Citroën Numéro 9 concept

The Numéro 9 concept, which Citroën will be unveiling at this month’s Auto China show in Beijing, previews the styling direction that its trendy DS sub-brand will be taking in the future.

Citroën Numéro 9 Concept (2012) Front Side 2

Despite its attractive coupé-like profile and a shooting brake body, Citroën is denying that the Numéro 9 will become a production car. Instead, the company has said that some of the design elements seen on the concept will transfer across to the next three DS models that are in the pipeline.

These are a C-segment premium saloon (to presumably complement the existing DS4 hatchback), a D-segment executive saloon (which could well end up being slightly larger than the recently launched DS5) and an SUV.

Citroën Numéro 9 Concept (2012) Rear Side 1Citroën Numéro 9 Concept (2012) Front Side 1

From the images, the Numéro 9 appears to be a big car, and at 4.93 metres (16’ 2”) long and 1.94 metres (6’ 4”) wide indeed it is: a BMW 5 Series saloon, by comparison, is both slightly shorter and narrower. However, the Citroën is only 1.27 metres (4’ 2”) tall and features huge 21” ‘Turbine’ wheels, devices which are key to its stance and proportions.

Under the skin is a diesel- or petrol-hybrid powertrain. For China it’s the latter, which means a 221 bhp (165 kW / 225 PS) 1.6 litre THP engine driving the front wheels, while powering the rears is a 69 bhp (51 kW / 70 PS) electric motor.

Citroën Numéro 9 Concept (2012) Front Side 3Citroën Numéro 9 Concept (2012) Rear Side 2

Claimed electric-only range is 30 miles (50 km), with plug-in recharging taking 3½ hours. Reinforcing the eco credentials are an impressive average fuel economy of 166 mpg (1.7 l/100km) and CO2 emissions of 39 g/km.

But the Numéro 9 can be a performance car too when required. By employing the engine and motor together, the zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) sprint is reckoned to take just 5.4 seconds, plus the resultant all-wheel drive configuration enhances the road-holding.

Related posts:
Citroën DS4 Racing revealed
DS4 is Most Beautiful Car
Citroën DS3 WRC 2011
Citroën DS4 revealed
Citroën DS3 Racing

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