Citroën Product Manager, Laurence Hansen, recently confirmed that the brand is immersed in the development of the new C5: “Trust us, the car exists and is splendid. It is a really important model for us”. Let’s recall that the second generation of the C5 was discontinued in Europe in 2017 due to the drop in sales of its category, recently revitalized with the arrival of the Tesla Model 3 in the old continent.
The new Citroën C5 is slated to see the light in 2021. Even though the PSA group (Peugeot-Citroën, Opel) wants to give Citroën a more low-cost character, the chevron firm will continue to have a sedan in the segment D in its range to meet demand in regions like China, where the vehicle still maintain good numbers despite the boom in SUVs.
“To be credible as a global brand, we have to have a range of vehicles that covers the small, medium, and large segments. Citroën has as much credibility as any other manufacturer to own a big car. It’s just that we won’t do it in a very traditional way. We will have one. There is a market for it, and it will be out in a couple of years,” said Linda Jackson, CEO of Citroën, in 2019.
The Citroën C5 will be based on PSA’s EMP2 modular platform, prepared to host both plug-in hybrid engines and 100% electric (its electric version is called e-EMP2). Given that both China and Europe are currently shifting rapidly towards zero-emission mobility, many rumors are suggesting that the new model will feature an electric version.
Aesthetically the third generation of the French sedan will be inspired by the 2016 CXperience Concept prototype. Some information indicates that the car will have original solutions such as a running front seat similar to that of the 2014 C4 Cactus (which will improve the feeling of space). On the other hand, a new electronic architecture is expected to debut to replace the current COM2008.
However, many fans of the brand regret that the model will no longer have the mythical hydro-pneumatic suspension that characterized its predecessors (GS, GSA, BX, Xantia, C5 I, C5 II …) and the brand’s flagships (Traction Avant 15H, DS, SM, CX, XM, C6 …). Instead, the vehicle will employ an evolution of Progressive Hydraulic Cushions shock absorbers. These will be paired with a camera capable of reading the road and intelligently adapting the suspension to the terrain.