Citroen revealed the new Numero 9 concept, which previews the future of its high-end DS line. The Citroen Numero 9 is going to be premiered at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show. It previews a long, luxury four-door hatchback, measuring 4.93m in length, 1.94m in width, and 1.27m in height. It has a 3m wheelbase and weighs just 1,500kg. Citroen says that the Numero 9 is able to successfully combine the elegance of a coupe with the practicality of an estate. Naturally, Citroen powers the Numero 9 concept with a plug0in hybrid drivetrain, which includes a 1.6 THP petrol engine (225hp (165kW) / 275Nm of torque) and an electric motor (70hp / 200Nm of torque). The electric motor powers the rear axle of the Numero 9. This means that the Citroen Numero 9 has a very respectable total output of 295 hp and 475 Nm of torque.
Citroen says that the Numero 9 is able to run on electricity only for up to 50 km. The lithium-ion batteries, which juice the electric motor, can be recharged from a wall socket in just three and a half hours.
The Citroen Numero 9 is not just a pretty thing to look at. It's also capable of delivering serious performance, taking into account its class. The French carmaker rates the Numero 9 with a top speed of 152mph (244 km/h) and a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) acceleration of 5.4 seconds.
They also clam that the Numero 9 is able to cover 1 km in just 25.3 seconds. With just 39g/km of CO2 emissions, the Citroen Numero 9 is able to offer a fuel economy of 166mpg (1.7l/100km) in the combined cycle.
The Citroen Numero 9's drivetrain has a few particularities. Its internal combustion engine, drives its front wheels, while the electric motor drivers the rear ones. The car is usually front-wheel-drive, but in difficult driving conditions or when extra power is needed, the car can be switched to the 4WD mode.
Citroen's Numero 9 concept features some interesting design elements. Its roof includes three glass areas, while the full-LED headlights are continued by LED DRLs.
Citroen did not announce the date on which the Numero 9 concept will go into production.
