Citroën DS5

The Citroën DS5 is a compact executive car by French automaker Citroën that will go on sale across Europe in late 2011. It will be the third model in the new premium (Luxury vehicle) sub-brand DS and will run alongside its mainstream cars. The DS5 was revealed at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show in April.

The DS5 mixes hatchback and estate styling resembling a shooting-brake. The styling was influenced by the C-Sportlounge concept car shown at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show. It is 4530 mm long and 1871 mm wide, dimensions that are similar to those of the Peugeot 3008 and Lancia Delta. This is hardly a coincidence: the DS5 is based on the PF2 platform as 3008 is too, not on the C5 as its name would imply.

Buyers will be able to choose between several petrol and diesel engines, but the drivetrain that Citroën is focusing on is PSA's Hybrid4. It marries a 163 hp 2.0 HDi diesel engine with a 37 hp (28 kW) electric motor mounted on the rear axle and sends the power to all four wheels as it is needed. The electric motor can power the car by itself if the battery is sufficiently charged. The drivetrain will make its debut later this year on the Peugeot 3008 and will be the world’s first production diesel-electric hybrid. It is also worth noting that the DS5 will be the first Citroën with a hybrid drivetrain, a technology that is not as widespread in Europe as it is in the United States.

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