Citroën 're-boot' to include electric cars and more expressive design

Linda Jackson, the British CEO of Citroen, says two electric vehicles are due by 2020

The ‘re-booting’ of the Citroën brand will continue with the launch of a mid-size SUV model and will eventually extend to an eight model line-up of passenger cars, according to Linda Jackson, the British CEO of Citroen.

The new Citroën mid-size SUV - based on the Aircross concept  (pictured) - was recently confirmed to be built at the PSA factory in Rennes from early 2018, after originally being pencilled for production outside the EU.

Jackson also confirmed that the brand would have two new electric vehicles in the B- and C-segments on sale in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Despite the expressive styling and character of the C4 Cactus andnew C3 supermini, the French maker remains committed to competing in the mainstream C- and D-segments, according to Citroën Product Director Xavier Peugeot.

Speaking at the press unveiling of the new C3, Peugeot told Autocar that, after Citroën's split with DS, the aim was to reinvent the marque as "attractive, fresh and modern…we will be different, but not crazy," he said.

The eight body styles will be global models, but Peugeot hinted that new models would be tweaked to suit different markets. Vehicles heading for China likely to toned down for local market tastes, with the new China-only C6 limo showing how exterior styling will be more conventional and chrome-laden.

"We want to be modern and fresh, but these values will have to be adapted to each segment and market," Jackson told Autocar.

Xavier Peugeot hinted that Citroën is unlikely to abandon the C-segment hatchback market and rely solely on a crossover such as the production Aircross. The need to produce C-segment saloons for global markets is one of the reasons that a conventional C4 five-door will survive in the company line-up.

The shape and style of a C5 replacement and a replacement for the company’s big MPV are currently under discussion, Peugeot said.

While Citroen will focus on "advanced comfort" as one of the new key brand messages - "making drivers feel at home" according to Jackson - there will be a WRC derivative of the new C3 supermini.

Xavier Peugeot hinted that there would be a production version of the C3 inspired by the WRC car and that this performance-orientated car would be targeted at younger drivers. Performance versions of Citroën's other upcoming new models were highly unlikely, however.

Citroën's global sales last year were a modest 1.16 million, with 731,000 sold in the EU and 302,000 in China. Although the brand has not stated its future sales target, it is estimated that it wants to boost sales by around 20-25 percent over the next five years.