Vive la DS! Ugo Spagnolo Imagines the Duchesses’ 2019 Successor

Ask any French car fan what the most beautiful and technically advanced executive sedan of the 1950s was and most will reply, “The Citroen DS.” You only need to look at the styling of some of the DS’s competition – take the Alfa Romeo 1900 Ti, Austin A95 Westminster or BMW 501/6 for example – to see just how far ahead of its time it was.

Here was a car with a fully independent and auto-leveling suspension set up, front power disc brakes, power steering, a fiberglass roof and a hydraulically operated clutch and transmission. And the styling...

So if there’s any car worthy of a modern day revival, it’s the venerable DS. While studying at France’s Institut Superieur de Design, design student Ugo Spagnolo took on this challenge as part of his internship with Citroen.

With Spagnolo’s drawings at hand and the help of his friends at the institute, the 3D renders and animation were produced. It is said to have garnered favorable reviews from Citroen Styling Director Jean-Pierre Ploue.

Infusing the DS’s 64-year-old styling with the new Citroen design language introduced through concepts like the Revolt and Survolt, the DS24 is a real looker. With aggressive haunches, sliding rear doors, an almost Corvette-like nose and shapely rump, the Nouveau DS was imagined for Citroen’s Centenary in 2019.

And the interior does not fail to disappoint either, with its pulsing blue transmission tunnel suggesting the raw energy of the car’s hydrogen power source. Is it just me, or does that seem to be designer’s engine-of-choice these days?

Take a look at the pictures (and the stunning and initially seizure-inducing video) and leave your piece in the comments section below.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: Cardesign

2019 Citroen DS Design & 3D animation, students project

Ugo Spagnolo, designer.
Aurelien Petit, 3d digital designer.
Benoit Louzaouen, 3d digital designer.
Guillaume Vasseur, 3d digital designer.

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Citroën E-3POD Antistatic Concept for a Futuristic Electric Vehicle

This here is the E-3POD Antistatic design study and it was revealed at the Royal College of Art’s Interim Degree Show in London as part of the Double Challenge project sponsored by Citroën and aerodynamic simulation software company EXA. The task of the second year students was to envision an ultra-compact vehicle that could influence the design language of the automaker’s future electric cars.

Created by Heikki Juvonen, the E-3POD Antistatic was favored by the judges due to its “bold and engaging take on an urban three wheel electric vehicle”. Winning the competition gives the talented student the opportunity to work at the PSA Design Center in Paris for six months.

“I’m thrilled Citroën selected my design as their favorite and I can’t wait to work with their talented team in France. As a designer I strive for new and better solutions. Good and sustainable design not only improves manufacturer brand image and sales, but can also help to preserve our environment”, Heikki said.

According to the designer, the single-seater electric trike is meant for urban commuting, but it doesn’t replace cars. Instead, it could be an addition to future households, positioned between bikes and cars.

The E-3POD has a simple, lightweight construction and excellent aerodynamics meaning that it can be powered by a small battery, which in turn reduces manufacturing costs and final price, making the theoretical production version affordable.

The advantages of the E-3POD reside in its small footprint, allowing for easy parking, and closed cockpit, which, unlike bicycles and public transport, creates a “comfortable and isolated personal space”. Furthermore, the short overall length transforms the design study into an agile vehicle, excellent for tackling heavy urban traffic.

“We’re delighted to be involved in this important RCA project. The students have produced some truly exceptional ideas for the future design of electric Citroën vehicles. This type of powertrain is increasingly recognized as an important solution for economically and environmentally viable urban transport; so it’s fantastic to see the electric visions of these potential car designers of tomorrow”, said Philippe Holland, Responsable Style Graphique at Citroën.

By Csaba Daradics

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Citroen Antistatic Concept

Citroen has released today the renderings of the new Citroen Antistatic Concept, or E-3POD, The project was jointly sponsored by Citroën and EXA, a France-based aerodynamicsimulation software company.

The best overall design was Heikki Juvonen's Citroen E 3POD Antistatic electric tripod which is a single seater vehicle features two small wheels at the front and a large third wheel with an innovative hub-less design. The Citroen E 3POD Antistatic electric tripod is positioned between bikes and cars in the micro segment, and is intended to enhance urban mobility as an addition to the family transportation fleet.

The designer Heikki Juvonen, receives a six month employment contract to work at the prestigious PSA Design Centre in Paris.




Press Release

A series of visionary designs in a Citroën sponsored project have been unveiled at the Royal College of Art’s Interim Degree Show in London. The Double Challenge project required RCA MA second year students to design a compelling ultra-compact model that could establish a unique Citroën e-vehicle aesthetic for the future. The project was jointly sponsored by Citroën and EXA, a France-based aerodynamic simulation software company.

Heikki Juvonen’s E-3POD Antistatic was chosen as the best overall design by representatives from Citroën’s Style Centre and Electric Vehicle Development Team. His single-seat creation is a bold and engaging take on an urban three wheel electric vehicle. The distinctive, aerodynamic styling features two smaller wheels at the front with the driver sitting inside a larger third wheel with an innovative hub-less design. As his prize, Heikki receives a six month employment contract to work at the prestigious PSA Design Centre in Paris.

Heikki commented; “I’m thrilled Citroën selected my design as their favourite and I can’t wait to work with their talented team in France. As a designer I strive for new and better solutions. Good and sustainable design not only improves manufacturer brand image and sales, but can also help to preserve our environment.”

Citroën had significant involvement throughout the Double Challenge project, providing industry figures to lend the students their expertise and experience, as well as organising a trip to the PSA Design Centre and Le Conservatoire, Citroën’s in-house museum of historic models.

Philippe Holland, Responsable Style Graphique at Citroën, said; “We’re delighted to be involved in this important RCA project. The students have produced some truly exceptional ideas for the future design of electric Citroën vehicles. This type of powertrain is increasingly recognised as an important solution for economically and environmentally viable urban transport; so it’s fantastic to see the electric visions of these potential car designers of tomorrow.”

The RCA is the only exclusively postgraduate art and design university. The college’s Automotive Design course has been in existence for 40 years and is the oldest of its kind in Europe.

Mark Lloyd, Chief Designer of the award-winning Citroen DS3, previously studied at the Royal College of Art.

Designed by RCA student Heikki Juvonen, the Citroën E-3POD Antistatic electric tripod is a new type of electric vehicle for urban commuting. The ultra-light, micro segment, single-seater is not meant to replace cars, but to be an addition to the family transportation fleet, positioned between bikes and cars. With the E-3POD, the user can enter the world of electric vehicles without having to sacrifice their main means of long distance travel in internal combustion engine cars. The distinctive look of the electric design language is applied to distinguish the product from being associated to cars, for the avoidance of comparison in terms of operational range or refuelling/recharging time. The E-3POD has a simplified, lightweight construction with an emphasis on aerodynamics to minimize the required battery size. This lowers the production costs, making the E-3POD affordable for purchase in addition to the family car - and a potential means of commuting for young people and students. The lowered weight is emphasized in design elements such as the rear wheel, which works as a supportive structural element, the shared suspension for both front wheels, and the use of scratch resistant plastic for the canopy. The silent electric engines also make sound insulation redundant, allowing for lighter material selection. The E-3POD provides the user with easy, cost efficient transport with access to easier parking due to the small footprint. The design also provides comfortable and isolated personal space, which - when compared to bicycles or public transport - is a welcome addition. The short length of the vehicle makes it agile in urban environments. At higher speeds the E-3POD tilts slightly to provide solid grip and an emphasised stance, giving cornering a more responsive feel.

BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroën Form Joint Venture to Produce Hybrid Components

Already partners in developing 4-cylinder petrol engines, BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroën have decided to set up 50-50 equity joint venture named the BMW Peugeot Citroën Electrification, which will primarily focus on developing hybrid components. Sharing the cost of research and development as well as production and component purchasing, the two companies expect to achieve significant economies of scale.

The hybrid components in question include battery packs, E-machines, generators, power electronics and chargers, alongside the necessary software to operate them that will also be jointly developed. The new technologies will be used by the two automakers for their upcoming electric vehicles and could be sold to other companies as well.

The joint venture is expected to be fully operational in the second quarter of 2011 and it’s estimated that the first series production hybrid components will arrive in 2014.

“This cooperative venture will enable us to achieve significant economies of scale in the field of electrification. It also represents an important step on the road to sustainable mobility”, said Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.

“With this joint venture, we are sure to develop and expand our expertise and to build a European leader in the field of automotive hybrid innovation”, noted Philippe Varin, Chairman of the Managing Board of PSA Peugeot Citroën.

By Csaba Daradics

Euro NCAP's Best and Worst Performers of 2010

The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), which is similar to the American IIHS testing regimen, has released a list with the safest car in each vehicle category and the two worst performers overall of 2010. The cars that attained the coveted five star rating and achieved the highest overall score in their respective segment are:

------ Executive category: BMW 5 Series
------ Small Family category: Alfa Romeo Giulietta
------ Supermini category: Honda CR-Z
------ Small off-road 4×4 category: Kia Sportage
------ Small MPV category: Toyota Verso

On the other side of the fence are two models that achieved the poorest results of 2010. These are the Citroen Nemo with three stars and China's Landwind CV9 that received only two stars.

The European body noted that the cars in the top list "accomplished a high combined score based on the scores in each of the individual four areas of Euro NCAP’s assessment, while notably exceeding the thresholds for a 5 star overall rating". Along with the five top achievers, Euro NCAP said that the Suzuki Swift, Kia Venga, BMW X1, VW Sharan/Seat Alhambra, Citroen C4 all exceeded the 80% mark in overall score putting them on the runner-up list for the safest cars of 2010.

Commenting on the results, Dr Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General said: “Every year, car manufacturers constantly work to innovate and make their cars better and safer for the driver, whatever the size of the vehicle. The presence in these categories of high performing 5 star cars demonstrates car manufacturers’ commitment to safety for all sizes of vehicles.”

In early 2009, Euro NCAP implemented tougher crash testing procedures that make it more difficult for vehicles to receive a five-star rating. Last year, the European body crash tested a total of twenty-nine vehicles from numerous categories, of which 65 per cent reached the five star rating, compared to 90% in 2009.

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Citroen Survolt Artcar

Citroen and French artist, Francoise Nielly, have teamed up to create this masterpiece. The painting is based on the all-new, all-electric Citroen Survolt concept, first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year.

The car is quite stunning simply left standing on its own, but with the colourful splashing of pink, green and yellow over the bonnet and other prominent contours, the car presents a fresh vibrant look and a definite step away from the usual ‘boring’ electric cars we’ve become used to.

The Citroen Survolt measures 3.85 meters long, wide and 1.2 1.87.mm high and weighs 1150 kilograms. Comes with a tubular chassis, a flat bottom with a hood and a full carbon body. In terms of features Survolt exclusively powered by electricity and 0-60 mph in just a shade under five seconds to produce a top speed of 162 mph.

The Survolt art car is displayed at C_42, the automotive producer’s “creme de la creme” showroom, which is located on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.




Press Release

Citroen has launched a new season at the Company’s international showcase, C_42, featuring a display of exciting models including a new ‘Art Car’ version of Survolt by Francoise Nielly, and Flavio Melchiorre’s personalised Citroen DS3 – winner of the Citroen Créative Awards competition.

The 14th season at the distinctive landmark building on the world famous Champs-Elysées also celebrates this year’s Paris Motor Show, bringing some of Citroen’s newest models such as the New C4, C-ZERO, DS3 Racing and DS4, to the public’s attention in the centre of Paris.

A specially created LED display on the C_42’s façade welcomes visitors with a multi-screen, digital creation symbolising Citroen’s ‘Créative Technologie’. Inside, the building’s magnificent revolving rotunda presents Citroen’s exciting model and concept ranges across several floors.

In the ground floor atrium, the exhibition opens with DS4, the second model in Citroen’s distinctive DS line. Guests can then experience the latest version of the C5 Tourer, presented in matt-black paintwork; the New C4, featuring Citroen’s innovative new e-HDi micro-hybrid technology; the stylish, hot-blooded special-edition DS3 Racing, displayed in a carbon setting; and the zero noise, zero fuel consumption and zero emission C-ZERO full-electric city car.

Fresh from its exhilarating UK duel against an electric superbike – the first head-to-head of its kind – the stunning all-electric Survolt racecar concept has been recharged with a bold, vivid and brightly contrasting new fluorescent paint scheme by Francoise Nielly. A source of inspiration for the original styling of Survolt, renowned contemporary artist Francoise Nielly worked closely with Citroen’s design team to create the exciting new interpretation of Citroen’s 100% electric racer – the Survolt ‘Art Car’.

On the top floor of C_42 is a display of Flavio Melchiorre’s personalised Citroen DS3 – the creation that won the Italian artist first prize in the Citroen Créative Awards, an international design competition launched in May 2010. The first Citroen Créative Awards received over 700 projects from around the world and the prize-winners were announced at a special evening held at C_42 on 5thOctober. Flavio Melchiorre’s DS3 creation will be launched in 2011 together with other new DS3 personalisation options.