Peugeot/Citroen plan new SUV

Peugeot and Citroen will both launch a new compact SUV in early 2012 based on the Mitsubishi ASX.

The five-seat SUVs will be available with both front- and all-wheel drive. Combined sales for the models should reach around 50,000 units annually in segment that’s predicted to grow by 60 per cent by 2015 on today’s levels.

One of the engines destined for the unnamed SUVs is PSA’s 1.6 HDi engine. PSA is promising emissions in the front-drive model equipped with this engine to be 123g/km and it is targeting fuel economy of more than 60mpg.

Mitsubishi is also expected to provide the firms with its 2.0-litre diesel engine as part of the deal.

Read Autocar's Mitsubishi ASX first drive

The Mitsubishi ASX, known as RVR in Japan, will go on-sale this summer. The latest collaboration between PSA and Mitsubishi is the fourth between the companies.

The Mitsubishi Outlander SUV has been rebadged as the Citroen C-Crosser and Peugeot 4008, while the French firms will also launch their own versions of Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV city car later this year.

The firms also have a joint plant in Russia that begun production last week.

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