Autoblog

Click above for photo gallery of the Dongfeng Citroën C2 Kappa

Dongfeng Citroën will reportedly show a pair of cars adorned with graphics inspired by soccer/sport apparel manufacturer, Kappa. From what we can gather, a trio of Dongfeng Citroën C2s will be on hand, one in the red-and-white motif you see above, and two more sporting the automotive equivalents of the official Team Italia uniform. If the sketches are any indication, the cars will be given a dressed-up, rally-car look as well, with updated fascias, wheels, and the like. Whether a Citroën/Kappa trim package model is in the works for China is not clear, but at the very least, these show cars ought to be interesting to see when they're unveiled.


[Sources: Autoblog Chinese, FoMoCo News]

If your inner rally driver lusts for something different than the run of the mill Subaru or Mitsubishi, there's a tasty new Gallic morsel to spice things up. Citroen is taking their C2 to the FIA Junior World Rally Championship this year, and the C2-R2 Max Rally kit is their ticket to homologation. The kit keeps the price down, but doesn't skimp on serious pieces. The 1.6-liter engine belts out 190 horsepower, and there's larger brakes and a hydraulic steering rack to keep that power in check and make sure it's properly directed. There's also an adjustable rear suspension to help fend off competitors on the track. All of our puppy-dog enthusiasm is for naught; we can't get this un-subtle killer hatch in the United States. C'est la vie.

[Source: Inside Line]

Click photo for a gallery of the Mitsubishi Delica D:5 ROADEST

Friends, Mitsubishi Japan has given us a new adjective, and we love it. More on that in a minute. The automaker expanded its JDM Delica D:5 range by adding a 2WD variant of the 7-passenger minivan, which until now was only available with power driving all four wheels. (The 4WD Delica D:5 was one of the support vehicles for Mitsubishi's Dakar effort.)

The regular 2WD D:5 has been dubbed the C2, and it's easily differentiated from its 4WD sibling by its monochrome paint scheme and lower ride height. Not content to just have the C2, Mitsu added a fully tricked version called the ROADEST. And really, it's definitely the roadest minivan we've ever laid eyes on, with its fly 17" wheels, exclusive grille, full ground effects, and perfectly and bizarrely Japanese "ROAR Complete" badging. There's a market in Japan for models like this -- Nissan does it too, with Autech Rider versions of just about everything it sells.

We can't help it. We love this. ROADEST, indeed!

[Source: Mitsubishi]



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Capitalizing on their participation in rally racing has emerged as the marketing ploy du jour for carmakers. Far be it for us to complain when that nets us exciting new hot models from Japanese manufacturers like Subaru and Mitsubishi, but their French compatriots just don't seem to know how to translate racing prowess to road cars. Case in point, the all-show-no-go "by LOEB" Special Series hatchbacks from Citroen.

Parent company PSA says it's released the special editions to honor their all-star driver Sebastien Loeb, but this strikes us as just as big a disgrace to an esteemed racing name as the (thankfully departed) Fiat Stilo Michael Schumacher Edition.

The "special" editions start with the C4 coupe and C2, but badge engineers didn't go anywhere near the engine bay. All the changes are purely cosmetic. According to Citroen, "The C4 by LOEB offers drivers a harmonious blend of sporting passion and day-to-day driving pleasure." That should tip you off, because racing beasts like the Subie STi and Mitsu Evo are anything but harmonious.

Both the C2 and C4 by LOEB are available (overseas only, thankfully) in red or black. They both get rear spoilers, upgraded wheels and special badging to let everyone know the driver's a poser. Inside surfaces are all black with red trim: the steering wheel and shift knobs are black leather with red top-stitching, the seats are black fabric with red trim, little red chevrons are embroidered all over the place, and are complimented by select aluminum accents.

Poor Sebastien. You'd think after winning the WRC title three times, his name would be gracing something with a bit more bite.

Glutton for punishment? Follow the jump for the press release and more images.

[Source: PSA Peugeot Citroen]

Click to enlarge

For its latest entrant in the Chinese marketplace, Citroën tapped its corporate sister for a little hand. The Chinese Citroën C2, you see, is is built on the Peugeot 206 platform. The 206 bloodlines show: notice that the C2 China's hood is vented in the exact same spots as the 206. While it's badged a C2, it has nothing in common with the European-market car whose name it shares.

Despite its ties to the older Peugeot, this C2 is still a stylish automobile. A five-door hatchback, it wears a slightly upturned variation of the C4-C5-C6 grille, with its open "wings" angling up into the headlamps. That, combined with the larger opening below the bumper, gives the face a meaner, more purposeful look than its Euro cousins. Two gasoline engines will be offered -- the 1.4i (75hp) and the 1.6i 16V (106 hp). The 1.4i will be available only with a 5-speed manual, while buyers of the 1.6i can opt for a 4-speed automatic.

The base SX trim offers a good level of standard equipment, with the EX adding goodies like leather and an optional power sunroof. Oddly, the SX trim only features power windows up front. backseaters must make do with cranks. Customers who want to have power windows all around must select the better-optioned EX. How weird is that?

This C2 joins an eclectic lineup of Citroëns in China, ranging from the unbelievably dated and excellently-named Fukang to the modern C-Triomphe. It'll be in dealerships at the end of 2006, and Citroën hopes the car will leave them at a brisk pace -- the plan is to locally build as many as 40,000 of them a year once they hit the market.

Related Posts:

• Autoblog Spanish - Nuevo Dongfeng-Citroën C2 para China
• Autoblog Chinese - 东风雪铁龙新两厢车T21定名C2

(Additional Photos, Press Release after the jump)

[Source: Citroën}