PSA Peugeot-Citroen wants to build two compact SUVs based on Mitsubishi’s new ASX compact sport-utility vehicle. The project will represent the fourth industrial collaboration between the two automakers, adding to their existing deals on mid-sized SUVs, electric cars and a joint car factory in Russia.
Starting next year, Citroen and Peugeot will add to their European ranges two five-seat SUVs based on the Mitsubishi ASX, known as the RVR in Japan. As with the 4007 and C-Crosser, the PSA small SUVs will share many components with the Mitsubishi ASX but will have specific designs.
The new SUVs will attract new customers for both Peugeot and Citroen in a market segment that is expected to grow worldwide by almost 60 percent by 2015, a PSA-Mitsubishi statement said. Mitsubishi will also benefit from this deal, since the additional volume will enable it to increase production for the platform that the ASX sits on, thus making economies of scale.
PSA plans combined annual sales of 50,000 units in western Europe for the Peugeot and Citroen variants, while Mitsubishi estimates average annual sales of 43,000 ASX SUVs in its European markets, which include Russia and Ukraine.
All three variants will be offered in Europe in front-wheel- or four-wheel-drive configurations. Mitsubishi will offer the ASX in Europe with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine and a 1.8-liter diesel. The Japanese automaker will supply PSA with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine for the SUVs, but PSA also will equip the vehicles with its own 1.6-liter diesel engine.
Google News