Citroën launches all-electric E-Elysée for Chinese market

Citroën’s Chinese arm Dongfeng Citroën will reveal an all-electric version of its Elysée saloon at the Beijing motor show next week, before the model arrives on roads next year.

Called the E-Elysée, the new model uses a lithium ion battery to offer a range of up to 155 miles and features a fast-charge function that can top it up in just 30 minutes. Normal charging takes a further six hours, which is about two hours slower than a Tesla Model S can manage.

The E-Elysée will be built using the same four-door saloon body of the regular car and sold alongside the newly launched e-Mehari (pictured above), which is an all-electric open-top model that’s also sold in France.

Although both models are not set to make it to the UK, they show how far developed Citroën’s electric drivetrain technology is.

Autocar recently reported that Citroën’s sister brand DS was considering turning its E-Tense concept into a production model. The launch of these two China-bound models furthers this theory; the technology featured in them could even preview what’s to come in Europe.

New C6

Dongfeng Citroën will also display its new flagship C6 saloon in Beijing. This car targets China’s upper executive saloon segment and measures 4.96m in length.

Few details have been released, but the car maker says the model has been created by its Paris and Shanghai design teams, emphasising its focus on the Asian market. It won’t be coming to the UK.

Advanced Comfort technology

Dongfeng Citroën says it will showcase new technology that will increase the refinement and luxury of its Chinese models.

Called Citroën Advanced Comfort, the development programme has seen engineers and designers work to reduce things such as air and road noise while improving ride quality and functional cabin space.

A new selection of cabin materials and lighting is also being developed, in order to create a "more relaxed ambience" for passengers.

This sort of technology is of particular importance in the Chinese market, where comfort and luxury are priorities, but it's certainly plausible that it will make its way into future European Citroëns.