Citroen Numero 9 Concept & 3 new Citroen DS models on the way

Citroen Numero 9 Concept

Citroen has revealed the Numero 9 Concept ahead of the Beijing Motor Show – which we thought was the DS9 – and revealed 3 new DS models planned.

The Citroen DS range is due to launch in China during 2012, and the impressive Citroen Numero 9 Concept – which we’d assumed was going to be the Citroen DS9 (and may still be) – has been conceived to mark the launch of DS at Beijing later this month.

A big Citroen flagship has been on the cards for some time and the Numero 9 is an evolution of the Citroen Metropolis Concept, which we thought could become the DS6, and is probably destined to go in to production at some point as the DS9. Or any DS number you want to pick from DS6 upwards.

What Citroen do say about the Numero 9 is that it signals the styling cues of the next three DS range cars which will be a C-Segment saloon, an SUV and a D-Segment saloon. None of which fits the Numero 9 – which is bigger than D-Segment at nearly 5 metres long and a shooting brake – and none of which fits the profile of what we expected next from the DS range – a DS1 or DS2. Oh, well.

The Numero 9 Concept is said to combine the proportions of a coupe with those of an estate. It sits low on 21″ wheels and, with a 3 metre wheelbase, promises lots of room. The nose of the 9 gets a sculpted grill that flows in to the LED headlights – a signature Citroen say is the future DS nose – and the roof has the ‘floating’ DS feel.

Under the bonnet of the Numero 9 is a hybrid setup which Citroen say will be petrol or diesel depending on market (which rather shows a production intent). In the Beijing Concept it’s a 1.6 litre THP with 225hp driving the front wheels and a 70hp electric motor driving the rear.

The plug-in hybrid setup offers a 30 mile EV only range, automatically chooses the power source and driven wheels according to conditions and driver demand, can manage 62mph in 5.4 seconds, the usual sill economy and emission figures (in this case 166mpg and 39g/km) and can even switch the ICE to standby when not needed.

And the sooner Citroen makes the DS9 – or whatever they call it – the better.

DIMENSIONS

Length: 4.93m Width: 1.94m Height: 1.27m Wheelbase: 3m

WEIGHT

Total laden weight: 1,500kg

PLUG-IN HYBRID DRIVETRAIN

1.6 THP petrol engine developing 225hp (165kW) / torque of 275Nm Electric motor on rear axle: power of 70hp / torque of 200Nm ZEV mode: range of 50km

PERFORMANCE AND CONSUMPTION

0 to 1,000m: 25.3 seconds 0 to 62mph: 5.4 seconds Top speed: 152mph (244kph) Consumption: 166mpg (1.7l/100km) over a combined cycle MVEG CO2 emissions: 39g/km

AERODYNAMICS

CdA: 0.61

RUNNING GEAR

MICHELIN tyres 245/35 ZR21

By Cars UK