BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën want to Expand Cooperation to Hybrid Systems

The ongoing love affair between the BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën has just become more intense as the two companies announced today their intention to further expand the cooperation to include hybrid components for front-wheel-drive vehicles by singing a memorandum of understanding. Both parties have agreed not to disclose financial details of the agreement.

In a joint statement, the two automakers said the components are to be used in front-wheel-drive vehicles with electrified drive trains with the proposed deal said to offer significant economies of scale for both partners, while also allowing them to standardize key elements for the electrification of vehicles.

"This cooperation will deliver a major contribution towards a competitive cost structure in the field of electrification. It also represents another important step on the road to sustainable mobility," said Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.

"We are pleased to broaden our long-standing cooperation based on the strong relationship that exists between our two companies," added Philippe Varin, Chairman of the Managing Board of PSA Peugeot Citroën. "Combining both partners' expertise in hybrid technologies will clearly create competitive advantage."

The two brands already cooperate on the development and production of a 1.6-liter engine that is used in BMW's Mini and in Peugeot and Citroen vehicles while recent reports from Germany note that there have also been talks about a cooperation on carbon fiber materials.

In February 2010, BMW and PSA agreed to develop the next generation of their jointly designed 4-cylinder petrol engine, which will also meet EU 6 requirements.

Citroen's Survolt Electric Sports Coupe Receives the Art Treatment

Citroen is displaying several of its new production and concept cars including a Survolt racer turned-art-car and a prize-winning DS3 at its C4_2 flagship showroom on Champs-Elysées in Paris.

The Survolt art car is the work of Francoise Nielly. The Marseille- born artist took Citroen's all-electric Survolt concept racer and adorned it with a psychedelic, fluorescent paint scheme. According to the French carmaker, the contemporary artist was one of the sources of inspiration for the styling of the original Survolt.

Also on display is Flavio Melchiorre's personalized DS3. The Italian artist won first prize in Citroen's Créative Awards, beating out some 700 other entrants. Melchiorre's car will be launched next year along with other DS3 personalization options.

Other vehicles on show include the crossover-ish DS4, a matt-black C5 Tourer, the new C4 e-HDi micro-hybrid, the DS3 "Racing' edition and the zero emission C-ZERO (née Mitsubishi iMiev) electric city car.

By Tristan Hankins

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Paris Show: Citroën Unleashes DS3 WRC Contender

Joining the world premieres of the MINI Countryman WRC and Ford Fiesta RS WRC at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, is Citroën's all-new contender for the 2011 World Rally Championship, the DS3 WRC in full racing livery.

The French firm's replacement for the multi-championship winning C4 WRC fully complies with the new FIA regulations with power coming from a 300hp 1.6-litre direct-injection turbocharged engine. The car also gets a four-wheel-drive system that incorporates a six-gear sequential gearbox and front and rear mechanical differentials.

"The DS3 WRC is designed to limit the budgets required to compete in the WRC", said Citroën in a statement. "The new FIA rules ban costly materials such as titanium and carbon-fibre, and standardise certain parts like the turbocharger and limit the changes that can be made to the vehicle during its lifetime. Rally nevertheless remains a great testing ground for driving new advances in vehicle technology."

The new DS3 WRC will make racing debut at the Rally Sweden in February 2011. The French firm has already confirmed two teams of the next racing season, Sébastien Loeb / Daniel Elena and Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia.

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Paris Show: Citroën Updates C5 with LEDs and New Engines

Citroën chose the Paris Motor Show today to roll out its updated C5 sedan and estate (Tourer) models. The French firm's VW Passat rival has been refreshed for the 2011 model year with some modest styling changes and technology upgrades.

Since the C5 has only been out since early 2008, the cosmetic updates were kept to a minimum and concern the front headlamps that gain a strip of LEDs and the revised tail lamps that receive a new "Dark Crystal" treatment with clear glass in the central section.

There are more important changes under the hood with the introduction of a new e-HDi engine and a new generation 2.2-liter turbo diesel unit.

The e-HDi marries a 110HP four-cylinder diesel to Citroën's 'micro hybrid technology' featuring a stop-start system and a smart alternator able to recover energy during braking. This model also gets an EGS6 electronic gearbox system with steering-wheel paddles and low rolling resistance tires. According to the French automaker, the C5 e-HDi returns a combined fuel economy figure of 4.6 lt/100km (51.2 mpg US) and emits 120 g/km of CO2.

The second new engine in the range is a 2.2-liter turbo diesel producing 200-horsepower and a maximum torque of 450 Nm. Mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, this engine offers the C5 a top speed of 230 km/h (225 km/h for the Tourer), a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 8.3 seconds (Tourer: 8.6) and a combined cycle fuel consumption of 5.9 lt/100 km or 39.9 mpg US (Tourer: 6.1lt/100km). The saloon emits 155 g/km of CO2 and the Tourer 159 g/km.

Citroën said the new C5 model range will go on sale across Europe in the fourth quarter of the year.

___________________________________________________________________

Citroën Releases Dating 2.0 to Help People Find a Date for The Paris Motor Show (and Market the DS3)

Ooohweee, does Citroën know how to get this pale, pajama-wearing, cries-himself-to-sleep-every-night hippie blogger interested. Screw match-dot-com, we've got a car dating service now. The French brand know for its wild and out of this world concepts (see GTbyCitroën, Survolt, Revolte, etc.) has created a new form of match-up for the car enthusiast called Dating 2.0, and it's one nifty little time-waster.

Just be aware that the first step is asking your preference, not what you are. Don't make the same mistake I did and wind up looking at a dude in boxer briefs. Well, unless that's your thing, in which case go for it.

I, on the other hand, went with classy, busty, and shapely for my little lady and ended up with a "beautiful, alluring, and enigmatic" fish supper-enjoying mermaid and a red DS3. Yeah, I thought it was weird, too, so I tried it again...and it got even weirder.

Next, I chose funny, toned, and sporty (or something thereabouts) and ended up with a dominatrix-looking chick in leather with "a dominant personality and a unique dress sense". And...and...she's wearing a studded collar with a friggin' leash.

Try out this Dating 2.0 (link below) for yourself and leave your kinky results in the comments below. As for me, I'm off to the store to snag some furry handcuffs.

By Phil Alex

Link: Citroën Dating 2.0

Citroën UK Details and Prices 2011 C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso Facelift

Citroën's UK division has released more intel and pricing on its mildly facelifted for the 2011 model year C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso minivans that will get their first public outing at the Paris Motor Show later this week.

Both the five-seat C4 Picasso and seven-seat Grand C4 Picasso benefit from new styling elements including Citroën's new chevron design on the front grille and tailgate, a restyled front bumper, new headlights and rear light clusters, plus LED daytime running lights for the higher grade VTR+ and Exclusive models.

In addition, VTR+ models get chrome side window sills and a chrome rear bumper strip, while the C4 Picasso Exclusive is now offered with a 'Black Top' option which adds a glossy black finish to the roof, A-pillars and exterior door handles, door mirrors and alloy wheel centre caps. Interior upgrades are limited to new materials and colors for the upholstery.

There's also added standard equipment on the VTR+, which gets rear parking sensors, electrically folding mirrors, a USB socket and Bluetooth, and the Exclusive which benefits from 17-inch alloys, new upholstery USB and Bluetooth connectivity and the new Citroën eTouch Emergency & Assistance System.

For the 2011 model year, both C4 Picasso ranges are offered with Citroën's new e-HDi micro-hybrid technology, which combines a second-generation Stop & Start system with an e-booster function that re-starts the engine instantly (0.4 seconds), a reversible alternator that recovers energy during braking, and a Euro 5 1.6-liter HDi 110hp DPFS engine with a 6-speed EGS transmission.

According to the French automaker, with this powertrain setup, the C4 Picasso delivers a combined fuel economy of up to 58.9mpg UK (Grand C4 Picasso: 57.6mpg UK) with CO2 emissions of between 125g/km and 132g/km (see list below for details).

Finally, both MPVs get a new 2.0-liter HDi 150hp diesel engine with a 6-speed manual gearbox, which delivers a combined cycle fuel economy of 49.6mpg UK. A 2.0-liter HDi 160hp with a 6-speed automatic gearbox is also newly available on Exclusive models.

UK sales of the new Citroën C4 Picasso range will start in from 1st October.

__________________________________________________________________