Citroën will campaign a C-Elysée, driven by Sébastien Loeb in the World Touring Car Championship. The Citroën C-Elysée WTCC will be the first car designed in accordance with the FIA’s new regulations for the series.
The Citroën C-Elysée WTCC is powered by a 380bhp version of the same 1.6-litre direct injection turbocharged engine as the DS3 WRC car. Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox.
The C-Elysée is Citroën’s C-segment saloon aimed at emerging markets. Sales are claimed to be 30 per cent ahead of expectations and 30,000 orders have already been placed. The WTCC will travel to South America, Morocco, China and Russia, all of which are key markets for the model.
Citroën’s WTCC racer will premiere at the Frankfurt motor show in September.
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So Citroen realise 11 years
So Citroen realise 11 years of marketing rallying was a hopeless waste of time. Nobody buys a Citroen...Although I was quite tempted with a 3 door C4, at one time.
kcrally wrote:So Citroen
To me, the problem was Citroen never sold a road going version of the Xantia/C4/DS3 WRC cars, whereas it was possible to buy WRX/STI Scoobies and Evos and to some extent the RS focus was a reasonable approximation (sans 4WD, of course). The best Citroen managed was a rather lacklustre C4 VTS, with 180bhp, no turbo and not that great to drive.
And AFAIC they need to produce a road going version of the WTCC car to benefit from the exposure (and winning would help, probably). Otherwise same mistakes, different discipline.
Bryn911 wrote: To me, the
Citroen never took the Xantia rallying.
They did have a Rallycross Xantia (http://koti.mbnet.fi/css/xantia/xantiacomp.html) but not a full WRC car.
The Xsara was rallied though.
I agree with you, in that when people think of rallycars, they think of Imprezas and Evos. They don't think of Citroens, despite the manufacturer dominating rallying.
The lack of WRC TV coverage in recent years, and the scaling down of the Network Q Lombard RAC Rally to the Wales 'dodge the speed camera' Rally has a part to play too.
They need to be careful not to fall into the MG trap too, though, of going touring car racing, having moderate success, but not promoting it!
sirwiggum wrote: Citroen
That's the one I meant <doh!>