Exclusive: 2CV designer moves to Vauxhall; Twingo creator takes over at Citroen, DS

In a wide-reaching shake-up of Stellantis's European design teams, Citroën's Pierre Leclerq is moving to Opel-Vauxhall, and will be replaced at the French firm by Renault's Sandeep Bhambra – the man behind a succession of headline-baiting concept cars – Autocar can reveal. While the changes are yet to be officially announced, sources have revealed that Stellantis Europe design vice-president Gilles Vidal is preparing to unveil a new-look management structure for the Citroën, DS and Opel-Vauxhall studios. The moves come as Vauxhall designer Mark Adams leaves after 24 years with the German-British marque. His successor, Leclerq, has led Citroën styling for eight years, most recently creating the 2CV concept. The Belgian's departure from Paris makes room for Sandeep Bhambra – formerly of Renaut – to take over at both Citroën and DS - with design operations for the two brands now united and DS designer Thierry Metroz leaving the brand. Bhambra (below) previously worked under Stellantis Europe design chief Gilles Vidal when the two were at Renault, where as boss of advanced design he played a leading role in the designs of the Twingo, R5 Turbo 3E and Scenic Vision concept - as well as several other brand-shaping show cars. Since joining Stellantis in October 2025, Vidal has focused primarily on defining the design strategy for its European brands as part of the FaSTLAne plan unveiled in May 2026. A year after his move from Renault, attention is now turning to bringing the design studios into line with the group’s new European brand structure. Citroën and DS design studios to reunite under Twingo designer On 8 September, Stellantis announced a joint management structure for Citroën and DS, headed by Xavier Chardon: marketing, communications, product planning, pricing and customer satisfaction would be shared across the two brands - and now design is following. With preparations for the Paris motor show in full swing, Vidal chose to focus communications on the nine concept cars being unveiled and postpone the official announcement of the new arrangement until after the event. A trusted colleague of Vidal’s from their time together at Renault, Bhambra is credited with the new Renault Twingo and was a potential candidate to succeed him as Renault’s design chief. However, Renault chose former Mercedes-Benz and PSA designer Alexandre Malval. Bhambra subsequently joined Stellantis in April 2026 as vice-president of design strategy. During his five years at Renault’s design studio, Bhambra played a leading role in designing the wild R5 Turbo 3E super-hatch, the 4Ever trophy concept that previewed the R4, the future-looking Emblème and Scenic Vision show cars, and the aero-focused, single-seat Filante which last year went 626 miles on a charge at motorway speeds. Pierre Leclercq to succeed Mark Adams at Vauxhall Alongside merging the Citroën and DS studios, Stellantis must arrange the succession of Mark Adams, who was appointed vice-president of design for then Opel owner General Motors Europe in 2007, and turns 65 in December. The accomplished designer will have spent more than 24 years at Vauxhall/Opel. He also led design at Buick and Cadillac in 2012–2013. Adams joined Opel in 2002 as exterior design director, tasked with developing a new exterior design philosophy for Vauxhall/Opel. Before that, he held several senior design positions at Ford in both Europe and the US. Speaking to Autocar on the sidelines of the Paris motor show, Opel-Vauxhall CEO Florian Huettl said Adams’s successor “must speak German and understand the culture to fit in”. Belgian-born Leclercq fits that brief, having worked for BMW in Munich from 2005 to 2013. The designer behind the Citroën 2CV revival will therefore head to Opel’s home in Rüsselsheim, where a brand-new design centre is currently under construction. While Leclercq will no longer see the 2CV’s revival through to completion. His next challenge will be to lead the renewal of Opel’s design language, which was previewed in dramatic fashion earlier this month with the unveiling of the bold, Astra-shaped STX concept. By way of a farewell to his employer of eight years, Leclercq brought together his 2CV and ELO concept cars last weekend at an event in Bastogne, in his native Belgium, where he quietly announced he would be heading to Rüsselsheim. Métroz, 63 years, who has led DS design since 2013, is currently negotiating the next stage of his career within Stellantis.

main menu

Exclusive: 2CV designer moves to Vauxhall; Twingo creator takes over at Citroen, DS

Pierre Leclercq succeeds long-serving Vauxhall designer Mark Adams, to be replaced ex-Renault concept car boss

More from Autocar

Top 10s

Latest car reviews

Top manufacturers

Quick search

Legal bits

About Autocar

main menu

Exclusive: 2CV designer moves to Vauxhall; Twingo creator takes over at Citroen, DS

Pierre Leclercq succeeds long-serving Vauxhall designer Mark Adams, to be replaced ex-Renault concept car boss

More from Autocar

Top 10s

Latest car reviews

Top manufacturers

Quick search

We recommend

Legal bits

About Autocar