Citro�n to Show DS4 Purple, C3 Red Block and C6 Noir et Blanc Concept Models at the Geneva Salon

With the 2011 Geneva motor show only a week away, Citro�n has published photos but very few details on three new concept cars based on the firm's production models that it plans to reveal on March 1. The design studies are the C3 Red Block, DS4 Purple and the C6 �Noir et Blanc�.

Starting with the C3 Red Block, the French firm's supermini sports a bespoke matt grey paintjob with red accents on the window line and the 17-inch alloy wheels, plus smoked headlamps and tail lamps, a lowered suspension, and unique interior trim highlighted by the red leather seats, aluminum accents on the steering wheel, door panels and center console, and what the company describes as a "3D Bulldog carved dashboard".

Set to make its debut alongside the final production version of the high-riding DS4, will be a design study called the DS4 Purple, which according to Citro�n, "takes inspiration from the techniques of jewellery craft".

The third and final concept is the C6 �Noir et Blanc�, which is a study on new colors and materials for the firm's range-topping model.

We'll have more details on Citroen's trio of concept cars at the Geneva Salon next week.

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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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Citro�n 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 Citro�n 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 Citro�n 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 Citro�n 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 Citro�n.

By Csaba Daradics

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