Big Citroen guns for Audi

Metropolis revealed in Europe for first time at Geneva show, and production version will top DS range as part of joint venture with Chinese maker.

Auto Express Car Reviews

Text: Christophe Aubry / Photos: Christophe Aubry

February 2011

The next flagship Citroen took a step closer to production this week, when the firm pulled the wraps off the luxurious new Metropolis concept in Geneva.

Originally shown at last year’s Shanghai Expo, the 5.3-metre-long luxury saloon points to a car bosses have confirmed for China.

And we’ve had an exclusive preview of the Metropolis, which has been subtly updated since its bow last year, with a fresh coat of paint among the changes.

The plan is that the car will top the DS range when it arrives in 2014, and will be built in the Far East in a joint venture with Chinese brand Changan. It’s the start of Citroen’s push into the market there, which will be spearheaded by the DS range.

The strategy involves revealing the DS5 at this year’s Shanghai event, which takes place next month.

But the Metropolis could also be launched in Europe to enhance the firm’s image, and act as a halo model for Citroen’s plug-in and hybrid technology.

Before that, the striking concept will lend its front-end design to the replacement for the Ford Mondeo-rivalling C5. This new model is likely to be available in two different wheelbases. That would allow a four-door coupé, badged DS7, to form part of the future line-up and compete with Audi’s A5 Sportback.

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3 Comments

this car looks stunnig! Well done Citroen.

By frenchpress2 on 2 March, 2011, 7:34am

Lucky Chinese

If the production version looks similar to this, I'll be waiting at the factory gates; it's stunning. Let's hope the interior does justice to the gorgeous bodywork.

By snappyuk on 3 March, 2011, 10:39pm