Peugeot and Citroen to Rebadge Mitsubishi's ASX / RVR, Sales Start in 2012

Japan's Mitsubishi Motors and France's PSA Peugeot- Citroën are deepening their industrial ties in Europe by announcing yet another collaborative project, this time regarding Mitsubishi's ASX compact SUV.

Under the agreement, Mitsubishi will supply its new ASX crossover (named RVR in Japan) to the PSA group that will make two visually different vehicles for its Citroën and Peugeot brands with sales set to begin in early 2012.

The French variants of the ASX will be available in both four- and two-wheel drive versions, and will use PSA's 1.6 HDi diesel engine with the company claiming that the 2WD model will return less than 4.7lt/100km.

The projected volume for Peugeot and Citroën will reach 50,000 units per year for both brands.

This is the fourth consecutive project between the PSA Group and Mitshubishi, after the Mitsubishi Outlander, Peugeot 4007 and Citroën C-Crosser SUV agreement in 2005, the construction of a joint plant in Russia that has just been inaugurated, and the European launch in late 2010 of the Peugeot iOn and Citroën C-zero electric vehicles, based on MMC's Japanese i-MiEV model.

*The opening photo is a Carscoop photoshop

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Citroën Metropolis Concept: First Real Life Photos and Video

These are the first 'real life' pictures of Citroën's latest concept car, the Metropolis, that gives certain German makers (see Porsche and BMW) a lesson or two on how to design an eye-candy luxury sports saloon.

The styling of the 5.3m long and 2m wide but only 1.4m high Metropolis has echoes of the French automaker's well received GT supercar concept of 2008. This one was developed by Citröen's Shanghai-based design team.

Under the subtle "Pearl Silk" colored bodywork there's a plug-in hybrid drivetrain that utilizes "an optimized" 2.0-liter V6 petrol engine, an electric motor and a 7-speed, dual-clutch electronic gearbox.

According to Citröen, at low speeds the Metropolis runs in Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mode, with its electric motor developing a continuous 55bhp peaking at 95bhp. At highway speeds, the petrol powerplant provides 272bhp and 375Nm of torque.

We don't how Citröen came up with this number, but the French claim that when the car uses both the electric motor and the combustion engine, the combined output is 460bhp and 430Nm of torque.

The Metropolis also benefits from a four-wheel drive mode and a Hydractive suspension.

The four-door sports saloon will be on show for the public in the French Pavilion at the Shanghai World Fair in China from 1st May to 31st October, 2010.

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