Citroen is broadening its product line-up in China and presenting two new cars at the Shanghai International Motor Show: the three-volume C-Quatre, making its world debut, and the new C5, to be manufactured at Wuhan. This product dynamic is backed by a powerful brand dynamic.
1. Strengthening Citroen presence in China
World debut of three-volume C-Quatre
Developed and produced in China, the three-volume C-Quatre will be launched in June. With two C-Quatre body styles, Citroen now brings Chinese customers a complete offering in the core M1 segment, the largest in China.
C5: Citroen’s trump card in the high-end saloon segment
Citroen is unveiling the C5, to be produced from the end of the year at the new Wuhan plant and launched in China in early 2010. Strengthened by its success in Europe – with some 87,000 sales in 2008 – the new C5 is a major asset for Citroen success in the high-end segment in China.
By rounding out its range with the three-volume C-Quatre and the C5, Citroen is boosting its presence in the country. The Marque now covers a full 70% of the Chinese market.
This product offensive is also being accompanied by a major brand transformation.
2. New brand image roll-out starts in China
Citroen is revealing the new brand image to its 217 dealers, the media and the public at the Shanghai Motor Show. Roll-out starts this year, with 20 dealerships bearing the new image by the end of 2009.
This dynamic is driven by Citroen’s increasing success in China. The network will cover 230 cities by 2010. The performance of the 3,100 network members has been bolstered by the creation of 12 technical training centres since the start of the year and two sales schools, in Chengdu and Wuhan. Lastly, the initiative on service quality, a core aspect of the network renewal in China, is already showing results, with a 4th place finish in JD Power 2008 rankings.
Citroen is demonstrating its new “Creative Technologie” tagline on a 1,000-square metre stand with:
- – The C4 WRC. Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena recently drove this car to their 51st World Rally Championship victory. The C4 WRC underlines the success of a vehicle family that combines good looks and outstanding on-road qualities.
- – The GTbyCITROEN concept car is displayed alongside two driving simulators giving visitors the chance to play the Gran Turismo 5 game.
- – The C3 Picasso, presented in its “Rainbow” version, once again embodies the Marque’s spirit of creativity and innovation. Citroen’s latest MPV is on show alongside the Grand C4 Picasso, imported to China since the beginning of the year, in double proof of the brand’s success in the people-mover market.
- – The C-Elysee CNG (compressed natural gas), launched in September 2008, recently set an environmental record, driving 1,756 km on one 51-litre tank and one 12.4-m3 gas bottle.
- The C-Elysee has become a market favourite since launch a year ago, with nearly 5,000 monthly sales and a record performance in March of 7,300 units, placing it 3rd in the segment.
Škoda Auto has released the first official images of the facelifted Octavia vRS and Octavia Scout. Following the launch of the new Octavia late last year, the vRS and Scout have been updated to bring them into line with the current range and family face of Škoda.
The Ferrari California was officially unveiled on the Asian market today at the Shanghai International Motor Show.The ceremony was attended by Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa, Ferrari Asia Pacific Region manager Marco Mattiacci, driver Kimi Räikkönen and several other members of the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro.
Volkswagen has revealed pricing for its new performance diesel, the Golf GTD. The new model is available to order at Volkswagen Retailers now ahead of the cars arriving in the UK on 22 June.
Škoda will have its official launch of the Superb Hao Rui at the Shanghai Motor Show this week. Škoda’s flagship will become the third model to be produced by the Shanghai Volkswagen plant following the introduction of the Octavia Ming Rui and the Fabia Jing Rui. 
Automobili Lamborghini launched its new Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce to the Chinese market today at Shanghai motor show. The Italian marque’s Shanghai motor show presence follows the official opening on Friday 17 April of Lamborghini’s fourth showroom in China. 
Porsche presented the Panamera to the world public today, Monday April 20, at the 13th Shanghai Auto Show in China. The new four-door Panamera Gran Turismo enters the marketplace on September 12 2009, and joins the Boxster roadster, Cayman coupe, iconic 911 sports car, and Cayenne all-wheel drive in the Porsche product portfolio. 
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced the name for its new model series which until now has been known as RR4. The name was announced by CEO, Tom Purves at a press conference held at the Shanghai motor show. 
Designed, engineered and built in Britain, Nissan’s Qashqai and the more recently introduced seven-seat Qashqai+2 offer no-compromise solutions to the varied demands of family motoring.
Bentley Motors, founding sponsor of last year’s inaugural Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, will be joining this year’s celebrations (July 18-19) with some more unique cars from the company’s illustrious past. Bentley will also showcase the very best of contemporary British engineering, styling and craftsmanship by debuting the world’s fastest production convertible. 
Auris is the latest Toyota model range to reap the benefits in performance, fuel economy and emissions from Toyota Optimal Drive technology.
