At this year’s Shanghai motor show Citroen debuted a striking SUV concept dubbed the Wild Rubis. After favourable reaction to the design study it seems that the French firm is keen to usher it into production as early as next year.
It’s dimensions are difficult to judge in these images, but it is said to be roughly the size of a Volkswagen Touareg. Wild Rubis – unlikely to be its on-sale name – will bolster the DS range of models. The Citroen Wild Rubis sits on the DS5’s platform and may be called DSX7 when it is revealed in production form at next year’s Beijing show.
It will, in all likelihood, feature the same powertrain offerings as the DS5 as well. The PSA group 1,6-litre turbopetrol and 2,0-litre turbodiesel. Variants higher up the range will probably boast some form of electronically actuated all-wheel drive system.
The DS brand’s push will concentrate on China where the DS Range has proved quite successful for the marque, unlike in Europe where the market success has not been forthcoming.
DS chief designer Thierry Metroz told Autocar: “The reaction has been so positive that it is now possible the SUV will come to Europe. The focus is China, where we have a chance to make a great success, but that can help push it to Europe, too.”
