Ahead of its official debut in a few days at the Beijing Motor Show, Citroen has released the first clear photo and some technical details for its first-ever DS-branded SUV. It's called the DS 6WR and we will admit that it looks quite fetching, far superior to the beached whale that is the DS5.
Before we go into detail, we thing there's something really worth noting here. Yesterday, we reported on PSA Peugeot-Citroen's ambitious plan to bring itself back to profitability. This included a three-brand model lineup, with DS becoming a standalone premium brand. The 6WR's press release found below has no mention of this SUV actually being a Citroen. Front and back (probably inside as well), there double chevron logos are absent from its design.
The 6WR's design is inspired by the Wild Rubis concept of last year. It looks totally different to anything else Citroen makes. While the brown paint might not be to everyone's liking, we think it's well in line with the auto market's current chromatic preferences. Lots of chromed trim pieces are used thought its designs, down the side of the doors, on the roof rails and of course on that huge grille.
These SUVs will compete in the compact premium class. Designed and engineered in France, the vehicle is 4.55 meters long, 1.86 meters wide and 1.61 meters tall, with a 2.73-meter wheelbase and 19-inch alloy wheels. For comparison, the Audi Q3 is quite a bit shorter, at 4,385mm, but about the same width and height.
Equipped with Grip Control like the C4 Cactus, the 6WR does without four-wheel drive. In the eyes of some, that makes it a glorified MPV, but more and more crossovers have done without power at the back due to lack of customer demand for the stuff. Two powertrains have been announced already, both versions of the familiar 1.6 turbo called e-THP 160 and THP 200 and mated exclusively to a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
We believe that a revamped DS model range in Europe should include am model like this, especially since it ticks the looks department so well. But for now, the 6WR remain a strictly Chinese affair.
The 6WR's design is inspired by the Wild Rubis concept of last year. It looks totally different to anything else Citroen makes. While the brown paint might not be to everyone's liking, we think it's well in line with the auto market's current chromatic preferences. Lots of chromed trim pieces are used thought its designs, down the side of the doors, on the roof rails and of course on that huge grille.
These SUVs will compete in the compact premium class. Designed and engineered in France, the vehicle is 4.55 meters long, 1.86 meters wide and 1.61 meters tall, with a 2.73-meter wheelbase and 19-inch alloy wheels. For comparison, the Audi Q3 is quite a bit shorter, at 4,385mm, but about the same width and height.
Equipped with Grip Control like the C4 Cactus, the 6WR does without four-wheel drive. In the eyes of some, that makes it a glorified MPV, but more and more crossovers have done without power at the back due to lack of customer demand for the stuff. Two powertrains have been announced already, both versions of the familiar 1.6 turbo called e-THP 160 and THP 200 and mated exclusively to a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
We believe that a revamped DS model range in Europe should include am model like this, especially since it ticks the looks department so well. But for now, the 6WR remain a strictly Chinese affair.