Vive la DS! Ugo Spagnolo Imagines the Duchesses’ 2019 Successor

Ask any French car fan what the most beautiful and technically advanced executive sedan of the 1950s was and most will reply, “The Citroen DS.” You only need to look at the styling of some of the DS’s competition – take the Alfa Romeo 1900 Ti, Austin A95 Westminster or BMW 501/6 for example – to see just how far ahead of its time it was.

Here was a car with a fully independent and auto-leveling suspension set up, front power disc brakes, power steering, a fiberglass roof and a hydraulically operated clutch and transmission. And the styling...

So if there’s any car worthy of a modern day revival, it’s the venerable DS. While studying at France’s Institut Superieur de Design, design student Ugo Spagnolo took on this challenge as part of his internship with Citroen.

With Spagnolo’s drawings at hand and the help of his friends at the institute, the 3D renders and animation were produced. It is said to have garnered favorable reviews from Citroen Styling Director Jean-Pierre Ploue.

Infusing the DS’s 64-year-old styling with the new Citroen design language introduced through concepts like the Revolt and Survolt, the DS24 is a real looker. With aggressive haunches, sliding rear doors, an almost Corvette-like nose and shapely rump, the Nouveau DS was imagined for Citroen’s Centenary in 2019.

And the interior does not fail to disappoint either, with its pulsing blue transmission tunnel suggesting the raw energy of the car’s hydrogen power source. Is it just me, or does that seem to be designer’s engine-of-choice these days?

Take a look at the pictures (and the stunning and initially seizure-inducing video) and leave your piece in the comments section below.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: Cardesign

2019 Citroen DS Design & 3D animation, students project

Ugo Spagnolo, designer.
Aurelien Petit, 3d digital designer.
Benoit Louzaouen, 3d digital designer.
Guillaume Vasseur, 3d digital designer.

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Citroën E-3POD Antistatic Concept for a Futuristic Electric Vehicle

This here is the E-3POD Antistatic design study and it was revealed at the Royal College of Art’s Interim Degree Show in London as part of the Double Challenge project sponsored by Citroën and aerodynamic simulation software company EXA. The task of the second year students was to envision an ultra-compact vehicle that could influence the design language of the automaker’s future electric cars.

Created by Heikki Juvonen, the E-3POD Antistatic was favored by the judges due to its “bold and engaging take on an urban three wheel electric vehicle”. Winning the competition gives the talented student the opportunity to work at the PSA Design Center in Paris for six months.

“I’m thrilled Citroën selected my design as their favorite and I can’t wait to work with their talented team in France. As a designer I strive for new and better solutions. Good and sustainable design not only improves manufacturer brand image and sales, but can also help to preserve our environment”, Heikki said.

According to the designer, the single-seater electric trike is meant for urban commuting, but it doesn’t replace cars. Instead, it could be an addition to future households, positioned between bikes and cars.

The E-3POD has a simple, lightweight construction and excellent aerodynamics meaning that it can be powered by a small battery, which in turn reduces manufacturing costs and final price, making the theoretical production version affordable.

The advantages of the E-3POD reside in its small footprint, allowing for easy parking, and closed cockpit, which, unlike bicycles and public transport, creates a “comfortable and isolated personal space”. Furthermore, the short overall length transforms the design study into an agile vehicle, excellent for tackling heavy urban traffic.

“We’re delighted to be involved in this important RCA project. The students have produced some truly exceptional ideas for the future design of electric Citroën vehicles. This type of powertrain is increasingly recognized as an important solution for economically and environmentally viable urban transport; so it’s fantastic to see the electric visions of these potential car designers of tomorrow”, said Philippe Holland, Responsable Style Graphique at Citroën.

By Csaba Daradics

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Bonnes Nouvelles! Citroën Boss Says Metropolis Concept will Spawn DS9 Limo Made in China

Citroën's CEO of Asian operations, Gregoire Olivier, has revealed that the company is planning a production version of the beautifully styled Metropolis concept car to compete against German luxury brands, primarily in China.

The sporty looking limousine, which will most likely be called the DS9, will be built by PSA/Peugeot-Citroën's joint venture with Changan Automobile Group in China.

"The Metropolis will happen -- it will become a real car," Olivier told Autonews China on the sidelines of an industry conference in Shanghai. "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."

Olivier did not reveal production volume estimates or a market launch date for the production version of the Metropolis. Also, no word on when and which other markets (aside from China) the DS9 will be offered. However, PSA executives have noted that they are not sure if they'll sell a hybrid version of the car in China, which leads us to assume the DS9 could be offered in other markets including Europe as the firm's flagship model.

The Metropolis concept car is the creation of Citroën's international design team that is based in Shanghai since 2008. Even though it is built on the same platform as the Citroen C6 and Peugeot 508, the imposing limousine measures an impressive 5.3m in length, 2.0m in width and 1.4m in height, meaning its larger than the long wheel-base version of the new Audi A8.

In concept form, the Metropolis features a hybrid powertrain comprising of a 2.0-liter V6 engine connected to a 7-speed, dual-clutch electronic gearbox, and an electric motor.

At low speeds, the concept can run in pure electric mode with the battery-powered motor delivering a continuous 55bhp (40kW) and a peak output of 95bhp. According to Citroen, at steady speeds on main roads and motorways, the V6 engine provides 272bhp (200kW) and 375Nm of torque, but when additional performance is required, the car uses both the powerplants to deliver a maximum output of 460bhp (345kW) and 430Nm of torque. It also features a four-wheel drive mode for when extra grip is needed.

Source: Autonews China

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