CARBARN | Citroën DS9 (2012) | Citroen has long been in the shadows of the Germans. The DS9, which is based off of the Metropolis concept, is the company’s attempt to move up market and challenge the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series, Jaguar XJ, and the Audi A8. Another reason for this new machine is that Citroen is planning on entering Asia with this vehicle, as it’s the first design carried out at the company’s Shanghai-based design team. The name Metropolis was created for a reason. At 5.3 meters long and 2 meters wide, it’s longer than a long-wheelbase Mercedes S-Class and wider than a Maybach.
As you can easily notice, the design language is inspired by the Hypnos concept and was entirely developed by PSA Group’s Shanghai design studio. The DS9 blends stunning lines with smooth surfaces, which is most noticeable at the front where the sculpted wings and grille merge with the stunning bonnet. The rear of the DS9 takes the vehicles overall width and blends it with a stunning aerodynamic line. There will likely be some sort of voice activated navigation and an entertainment system with some rear seat luxuries like massage seats, a DVD player, and other private jet sort of stuff.
The Metropolis is powered by a hybrid drive train that combines a 2.0-liter V6 engine with an output of 272bhp and 277lb ft and an electric motor that develops from 55bhp to 95bhp. This combination will allow the car to run on electricity alone at lower speeds and on petrol alone when commuting. All that being said, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen has stated they will most likely ditch the hybrid in favor of a traditional engine range.
The motor will likely be connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. As stated earlier, the competition for the DS9 will be the larger German sedans, the S-Class, 7-Series, XJ, and the A8. Exterior design is a matter of opinion, but we think the DS9 is stunning.
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