to the new MINI Clubman, though the DS3 is slightly larger in every dimension.

Typical of Citroen, the exterior styling details are a little quirky, such as the shark-fin B-pillar. The DS3 is fully customisable in term of trim level, even the colour of the wheels, fabric, gearknob, exterior trim, and even the ‘floating roof’ is customisable – you can have it in either black, white, blue or red, to contrast it with the main body colour.

A choice of 5 engines are available – the 90hp and 110hp HDi diesels with DPFS fliters, and three petrol engines – the VTi 95, VTi 120 and the turbocharged THP 150. Only manuals are available for now, either 5-speed or 6-speed depending on the engine specified.

Look after the jump for a photo gallery of the new DS3.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

Words are being exchanged that French auto maker Citroen, will unveil the production version of the DS3 three-door as early as September this year, at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The production DS3 will be inspired by the DS Inside Concept which was showcased at this year’s motor event in Geneva. A number of design elements will be carried over into production, and rumor has it that the vinyl roof option may be offered as well.

According to Autocar, Citroen also revealed that both the DS4 and DS5 models will arrive in 2011, as 2012 models. The DS4 would be a coupe-ish MPV with a crossover touch, that will be based on the C-Sportlounge Concept, first shown in 2005.

The DS5 on the other hand is expected to compete with the BMW X6, but with a cheaper price tag as one of it’s benefits over the German offering. The DS5 will be based on the Hypnos Concept, showcased in Paris last year. It is expected to be powered by, among others, a diesel-hybrid engine. The DS range, including all the above mentioned vehicles will be part of Citroen’s new up market vehicle line up.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

Car manufacturers have been revealing latest generation versions of their large displacement diesel engines one by one. We have BMW’s new N57, Volvo’s new twin turbodiesel, and another similiar unit from Jaguar.

The latest manufacturer to unveil a new turbodiesel engine is PSA Peugeot Citroen, who will be putting a new 3.0 liter HDi V6 turbodiesel in their C5 and C6. The new engine produces 240hp, up from 208hp in the outgoing 2.7 liter HDi, but is between 13 to 17 percent more fuel efficient and 12 to 15% less polluting in terms of CO2 emissions, also Euro 5 compliant. The engine also has an alternator that does brake energy recovery.

In the C5 and C6, the engine will be mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. BTW I have more than one occasion spotted the Citroen C5 in Malaysia, although it has not been launched yet as far as I know. It may be due for a launch soon, if not already launched.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

The C4 facelift has been extended to the notchback sedan model in China and with the facelift comes a namechange – the C-Triomphe is now known as the Citroen C-Quatre.

Sedan models or at least a notchback is important in China as like Malaysian and unlike Europe, the market there favors cars with boots. The new name is an obvious tribute to the original C4 name, which they probably decided not to use in China because of the meanings associated with the number 4.

Citroen’s stand at Auto Shanghai 2009 encompasses a 1,000 square meter stand which showcases the C4 WRC rally car, the GTbyCITOREN GT5 tie-in concept car, the C3 Picacco, and the C-Elysee powered by CNG. Next up for Citroen in China will be the new DS line.

Look after the jump for more pix of the C-Quatre.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

Vincent Besson, an executive for Citroen revealed in Geneva that the auto maker has confirmed its intention to produce the GTbyCitroen based on a limited production run of probably 20 units. The GTbyCitroen first appeared in the Gran Turismo 5 game based on the Playstation 3 platform and its full-scale model was featured in Paris.

The GTbyCitroen would become the first car to be produced based a video game. Besson did not reveal a production schedule and other details, but the GTbyCitroen will most probably feature a V8, supplied by either Ford or struggling General Motors.

The full scale model measures 4.960 meters long, 2.080 meters wide and 1.090 meters high, which is considered pretty big for a super car. Other features included in the scale; large wheel arches, 21-inch alumimium wheels, LED lights that project information to the driver and “gullwing” styled doors. Lets just keep a watchful eye on racing games these days, as you would not know, what might just end up being produced! Continue reading to view an image gallery.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

Citroen will be bringing back the DS nameplate to its range of vehicles. DS is pronounced Deesse, which pronounced in French means Goddess. The DS was a showcase of technology of sorts, for a car introduced in the 1950s it had a hydropneumatic suspension, a robotized gearbox (without automatic selection though so its more of a robotized clutch), an it had an air-cooled flat-6 gearbox that was mounted in a MF layout, mid-engined, front wheel drive.

The new DS line will be targetted at those who enjoy motoring with no loss in practicality. It is meant to offer prestige, thrills and refinement, without the rigid codes of traditional upper-range models. It aims to appeal to the affluent customer who has downsized in his vehicle size but are on the lookout for more economical and intelligent products.

This new concept car called the Citroen DS Inside Concept and is a preview of the upcoming DS range. The new DS range will consist initially of 3 cars in the small, medium and large segments. Its naming system will carry the DS name, much like its mainstream cars are prefixed by “C” and its MPVs a “Picasso” suffix. The three cars will be called the DS3, the DS4 and the DS5. DS will stand for “Different Spirit”.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

We first heard of a joint study between Mitsubishi and PSA Peugeot Citroen to evaluate a potential cooperation between the two companies on the supply of electric vehicles back in June 2008. The study also included evaluating the feasibility of shared production sites for producing components for electric vehicles.

Japanese newspaper The Nikkei (the same guys who reported the Suzuki Kizashi would be axed) now reports that the deal went through and Mitsubishi will supply the French company up to 10,000 electric cars a year by the year 2011. This could include the Mitsubishi i MiEV, which is shown above as an artist’s impression with Peugeot styling (look after the jump for a Citroen version).

PSA would benefit by getting electric car technology fast, while Mitsubishi would benefit from PSA’s vast distributor network in Europe, which would be beneficial for Mitsu’s coffers anyway since they are the supplier, despite the cars not having Mitsubishi badges.

Source


Click for enlarged image

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

An Italian newspaper reported on Saturday that PSA Peugeot Citroen and Fiat are considering a potential merger, which would make the new PSA Peugeot Citroen Fiat entity the world’s number 4 carmaker. If true, it is some pretty quick progress, coming right after Fiat’s CEO mentioned the Italian company needed to find a partner to survive the crisis brewing in the automotive industry, but such haste is needed in these times.

PSA has mentioned before in the past that it preferably did not want to add new alliances, but instead wanted to deepen existing relationships. PSA and Fiat already have current co-operations in areas like commercial vans. The Fiat Fiorino, the Peugeot Bipper and the Citroen Nemo are all derived from the same project.

The two companies also have joint ventures with other companies on their own. PSA Peugoet Citroen’s recently launched SUVs are a development of the Mitsubishi Outlander while the Fiat Sedici is a Suzuki SX4.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

Citroen has facelifted its Citroen C4 for the 2009 model year and has added two new engines to the line-up – the Prince engine co-developed by PSA Peugeot Citroen with BMW, also used in Peugeot and BMW MINI cars.

The VTi 120 and THP 150 variants are powered by the normally aspirated and turbocharged variants of the Prince engine respectively. The VTi 120 engine replaces the old 1.6i 16V engine and features variable valve timing as well as intake control without a throttle butterfly. The THP 150 is powered by a 150 horsepower variants of the turbocharged direct injection 1.6 liter Prince engine and replaces the normally aspirated 2.0i 16V engine in the pre-facelift car.

To promote the new C4, Citroen has produced a “facelift” of the Transformers TV commercial that was used to promote the original pre-facelift Citroen C4. This time the robot is dancing to Bee Gee’s Stayin’ Alive.

Watch the video after the jump!

VIDEO: Citroen C4 TV Commercial

PHOTO GALLERY: 2009 Citroen C4 Facelift
Click thumbnails to view high resolution photo

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

A French take on the BMW X6 will be displayed at the 2008 Paris Motor Show called the Citroën Hypnos. Citroën says the Hypnos combines the “dynamism of a coupe”, the “elegance of a sedan”, and the space of an SUV. The interior which you will find after the jump is even funkier, done up in all the colours of the rainbow. The concept is powered by a 200 horsepower engine (likely turbocharged) with 60+mpg and 120g/km of CO2.


Click to view larger image

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso is a 7-seater version of the C4 Picasso. It is priced at RM168,000 with a 2 year or 100,000km warranty. The C4 Picasso loses its egg-like contour thanks to the third row which gives it a more traditional shape towards the rear.

It is powered by a 2.0 liter engine with variable valve timing producing 143 DIN horsepower and 200Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. The Euro 4 compliant engine is mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission.

The interior is particularly impressive especially at this price range as it features a massive glass sunroof that is laminated and tinted for anti-UV and anti-infrared properties. That combined with the panoramic windscreen and the large side windows gives the interior a very roomy and airy feel. There are air vents for all 3 seating rows, and the third bench folds down flat with a 50:50 split whenever you need the luggage space.

The second row features tables integrated into the front seats, like the ones you find in airplanes. The steering wheel features the trademark Citroen fixed hub which does not turn together with the wheel. Headlamps and wipers turn on automatically when needed.

Safety features include a 5-star Euro NCAP rating and 9 airbags (2 x front, 2 x front side, 2 x side, 2 x curtain and 1 driver’s knee). There are seatbelts with warning indicators for all 7 seats to ensure everyone including the third row buckles up. ISOFIX child seat points are found on the front passenger seat and three 2nd row seats. Stability control and ABS are standard.

A comfort pack is available which adds Bluetooth handsfree, ambient lights, and a telephone kit for RM3,000. Leather wrapping on the steering wheel costs an additional RM400 while leather for the seats cost RM1,800.

Look after the jump for more photos of the Grand C4 Picasso.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

Citroen’s new Malaysian distributor Brooklands Motors Sdn Bhd has launched the new luxury D-segment Citroen C6 in Malaysia last week.

The C6’s 3.0 liter V6 puts out 215 hp DIN at 6,000rpm and 290Nm of torque EEC at 3,752rpm. It really looks quite different from any other car out there thanks to the notchback-like convex boot and the overly long front overhang. The doors are also frameless which make them quite sexy, something usually only found on coupes.

There are also a few technologies goodies in the C6 which sets it apart from the rest of its competitors, and just how the interior looks makes it fit to be called a gadget person’s car. It has a dual-mode active silencer which maintains serenity under normal conditions and improves performance under load.

A in-car entertainment system called the Citroen NaviDrive displays key information such as entertainment, climate control and navigation on a large 7 inch 16:9 widescreen LCD.

A heads-up display projected onto the windscreen displays key driving info such as driving speed and can also display navigation data. Citroen says HUDs can improve motoring safety as moving your eyes to look at traditional displays for this info can take up to 0.5 seconds of time at at speeds of approximately 110km/h this can mean 15 meters of travel or an average of 3 cars’ lengths.

The car also features the Hydractive III+ suspension system, which is an electronically controlled suspension which can vary different settings like damping and height. For example, the car’s height will always remain the same no matter how many passengers or luggage are loaded into the vehicle. Height is also automatically adjusted according to speed and road condition to optimise comfort, ground clearance and fuel consumption.

A Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) warns the driver via vibrations in the seat if he accidentally leaves his lane by monitoring the white lines marked on the road via infrared sensors built into the front of the vehicle.

Priced at RM398,000 it offers an alternative to the likes of the “mainstream” A6 the E-Class and the 5-Series. The other luxury D-segment competitors are the S80 and the Jaguar XF.


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© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

Citroen has added a new petrol engine to its Citroen C-Crosser SUV (rebadged Mitsubishi Outlander), complementing its existing 156hp 280Nm 2.2 HDi offering. The new Citroen C-Crosser 2.4i is powered by Mitsubishi’s 4B12 GEMA 2.4 liter engine producing 170hp at 6,000rpm and 226Nm of torque at 4,100rpm. It is mated to a CVT gearbox, though a 5-speed manual is also available.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

We may see Peugeot and Citroen badge engineered versions of the Mitsubishi i MiEV in the European market, much like PSA Peugeot Citroen’s deal with Mitsubishi with the Outlander, resulting in the C-Crosser and the 4007.

PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mitsubishi Motors have started a joint study that will last several months to examine the scope a potential cooperation to produce small electric-powered vehicles designed for city and urban use.

The study will also involve the feasibility of shared production sites for components for electric vehicles. This announcement comes just after the beginning of the construction of a new jointly owned factory in Russia.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

Citroen’s Unmistakeably German ad campaign for the new second generation Citroen C5 by Euro RSCG highlights the “Teutonic” qualities of the new Citroen C5. It further strengthens the fact that the typical “German-ness” of a car is something very desirable. Even when the Ford Focus was launched, ad campaigns delivered the message “European styling, German technology.” The Citroen ad features a traditional Bavarian bar and grill, sections of the Autobahn, and the historic Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

Watch the Citroen C5 ad after the jump.

Related Posts:
The new second generation Citroen C5

VIDEO: Citroen C5 – Unmistakeably German Advertisement

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

Citroen has announced that it will start using the BMW-PSA Prince engine, which comes in normally aspirated 120 horsepower form and turbocharged 150 horsepower and 175 horsepower form, and the engine’s first usage in a Citroen car could be in the second generation Citroen C5. It’s sister marque Peugeot already uses it in the Peugeot 207 and the Peugeot 308, which are B-segment and C-segment hatchbacks respectively.

The normally aspirated Prince engine is called the EP6 internally by Peugeot and features variable valve timing and Valvetronic variable valve lift, while the 150 horsepower turbocharged version is called the EP6DT, and the 175 horses version EP6DTS. The turbocharged versions do not have Valvetronic, but feature direct injection and a twin scroll turbocharger.

Large cars with small displacement engines that have forced induction to boost power output are no stranger in these days, as even the large Volkswagen Passat can be equipped with the 1.4 liter TSI engine.

The Citroen C5 currently comes with two petrol engines and four HDi turbodiesels – a 127 horsepower 1.8 liter petrol, a 143 horsepower 2.0 liter petrol and multiple turbodiesels from a 110 horsepower 1.6 liter inline-4 up to 208 horsepower V6. The top of the pops 175 horsepower turbocharged 1.6 liter Prince could slot in as the top of the range petrol engine, equipped with a ZF 6-speed quick shifting automatic.

Related Posts:
The new Citroen C5

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.

Citroen has unveiled it’s brand new Citroen C5 in both sedan and stationwagon body types. It will go on sale in the UK early 2008 onwards. The C5 is the second largest Citroen after the large D-segment Citroen C6.

Innovative features include a second generation fixed hug steering wheel, a seat back massage function and a choice of suspension setups thanks to the Hydractive 3 Plus suspension system. You can also specify it with Citroen’s new NaviDrive system which features a 7 inch LCD display and lets you control functions like a built in GSM phone, audio system and satellite navigation. There is also an optional automatic electric parking brake and hill-start assist. The Citroen Hydractive 3 Plus self-levelling suspension system features continuously self-adjusting spring and damping rates. Two preset modes are available – Comfort and Sport.

The new Citroen C5 is longer and wider than the model it replaces, with the sedan measuring 4780mm long, 1860mm wide and 1450mm tall. The estate is slightly longer at 4785mm, but other dimensions remain the same.

There are two petrol engines and 4 HDi turbodiesel engines. The petrol choices include a 127hp 1.8 liter engine and a 143hp 2.0 liter engine. The oil burners consist of four units – a 1.6 liter HDi 110, a 2.0 liter HDi 138, a 2.2 liter twin-turbo HDi 173, and a 2.7 liter twin-turbo VGT HDi 208, with the first three being inline-4 units and the largest one being a V6. The numbers indicate power output in horsepower. These HDi units are fitted with a Diesel Particulate Filter System.

More photos after the jump.

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© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 21 Mar 10 10:16:54 +0000.