The new Citroën C-Elysee will be produced by the PSA-Dongfeng joint venture in China. The new car has been seen in public for the first time at the Shanghai motor show today.
The second-generation C-Elysee is mechanically identical to the Peugeot 301. The current car is based on the 20-year-old Citroën ZX.
Last year, Citroën announced the C-Elysee was to be manufactured at PSA's facility in Vigo, Spain for markets including Turkey, Spain and central Europe. The PSA-Dongfeng JV will produce the car for the Chinese market.
The new C-Elysee is powered by PSA's VTI 72 engine, which has been develop to run on varying quality of fuel available in emerging markets. It develops 72bhp and 81lb ft, and has fuel consumption rated at 56.5mpg.
Citroën claims the C-Elysée will have a roomy interior with a rear that is comparable with cars in the D-segment and a 506-litre boot. A 2.65m wheelbase makes it the longest in its class.
Jim Holder/Stuart Milne
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For China
Look at it from this angle - the more they sell of these, the more money they will have to develop proper cars suck as the C6 (saw one the other day - still looks fantastic, like a spaceship). Frankly, I believe manufactures should consider adopting different models for China and the rest of the world (this is not uncommon - e.g. USA - Europe). Chinese tastes are still forming, they don't have the history of Europe, USA and Japan so this strategy should be OK. Good job Citroen, now bring us the next C6!
P.S. This looks appailling!
You wouldn't think.......
You wouldn't think from looking at this vehicle that Citroen are one of the few mass manufacturers capable of hitting the sweet spot which avoids both dullness and vulgarity in appearance! Yet if there is a market for this sort of thing, then the best of luck to them. It has a positively (or negatively) Skoda Octavia dullness about it, down to the grey paintwork.