Metropolis Concept to become reality

As part of its entrance into the Chinese market, Citroën has revealed that the brand intends to produce a premium luxury saloon based on the Metropolis Concept, presented at this year’s Shanghai Motor Show.

According to Gregoire Olivier, the company’s CEO of Asian operations the PSA/Peugeot-Citroen’s joint venture with Changan Automobile Group will be aiming to compete with German luxury brands with new high-end cars.

“The Metropolis will happen, it will become a real car,” said Olivier. “The same styling elements will be used for a high-level Citroen car to be developed in China. We want to build up the premier line in China — the Metropolis is emblematic of our approach.”

With Olivier declining to give further information about when the car will go into production and what will be its production volume, the car is expected to be called DS9. The car is set to become Citroen’s flagship and will become a direct contender to the Audi A8 and BMW 750Li.

The DS9 will be an homage to the 1955 DS19. Proportions of the future model are expected to be similar to the Metropolis concept which comes in at 5300 mm (208.6 inches) in length and 2000 mm (78.7 inches) in width.

The platform, which will be taken from the Citroen C6 and Peugeot 407, will make it longer than the current Audi A8, for example.

The Metropolis Concept car presented at the Shanghai Motor Show was powered a hybrid drivetrain, comprising of a 2.0-liter V6 engine and an electric motor, coupled with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Reports also state that PSA/Peugeot-Citroen should put aside the hybrid technology in favor of a traditional engine range.

For now we just have to wait and see what the final result will look like.