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Citroen's baby Veyron is go!

Hi-tech, electric supermini coupé debuts

SURVOLT

By Sam Hardy

05th March 2010

Meet Citroen’s mini Veyron! This stunning machine is the SURVOLT – a Bugatti-like sports car that previews the way to an all-electric compact coupé of the future.

The SURVOLT was a genuine surprise debut on the Citroen stand at the Geneva show. It’s said to fuse the design themes of the Revolte and GT by Citroen concepts – revealed at the Frankfurt expo in 2009 and Paris in 2008 respectively.

WATCH OFFICIAL FOOTAGE OF THE SURVOLT HERE

But the car’s proportions and sweeping curves certainly bear a resemblance to the Veyron.

The huge rear wing and vast air intakes clearly take cues from the race track – although the SURVOLT is smaller than most superminis, at 3.85 metres long, 1.87m wide and 1.2m high.

Further head-turning features include LED clusters all-round and remarkable fuchsia and charcoal grey two-tone paint. Under the skin, a 268bhp electric motor drives the rear wheels. Power comes from a host of batteries located in the front, middle and rear of the car.

Citroen is giving nothing away about the SURVOLT’s performance potential, but considering its lightweight construction, the model should cover 0-60mph in less than four seconds – similar to Tesla’s Roadster S.

Bosses are also keeping tight-lipped about how close the new model is to production. Yet they have said they would like to build a limited number to compete in a one-make racing series. Regardless of whether the small coupé reaches showrooms, design themes such as the oval front grille and striking headlights will make it on to future Citroens.

Also on the firm’s Geneva stand was the DS3 Racing hot hatch, as well as the DS High Rider.

The latter previews the all-new DS4 SUV, due on sale in 2011.

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6 Comments

SURVOLT is reVOLTing

Yuk - what a hideous machine. Please, please, Citroen - rediscover your ability to design beautiful cars. Where has the spirit of the DS, GS and CX gone? This tatty rubbish just lets you down.

By pajbse on 9 March, 2010, 9:38am

Dong Feng Citroen China

Being the Marketing and Aftersales Service Manager of Dong Feng Philippines, the SURVOLT could not be marketed in our country not because of the limitation between Dong Feng and Citroen but because electric cars have not yet reached the point where it is cheaper than fossil fuel. If ever a fuel like the hydrogen fuel cell becomes commercially viable, then the race to make the most economical and efficient car shall begin.

By judean

By judeanauto on 9 March, 2010, 12:44pm

May I ask

why an electric car needs air intakes?

By kshraga on 11 March, 2010, 8:33am

The Answer Is Simple

@kshraga
Electric vehicles create a lot of heat in their battery packs, the Tesla uses around 40% of its total battery power just to keep the battery's themselves cool.

By mrgmyers on 12 March, 2010, 10:10am

Dont waste time on copying a bugatti. Please Citreon use your time to bring out a retro Citreon DS full sized family saloon, ala Beetle, Mini, Fiat 500.
With Citreon's design flare i'm sure it would be stunning and would sell like hot cakes. But please incorporate the hydrogas suspension from the original because it rode like a cloud. And the "narrower than the front" back axle. Plus give it all the modern technology available and especially rust proofing (which the original was in desperate need of). Oh, and with nice digital dashboard clocks. And don't ever release it as a convertable!

By bigbazza on 26 March, 2010, 7:26am

The March Of Progress...

I drove a Citroen GS Club once. It was very nippy, had body roll which would make an inclinometer jumpy and was made of Alcofoil. Doing 70mph on a dual carriageway, i happened to hit a fly. The bonnet disappeared instantly. I reckon it vapourised...

Its true the old DS offered a comfy ride, but there was another little known advantage to ownership. The DS was offered up as a stylish 4 door saloon, but for those that enjoy wind in the hair motoring, you only had to wait a while for the bodywork to rust away. Then you had the 60's equivalent of an Ariel Atom without the performance. Oh, and the handling. Still comfy tho... :)

By sgtgrash on 29 April, 2010, 11:26am

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