French giant Citroen is taking its luxury DS range to the next level! The company is set to launch a new flagship saloon to compete head-on with Mercedes’ S-Class, as well as the Audi A8 and Jaguar XJ. And Auto Express has learned it will be badged DS9.
Designed to show just what the upmarket DS sub-brand is capable of, the newcomer will take its lead from the Metropolis concept, which was revealed at the Shanghai Expo back in May. And it will also be built in China.
Speaking to Automotive News China, Citroen’s head of Asian operations, Gregoire Olivier, said: “The Metropolis will happen, it will become a real car."
“The styling elements will be used for a high-level Citroen to be developed in China. We want to build up the premier line in the country, and this concept is central to this approach.”
The Metropolis uses the C6 executive saloon’s platform, and is 5.3 metres in length – that’s longer than an A8 LWB. It has a 2.0-litre petrol V6 mated to an electric motor, which delivers 460bhp and CO2 emissions of 70g/km.
A similar powertrain is expected in the DS9, although details have yet to be finalised. Scheduled to enter production in late 2012, the DS9 will be built as part of Citroen’s joint venture with the Changan Automotive Group in Guangdong province.
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....but that bonnet is just too long. It's nice to see manufacturers daring to venture outside the Euro-box formula.
My goodness, it will be like a 1968 Cadillac in downtown London. No place big enough to park, it cannot turn right without being hit from the right, and yes, the bonnet is just too long and the front armament is just ridiculous. It looks like a Cylon.
Just in case you were wondering:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C...
Did Citroen not learn anything from the C6? I must admit this looks a fantastic car but big french cars like this never do well in the market place.
does look an amazing concept, but who would actually buy one, with their own money?
still they have to do something bold if they have any hope of stealing away customers from the Germans and the new XJ, so good luck to them i say.
i like it, but i'd still feel somewhat ridiculous driving around a spaceship? need a silver foil suit to go with it.
What about the powertrain?
I can't wait to see a petrol V6 with 460bhp and 70g/km fitted to say, the C5. That would be fantastic.
One of my vehicles is a 93 Caddy Fleetwood and at 5.7 metres it doesn't seem too long for me but then I wouldn't try driving it into St Martins Court or a bunch of tiny alleys if I still lived in London.
How do the trucks and vans manage there ?
I did have a Citroen Dyane back in 74 and that seemed fine, however I always remember the ID's and DS19's. They all looked like they were rusting out the moment they left the factory
Maybe Citroen has improved the durability if not the style.
Hooray for Citroen. The Metropolis, assuming they build it like the one in the pictures, and they keep the same name, will, be fantastic. Much as I love the Audi A8, not the BMW 7 series, the other luxury cars like the Panamera, Rapide, Quattroporte... this is something else entirely. If I had lottery money (I expect I'd need it too) and this was in the segment of cars I mentioned above, I'd have one, for the difference.
Citroen are now making some nice cars, as conventional seems to be slowly taking over from Quirky.
Unfortunately taking on the Limmo class still seems to be a matter of pride for the French maker, and which is surely doomed to failure once again, as Citroen will first have to show the world that they can make sturdy and reliable cars, before the luxury car buyers are tempted away from the established luxury brands, and turn to Citroen.
Either way, I like the futuristic style. :)
Too bad I can't buy one in the U.S. :(
Be careful peeps when entering Cylon... I mean Citroen dealerships once the DS9 is released. If the 8 employees look very familiar whichever dealership you deign to visit, it could be a prelude to invasion. Someone should warn Admiral Adama... I mean Obama... :D