Citroën reveals MINI challenging DS3's insides'

Taking advantage of the news-thirsty internet media, Citroen is slowly revealing new bits and pieces of its MINI rivaling DS Inside hatch that will be called DS3 when it enters production during the first quarter of 2010. Although the premium hatchback made its world debut as a thinly disguised concept at the 2009 Geneva Show in March, this is the first time that we get a chance to see the car's interior which is for the most part, production ready. The French automaker has yet to release details, but it is clear from the photos that the designers have tried to give the DS3's interior a contemporary and upscale feel.
Highlights include the two-tone leather sports seats, a neat instrument panel with three deeply-dished instrument dials, the flat bottomed three spoke steering wheel and the decorative chrome trim. Following in the footsteps of MINI, Citroen will offer DS3 buyers the chance to customize the interior with various individual options.
The DS3 that will not replace the C3 in Citroen's range, will be offered with a variety of four cylinder gasoline and diesel engines including the BMW and PSA Peugeot-Citroen developed 1.6-liter petrol unit in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms.

Citroën allows Internet users to discover the C3 thanks to an Augmented Reality brochure. A premiere ! (France)

Citroën recently offered the possibility to drive a reduced model, with the first Augmented Reality iPhone application (combination of real-world and computer-generated data). For the launch of the last C3 model, the manufacturer introduced a new experience: discover the vehicle through a Reality Augmented brochure on the C3picasso.com website. The brochure contains 3 interactive pages that allows to discover the C3 Picasso in 3D. To be able to enjoy, some preparation is required: print the 3 pages of the catalogue in colour, download and launch the C3Picasso.exe program, then place the printed pages in front of the Webcam. The last page of the brochure offers the possibility to modify the body colour of the car in real-time. A making-of was made, presenting the modelling work of the 3D and the Reality Augmented experience. The website was made in full Flash. Besides this experience, the visitor can go through the different virtual rooms of a very high-tech house, discover the different universes of the vehicle in each room with a convenient 360° view, take a shower of colours in the bathroom and discover the events on the terrace.

Mitsubishi: to tie with Peugeot on electric cars

TOKYO, March 2 (Reuters) - Mitsubishi Motors Corp said on Monday it will work with PSA Peugeot-Citroen on its new electric car, the i MiEV, aiming to sell the car in Europe from the end of 2010 or early 2011.

Peugeot will sell the car under its own brand, the company said in a statement. (Reporting by Sachi Izumi)

Daily Telegraph 'media-first' unveiled Citroen's new brand identity

Citroën marked its 90th birthday by unveiling a new corporate identity in the Daily Telegraph, promoted by an interactive advertising campaign created by readers.

In an attempt to convey the French car giant's foundations in "style, innovation and technology", the campaign required readers to fold specific pages of the quality newspaper to create Citroën's message and reveal its strapline ‘Creative Technology'

The print marketing campaign, exclusive to The Daily Telegraph, was designed by Omnicom's OMD, and was accompanied by ads in TV and full-page traditional colour ads in every national and Sunday newspaper.

In addition to what is being touted as a "media first" within The Daily Telegraph, there was corresponding digital ads on Telegraph.co.uk. Users of the website were able to click on a branded page peel, which rolls back to expose an origami-like fold-up of the web pages themselves and the new Citroën brand identity.

Ian Hughes, marketing director of Citroën UK, called the Telegraph execution "evidence of our reinvention" that allows the company to demonstrate "creative technologie".


Citroen Daily Telegraph Creative Technology
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Top Auto Designers Name Classic Citroën DS Most Beautiful Car of All Time

The Citroën DS is the most beautiful car of all time, according to the world's leading car designers. Assembled by UK-based Classic & Sports Car magazine, the 20 jury members placed the French sedan ahead of anything produced by Ferrari or Lamborghini.
Judges included Giorgetto Giugiaro, who was awarded Car Designer of the Century in 1999 and penned (among other vehicles) the Alfa Romeo 159, VW Golf, Maserati Bora and Mustang Giugiaro Concept; Gordon Murray, who created the iconic McLaren F1; and Ian Callum, who oversaw creation of the Jaguar XF along with the Aston Martin DB7 and DB9.Marcello Gandini, responsible for both the Lancia Stratos and Lamborghini Countach, said of the DS: “At the time I think it was complete folly, madness from a business and industrial point of view… but it was a really innovative car in 1955. A few people may have thought of all those beautiful ideas, but it was real bravery to implement all of them in one car.”

Giugiaro agreed, “The only example of a car really conceived ‘outside the box’. It is just impossible to imitate.”

Citroen DS returns

French maker shocks with all-new DS-badged luxury line-up, spearheaded by stunning MINI rival.

Watch out MINI! This stunning machine is an all-new small luxury car from Citroen, and not only does it revive the legendary DS badge but it will spearhead a fresh range of premium Citroen models. The exciting news was announced at a special event on the Champs Elysees, Paris, where this remarkable model took pride of place. Called the DS Inside, it’s a concept that points the way to a production version, which is set to go on sale in early 2010. Similar in size to a C3, the DS Inside has been designed to compete with prestige-badged small cars such as the MINI, Alfa Romeo MiTo and the forthcoming Audi A1. The first of a new range of premium Citroens that will all carry the DS badge, it will most likely be tagged DS3 when it reaches showrooms early next year. A C4-sized model, called the DS4, and a C5-sized car, called the DS5, will follow it. The original DS, which was launched back in 1955, was one of the most important models in Citroen’s history and the French firm is hoping to draw on its legendary reputation for luxury, innovation and style with its new premium line-up. While the DS name was a play on the French word déeesse, meaning goddess, the new badge stands for Different Spirit. And as you can see from these amazing pictures, the new model certainly stands out.

Check out: http://www.dsinside.citroen.com/

Citroën C3 Picasso launches a web series

To promote the forthcoming C3 Picasso, Citroën is launching a series of short programs on the Internet, through their website, community platforms such as Youtube, and e-mails addressed to potential clients.

With the C3 Picasso, Citroën is once again shaking up conventional automotive ideas, introducing an innovative concept that is sure to play a leading role in the B2 MPV segment. The C3 Picasso bears all the hallmark creativity of Citroën and stands out with its bold styling, innovative architecture and outstanding ingenuity. It does more than simply sublimate the qualities of an MPV. The high-set seating and onboard visibility will delight all passengers, while the vehicle’s complete and intuitive modular design will make their day-to-day life a charm. And the newcomer’s nimble roadholding will satisfy drivers looking for pleasure and involvement at the wheel.

Citroën Debuts New Logo on 90th Anniversary

At 90 years old, Citroën is opening a new page in its history, with a new visual identity. The logo is part of a complete overhaul of the brand and its products spanning the next year. The new logo is being unveiled simultaneously in 34 countries today on the birthday of the company founder, André Citroën. In a difficult economic context, and in a period of changing automotive uses and new relationships between customers and brands, Citroën has opted to take action and reinvent itself.
The new mark was developed jointly by Citroën’s Marketing and Styling teams, and Landor. The chevrons have broken free from their frame and become three-dimensional, taking on relief and gaining in strength and body. Bridging Citroën’s past and future, the colour red is used for the new brand name typography. The red assumes a new, deeper tone.

Orange is launching an interactive advertising experiment with Citroën on its channel package: 100,000 household are taking part to it… (France)

The Orange operator recently experienced an interactive advertising campaign on its TV channel through the “Orange Sport Info” IP (TV channel package through the ADSL). Citroën seized the opportunity to promote its C5 model: throughout the advertising spot, a streamer called upon the audience to click on their TV remote to consult an interactive website displaying additional information on the car (pictures, videos on the C5, documentation, car trial enquiries, list of outlets…).
Over 100,000 households subscribed to the Orange TV have experienced this new form of ad. This operation began early November and ended December 14th 2008. This was a test by way of a step, as Orange would like to extend the service to all its Orange TV channels starting from the 1st semester 2009. By accumulating state control, TV channels, Internet website and operator, Orange strengthens each day its ecosystem by avoiding intermediaries to the maximum.

Citroën gets into leather

Over the weekend, the brand unveiled a new collaboration with Hermès (which must have been pleased with its Bugatti Veyron). The four-door Citroën 2CV par Hermès might lack the Bugatti's raw sex appeal, but it's pretty impressive in its own right: Think leather everything (steering wheel, dashboard, the gear knob) complemented by gray-beige cotton canvas (used to upholster the seats). And sure, now might not seem like the best time to introduce a car collaboration with Hermès, but it's not like you could've afforded this thing when times were good anyway. (Or so we think: Price is TBA.)