Citroën C1 Connexion Special Edition

A Citroën C1 that was configured by the French brand's UK Facebook fans in April, will enter production later this year, the company announced today. Some 24,000 configurations for the C1 Connexion were submitted to Citroën UK's Facebook with the most popular being a 3-door version of the mini finished in a Caldera Black body colour with Scarlett Red exterior and interior detailing, together with alloy wheels.
The C1 Connexion special edition is based on the VTR trim with the 1.0-liter 68ps petrol engine matched to a manual transmission with standard amenities including day-time running LEDs, air conditioning and electric front windows.
Melina Kacherou-Carage, Head of Digital Marketing at Citroën UK, commented: "This project has really captured the enthusiasm of the Facebook community. We’ve had thousands of configurations, so much positive feedback and now the first images of C1 Connexion, which will be ready to go on sale later in the year. You liked it, now we’re making it."
The French carmaker said that in the next phase of the C1 Connexion project, the company is inviting fans to help design the badge for the special edition model, with submission to close on May 18.

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Opel Denies that the Next Zafira will be Developed by PSA Peugeot-Citroën

The more General Motors European division and PSA Peugeot-Citroën deepen their newly formed strategic partnership, the more rumors come out. Earlier today, Germany's Spiegel magazine and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung business daily reported that GM decided to move development of the next Opel Zafira minivan from Germany to France. Opel's response came in quickly via a statement attributed to Opel/Vauxhall CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke who denied the reports.
"As part of the initial announcement earlier this year, GM/Opel and PSA stated their intent to cooperate in several areas including product development. Whatever the final split will be among the agreed common projects, no jobs will be lost in the engineering center in Ruesselsheim due to the alliance – in fact, the nature of the alliance is that it is a balanced one," Stracke said in the statement.
"Opel is leaving no stone unturned to enhance the efficiency and future viability in order to achieve sustainable profitability as quickly as possible in a difficult market environment," he added.
In a separate report from Reuters, GM and PSA Peugeot-Citroën are said to have sealed several deals over the past month, including expanding the number of cars they will build on shared platforms.
"Work teams are in place, meeting regularly and hopefully soon we will be able to share the first update on alliance progress," GM stated.
While GM may not be willing to release details, Peugeot Director General Frederic Saint-Geours was more than happy to show his cards during an interview with Italy's Corriere della Sera. Saint Geours said that the two automotive groups will "launch a raft of new models on shared platforms from 2016".
"We will launch a D-segment car, a crossover, a compact minivan, and two models in the B and C segments," he told the Italian daily. "After that, we will launch a shared-platform eco-friendly car."
To explain, by D-segment car, the French executive means something in the likes of the Opel Insignia/Peugeot 508, by compact minivan a vehicle similar to the Citroen Picasso, while a B-segment car translates to an Opel Corsa/Peugeot 208 and C-segment to the Opel Astra/Citroen C4.

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Citroën’s DS Concept with Over 120 High-Res Photos

Over the past few weeks, we managed to gather bits and pieces about Citroën’s newest DS concept study and now, we not only have more than 120 high-resolution photos to share with you, but we also have all the details in advance of its world premiere at the Beijing Motor Show on April 24. Previously believed to be named the DS9, the French study is called the Numéro 9 concept, though Citroën makes it clear that it belongs to the DS lineup.
Citroën says that the Numéro 9 introduces the more chic and premium DS lineup to Chinese consumers before the company launches its first DS products onto the market later this year.
More importantly though, Citroën states that the Numéro 9 refines the brand's design language and signals the styling cues of the next three DS line models including a C-segment premium sedan (think Audi A3 Sedan), an SUV and a D-segment (mid-size) executive saloon.
As you can see, Citroën is all hyped up about its DS line, which currently consists of the DS3 supermini, DS4 compact hatch and the larger DS5, and all for good reason as it has notched up more than 200,000 sales worldwide just two years after launch.
Citroën doesn't say if the Numéro 9 will result in a production model, but the French carmaker's executives have previously confirmed the brand's intentions to build a flagship model. 
 
The Numéro 9 is a follow up to the impressive 2010 Metropolis concept, which was also shown in China. However, the new DS study sports a shooting brake body, while at 4.93m (194.1-inches) long and 1.94m (76.4-inches) wide, with a 3m (118.1-inches) wheelbase, it's also more compact in dimensions than the 5.3m long (208.7-inches) Metropolis. Nevertheless, it's still longer and wider than a Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
The French brand claims that it provides plenty of room for rear occupants, adding that the three glass areas in the roof creates "a welcoming, friendly cabin ambience".
Citroën tells us that we should take special note of certain design elements such as the new front-end with the sculpted, 3-dimensional grille surround that flows into the full-LED headlights, as well as the floating roof underlined by chrome trim and the glazed side surfaces flowing into the rear window, as these styling cues will appear on the next DS models.
Under the hood, Citroën says that the Numéro 9's hybrid powertrain can combine a conventional petrol or diesel engine (depending on the market) with an electric motor on the rear axle that develops 70hp and torque of 200Nm, and which has the added benefit of offering four-wheel drive.
The electric motor is powered by lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged in three and-a-half hours from a normal domestic socket providing a range of 50km (around 31miles) in all-electric ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) mode.
The model that will go on display at the Beijing Motor Show is fitted with a 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol engine (shared with the BMW Group's Mini brand) developing 225hp (165kW) and 275Nm of torque.
Together, the combustion engine and electric motor can produce up to 295hp allowing for a 0 to 100km/h (62mph) sprint time of just 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 244km/h (152mph).
According to Citroën, if the driver makes use of the car's pure electric mode, the Numéro 9 returns up to 166mpg UK (1.7lt/100km or 138mpg US) over a combined cycle.
Needless to say, the Numéro 9 is fitted with a traditional hydraulic active suspension.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
DIMENSIONSLength: 4.93m
Width: 1.94m
Height: 1.27m
Wheelbase: 3m
WEIGHTTotal laden weight: 1,500kg
PLUG-IN HYBRID DRIVETRAIN
1.6 THP petrol engine developing 225hp (165kW) / torque of 275Nm
Electric motor on rear axle: power of 70hp / torque of 200Nm
ZEV mode: range of 50km
PERFORMANCE AND CONSUMPTION0 to 1,000m: 25.3 seconds
0 to 62mph: 5.4 seconds
Top speed: 152mph (244kph)
Consumption: 166mpg (1.7l/100km) over a combined cycle MVEG
CO2 Emissions: 39g/km
AERODYNAMICSCdA: 0.61
RUNNING GEARMICHELIN tyres 245/35 ZR21

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