The French automaker has been steadily growing in China, the world’s largest auto market, and since it lost DS Automobiles, the company's former premium sub brand, it now sees the need for a new flagship model.
Since DS Automobiles left the patronage of Citroen to become a full-fledged independent upscale brand in March, Citroen has been lacking in the department of flagships. But, according to the latest report, this issue will be amended soon.
It appears that the company is looking to resurrect the C6 nameplate and the first prototype of the car–with the codename X81–was produced in November last year. Apparently the new C6 will ride on the PSA EMP2 architecture and will receive 1.8- and 2-liter turbocharged gasoline engines, as Chinese drivers are not fans of diesel cars.
After the market launch, it appears the next move for the new C6 would be to employ a hybrid powertrain.
The new C6 is expected to have numerous elements taken from the Citroen Metropolis concept that was delivered in Shanghai back in 2010, though without the most astonishing elements seen at the front and a reduced wheelbase.
Sales are expected to commence before the year ends and manufacturing will be handled by the Dongfeng-PSA joint venture in China, with an official reveal of the model taking place sometimes during the third quarter of the year.
By the way, the DS Automobiles will take advantage of the new C6 introduction and present its own take on the flagship model–apparently called DS9. It would also be produced by the same joint venture and has been tipped for launch sometimes during next year.
It's unknown whether Tehran will see the new Chinese C6 model, however the French company did experiment with bringing in a small range of high-end cars over the past few years to test the market response.
Back in early December, the French automotive group announced it will import a maximum of 1,000 units of its upscale DS brand in Iran in 2016.
Speaking to Iranian journalists in France, Arnaud Ribault, said at the time, the company will be bringing its models to Iran, local automotive news website Carnet wrote.
Citroen announced in early 2009 the development of the premium sub-brand DS, for Different Spirit or Distinctive Series, to run in parallel to its mainstream cars. The slogan of the DS car marque is “Spirit of Avant-Garde”.
“The DS brand is currently manufacturing in France and China. Exports to Iran will be done from the production lines of these two countries,” Ribault said.
The marketing chief said a sales center will soon start operating in Iran with four models: DS 4, DS 4 Crossback, DS 5 SL and DS 6.
