The Numéro 9′s squat proportions initially remind us of the Volkswagen Scirocco. The car is only 50.0 inches tall but 194.1 inches long, producing a lengthy hood and a tiny greenhouse area. For reference, that makes the Numéro 9 just one inch taller than a Mazda MX-5 Miata, but about as long as a Volkswagen Passat.
The front end starts with LED headlights, a stubby grille, and a gently sculpted hood. Twenty-one-inch wheels sit in wide fenders, while extremely skinny mirrors perch on buttress-like A-pillars that are designed to reduce aerodynamic drag. The glass roof terminates in a large C-shaped spoiler, while a rounded and tapered rear window, LED taillights, and twin rectangular exhaust tips round out the car’s tail.
Citroën’s concept car, designed in Paris, also packs a number of clever mechanical features. A plug-in hybrid drivetrain can accommodate either gasoline or diesel engines depending on the market. In Beijing, it will be shown with a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four gas engine making 225 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque, which powers the front wheels. The rear axle has a 70 hp electric motor linked with a lithium-ion battery pack. With a fully charged battery, Citroën says the Numéro 9 concept can drive for 31 miles on electricity alone, and return the equivalent of 138 mpg.
The powertrain can also use a “boost” mode with both the gas engine and motor working together to produce 295 hp, enough for a 5.4-second run to 62 mph and a top speed of 152 mph. It also acts as an all-wheel-drive system. Finally, the Numéro 9 features hydraulic self-leveling suspension.
Citroën has sold 200,000 copies of its DS-line cars since they went on sale two years ago. Showing the Numéro 9 in Beijing not only previews the cars’ launch in China, but also is a preview to the design of the aforementioned sedan, SUV, and large sedans that will join the DS lineup in the next few years.
