Citroen DS9 concept

The Citroen DS range has a bold new flagship, Numero 9. We revealed spy shots last month, but Citroen has now issued its own images and details of the car ahead of its Beijing Motor Show debut next week.

Officially the Numero 9 is still a concept, but Citroen has confirmed that it previews one of three new DS models, including a small saloon and an SUV initially aimed at the Chinese market.

 Following the stunning DS5 was always going to be a tough task for Citroen’s designers, but the DS9 adopts an even more striking elongated shooting brake bodystyle. At the front, the wide grille flows into LED headlights, while a wafer-thin roof spoiler and turbine alloys add style and improve aerodynamic efficiency.

Although the new model will attempt to lure buyers away from the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series, its proportions are unique. At 4.9 metres, it’s the same length as a Porsche Panamera, but wider and much lower, with a longer wheelbase.

Under the skin is an advanced plug-in hybrid powertrain capable of returning 166mpg and with CO2 emissions of 39g/km. It uses a 225bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine to drive the front wheels and a 70bhp electric motor, fuelled by a lithium-ion battery pack, for the rears.

Citroen has said the petrol engine is interchangeable with a diesel, stirring speculation that a UK version is on the way.

Charging the batteries takes 3.5 hours from a standard socket, giving an electric-only range of more than 30 miles. A boost function allows the petrol engine and electric motor to work together to their maximum potential, producing a total of 295bhp, and taking the car from 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds.

autoexpress.co.uk