Shanghai show: Citroen’s DS SUV emerges

CITROEN has unveiled an evocative new concept that previews an upmarket luxury SUV for its prestige DS model range.

Dubbed the DS Wild Rubis and to make its world premiere at next week’s Shanghai motor show, the concept is described by the French manufacturer as “a vision of a future DS SUV” that is set to become the fourth instalment of the premium model line after the DS3, DS4 and DS5.

Its Shanghai debut comes exactly two years after Citroen presented the C5-based DS5 at the same event.

The ruby-red SUV is understood to be built on the same basic architecture as the DS5 and is likely to reach production – possibly with the ‘DSX’ moniker – later next year.

It will be keenly anticipated by Citroen Automobiles Australia, as the recently appointed distributor is concentrating heavily on the DS range as a key point of difference for this market.

The high-riding Rubis rests on a stretched 2900mm wheelbase (up 173mm from the DS5), and measures 4700mm long, 1950mm wide and 1590mm high.

Full powertrain details are still to be divulged, but Citroen says the concept is “designed to be driven by full-hybrid plug-in technology”.

This could be the latest instalment of the powertrain shown in the Numero 9 concept – a pointer to a potential DS9 luxury flagship – unveiled 12 months ago at the Beijing motor show, which combined a 165kW/275Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with a 52kW/200Nm electric motor positioned on the rear axle.

The system enabled a 50km electric-only driving range for the 1500kg vehicle, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, acceleration from 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds, a top speed of 244km/h, fuel economy of just 1.7L/100km under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) and CO2 emissions of 39g/km.

While regular petrol and diesel combustion engines would also feature in a production model, PSA Peugeot Citroen has committed to conventional and plug-in hybrid technology and offers a diesel-electric Hybrid4 system in the DS5 and other models overseas.

The Rubis has 21-inch wheels and, according to Citroen, is designed to express “power and strength”.

“A bold statement, the latest chapter in the DS line is as wild and rebellious as it is refined and sophisticated,” the company says.

The front-end styling extends on the look of the Numero 9, with a wide, heavily chromed grille (with a floating DS emblem) that flows into full-LED headlights complete with tuning fork-shaped daytime running lights that are meant to give the Rubis “a bold, hypnotic and unique stare”.

The rear end also carries similar themes, including plenty of sculptural work, chrome-encased tail-lights, muscular haunches and a wide application of chrome at the bottom that incorporates twin exhaust pipes.

Citroen says the concept embodies the “essence” of the DS line, describing its most expressive features as “the side chrome signature, the multitude of sculptured details in the metal, the front and rear light signatures and the finish of the materials, such as the guilloche pattern on the hub caps”.