China-made Citroen C5 to be released in Dec

Shanghai, May 13 (Gasgoo.com) At its newly built second plant in Wuhan, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile (DPCA) has launched Platform 3 for making high-end models. The first model to be made on this platform is the Citroen C5, which will be rolled out at the end of this year and put on sale in January 2010, said xinhuanet.com today.

The Citroen C5 is modified for local tastes at the DPCA's Wuhan engineering complex. The second generation C5, a four-door sedan, was displayed at the 2009 Shanghai auto show in April. The new C5 is 4,780mm long, with its travel version measuring 4,830mm x 1,860mm x 1,450mm. Its roof and waistline have fused the designs of the classical Citroen DS and futuristic CX and XM models.

The locally made C5, to be priced 200,000 yuan ($29,300) to 250,000 yuan, will rival the big-selling Guangzhou Toyota Camry and Guangzhou Honda Accord sedans in the Chinese market. The China-made Citroen C5 will come to the market at the beginning of next year with 1.8-liter, 2.0-liter and 3.0-liter gasoline editions.

The production line of DPCA's second plant has had an excellent trial run. The new facility will produce high-end models of the Peugeot and Citroen brands on Platform 3, including the Peugeot 206 and 307 as well as Citroen C5.

Citroen models Elysee, C2, Picasso, C-Quatre, C-Triomphe and Peugeot models 206 and 307 are currently built at the joint venture DPCA in central China's city of Wuhan. The all-new Citron C5 model is expected to boost Citroen's brand image and profitability in China.