Citroen boss wants more DS models

Citroen boss Frederic Banzet, has said that the company is looking at expanding the DS models from the DS3, DS4 and DS5 models, to a fully-fledged Citroen sports car with design cues from the superb looking Survolt concept.

In the meantime, expect to see variations of the DS3 such as a soft top and other editions based on tie-ups with fashion brands. This expansion strategy is being driven by sales of the DS3, which are twice that of what Citroen had budgeted for.

That said there are apparently no plans create a standalone DS brand, but other DS models will most likely follow and sales of the DS3 will commence in China shortly.

Citroen will showcase the DS5 in Geneva next March, which will be a significantly different proposition and execution to the DS3 and DS4 cars.

Although the five-seat DS5 will be based on the C5, it may not necessarily look like that car. It will ride higher than the C5 and take design direction from Citroen’s Hypnos concept.

The Hypnos has a diesel-electric powertrain made up of a 2.0-litre HDi engine producing 149 kW to the front wheels and a 28 kW electric motor driving the rear wheels, which will be shared with the DS5.

It’s a powerful unit for sure, but the DS5 will be billed as luxury GT rather than a performance machine.