Mitsubishi Motors, PSA Peugeot Citroen Collaborate For Compact SUV Project

Mitsubishi Motors Corp (MMC) and PSA Peugeot Citroen have entered into an agreement to start a new project that provides for the development and adaptation for both the Peugeot and Citroen marques of a compact SUV, based on an existing Mitsubishi platform.

Launched early 2012 in Europe, these new compact SUVs will have specific designs for Peugeot and Citroen while sharing many components with the Mitsubishi vehicle, named RVR in Japan and ASX in Europe. The vehicles will be available in both four- and two-wheel drive. The projected volume for Peugeot and Citroen will reach 50,000 units per year for both brands, the company said.

Under the agreement, PSA Peugeot Citroen will use its 1.6 HDi diesel engine for its own models. CO2 emissions with this engine will be particularly low for this type of vehicle, targeting, for the two-wheel drive version, 123g CO2 / km or less than 4.7 litres per 100km.

This is the fouth cooperative project between the two partners, after the SUV Mitsubishi Outlander, Peugeot 4007 and Citroën C-Crosser 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 Citroen C-zero electric vehicles, based on MMC's Japanese i-MiEV model.