Citroen Racing takes the WTCC Championship title once again making it the third on the trot, as they leave to go back to WRC.

The day after securing its third consecutive FIA World Touring Car Championship title, Citroën shone in the races at the Shanghai circuit, with José María López, Yvan Muller and Mehdi Bennani giving the C-Elysée WTCC its first one-two-three finish of the season. 

Yvan Muller’s two podium places secured his position as second in the Drivers’ World Championship, now with a healthy lead over his rivals. Mehdi Bennani has sewn up the WTCC Trophy, the competition for independent drivers.

For the reverse-grid opening race at the Shanghai International Circuit, Yvan Muller and José María López started from eighth and tenth positions respectively.

SLR driver Tom Chilton got off to a flyer in his Citroën C-Elysée WTCC, moving into second place.

Back in the chasing pack, Yvan Muller and José María López were engaged in something of a free-for-all. The Citroën Total drivers ended the first lap in sixth and ninth respectively, with their cars already battered and bruised from their attacking rivals.

On lap two, Muller snatched fifth place, while Pechito found himself in a fight for seventh. The safety car made an appearance after John Filippi stopped, causing the cars to bunch up somewhat before the battles resumed for a further 11 laps.

Shortly afterwards there was a turning point as Gabriele Tarquini ran into Chilton. Both drivers were forced to withdraw from the race, enabling Muller to climb to third behind Norbert Michelisz and Thed Björk. José María López also moved up to fifth.

The crowd was exhilarated as the gaps between the top five closed up with three laps remaining.

The top two made contact on several occasions, with Björk eventually emerging victorious, ahead of Michelisz, Muller, López and Nick Catsburg.

After the podium ceremony, the mechanics had just a few minutes to repair the cars from the opening race. Their sterling work meant José María López and Yvan Muller were able to go into the main race with their cars in perfect condition.

Once again, the Citroën C-Elysée WTCCs started superbly. Pole sitter José María López was the first man to turn, followed by Yvan Muller and Mehdi Bennani. The leader wasted no time in opening up a gap between himself and his teammate. In a much less turbulent race than the first, Pechito never looked back, speeding to his eighth win of the season.

Yvan Muller, meanwhile, held off Mehdi Bennani to finish second. That rounded off an excellent weekend for Muller in which he scored 36 points compared to his nearest rival, competing for second place in the driver standings, who scored five points. 

Mehdi Bennani beamed from the third step of the podium, having achieved his primary goal of winning the WTCC Trophy for independent drivers. The Moroccan driver saw off the challenge of his teammate Tom Chilton with a meeting to spare.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY

Yves Matton, Citroën Racing Team Principal: “It’s been a hugely positive weekend for Citroën Racing. Yesterday, we achieved our main goal by winning the Manufacturers’ World Championship. Today, we converted our good qualifying performance into great results in the races, with our first treble of the season. China and Shanghai are obviously a happy hunting ground for us, as this is where we took the top four places in a race for the first time in 2014. Pechito didn’t have anything to think about today: points were irrelevant, and he didn’t have to worry about how his performance might affect the compensation weights. I think he produced a performance that confirms his status as the best driver in the WTCC at present. With twin podium places, Yvan has put himself clear of his rivals in second place. All that remains is to finish the job in Qatar. Congratulations, too, to Mehdi Bennani and the SLR team for their WTCC Trophy victory, as well as Volvo and Thed Björk for their first wins in the competition.”

José María López: “It has been a fantastic weekend for all of us. We were the fastest out there.

There was no pressure on me, as I knew I could get the better of Catsburg at the start of the main race. After that, I just tried to enjoy every lap in the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC. What a fantastic car! It’s not often you get the opportunity to go out and win like that, without having to worry about anything whatsoever. We are all incredibly lucky to be part of this amazing adventure and we will be looking to finish in style in Doha.”

Yvan Muller: “I didn’t win, but two podiums in a single day is pretty good going, particularly at my age! There were two important things this weekend. First of all, the manufacturers’ title for Citroën, which makes me particularly proud to be part of this team. Secondly, I was able to pull away from Tiago Monteiro in the championship by scoring a lot more points than he did. That is important in the fight for second place, which is the last goal remaining for us. We will be doing our best to wrap it up in Qatar.”

Mehdi Bennani: “It was a tough weekend to manage. To win the title, I had to score points in both races, making sure I didn’t crash off or get involved in any collisions. It was strange competing against Tom Chilton, as we are teammates, with the same car and often the same setup. He didn’t have any luck today and that’s what enabled me to win the title with a meeting to spare. Mission accomplished!”

* All results subject to official confirmation from the FIA

Peugeot is pushing ahead with growth plans in Chin and Asia, the new 4008 SUV is the start of 1 Million units per year by 2018.

• A plant opened as part of the Push to Pass strategy for profitable growth, which will see 20 new launches in China and Southeast Asia by 2021
• A plant dedicated to the production of SUVs, a fast-growing segment in China
• Capacity to build 300,000 vehicles a year, in line with the target of selling one million vehicles in China and Southeast Asia in 2018
• The Peugeot 4008 will be the first vehicle produced

As part of the implementation of the Push to Pass plan and to support the China & Southeast Asia region's goal of selling one million vehicles in 2018, DPCA today inaugurated its fourth assembly plant in Chengdu, China.

The ceremony was attended by Carlos Tavares, Chairman of the Managing Board of the PSA Group; Zhu Yanfeng, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dongfeng Motor Corporation; Denis Martin, the PSA Group's Executive Vice-President, China and ASEAN; Liu Weidong, Chief Operating Officer of Dongfeng Motor Corporation; Su Weibin, General Manager of DPCA; Jean Christophe Marchal, Executive Vice-President of DPCA and representatives of Sichuan province and the municipality of Chengdu.

The fourth DPCA plant will manufacture vehicles for the Dongfeng Peugeot, Dongfeng Citroën and Dongfeng Fengshen brands on the PSA Group's EMP2 platform, primarily in the SUV segment. Production will begin with the new Peugeot 4008 SUV, which is scheduled for launch in November 2016. Following a gain of 53% in 2015, the SUV segment continued to expand rapidly in first-half 2016, with 44% growth. It currently accounts for 38.8% of the Chinese market. As a whole, the Chinese auto market offers great potential. Car ownership stands at 75 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants, and the country recently overtook the United States to become home to the world's largest middle class, which represented 110 million people at end-2015. This figure is forecast to double to 220 million by 2022.

Leveraging the best practices of PSA and Dongfeng Motor (DFM), DPCA built the plant in two years according to the highest industry standards. The world-class facility uses a flexible manufacturing system that enables close cooperation with suppliers, while adhering to the most stringent environmental principles.

In addition to the CAPSA plant in Shenzen, which manufactures DS models, DPCA's production base now comprises four assembly plants: three in Wuhan, in Hubei province, and one in Chengdu, in Sichuan province. With this new facility and DPCA's latest 5A+ medium-term plan unveiled on 11 May, the PSA Group and DFM have demonstrated their commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership in order to satisfy the needs of the Chinese market. The two partners are pursuing three clear-cut objectives for improving the joint venture's financial performance:

• Significantly increasing customer satisfaction with products and services to become one of the top three in the industry by 2018 and No. 1 by 2020
• Generating revenue in excess of RMB 100 billion by 2020
• Achieving profitable, sustainable growth underpinned by productivity gains of 30% by 2020

During the ceremony, Carlos Tavares said: "This new plant will help us to expand our vehicle range in the fast-growing SUV segment and meet the needs of our Chinese customers. It represents an important step in implementing our Push to Pass plan and achieving our objective to launch 20 new models in China by 2021 and sell over one million vehicles in the region by 2018."

Chinese built Volvo S60 sedans are now going to be exported to the United States of America.

Volvo Car Corp. started exporting S60 sedans built in China to the United States last week as part of its plan to expand sales and market share globally. The vehicles, which are produced at Volvo's plant in the southwest China city of Chengdu, will be transported to Shanghai for shipment to the U.S.

The S60 will arrive at dealership showrooms in the United States in about two months, Volvo said. The company did not indicate how many vehicles it intends to export.

Volvo says the exports will help boost annual worldwide sales to 800,000 vehicles. The company hopes to boost deliveries in China to 200,000 units "in the medium term."

Volvo has two plants in China. Aside from the S60, the Chengdu plant also builds the XC60 crossover. Its plant in the northeast China city of Daqing assembles the XC Classic, the previous generation of Volvo's XC90 SUV.

Volvo, which is owned by private Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., delivered 24,043 vehicles in China in the first four months. That is virtually unchanged from the same period last year.

REPORT HERE

Audi delivers third Iteration of the acclaimed Audi Prologue Design Concept at Shanghai.

Third iteration of the acclaimed Audi Prologue design concept with rugged allroad theme and hybrid drive is unveiled in China

• Third member of the Audi prologue family for all types of roads
• Innovative display and operating concept for digital interaction
• Powerful and efficient with plug-in hybrid technology
• 734 PS of system power with 33-mile electric range

High-end technology and unrestricted everyday practicality, plus alluring elegance: The Audi prologue allroad is making its world premiere at Auto Shanghai. The five-door show car with its raised body and tougher stance provides a new emphasis in the conceptual 

Audi prologue family. Its operating concept enables digital interaction between driver and passengers; the plug-in hybrid drive impresses with 734 PS, yet low consumption.

Like all allroad models from Audi, the Audi prologue allroad makes no compromises. 15 years ago, a new class of automobile debuted with the Audi allroad quattro: a car combining the comfort and dynamics of the luxury class with maximum variability and masterful off-road capability. 

Audi is now presenting a study in China that reflects a fresh interpretation of the typical allroad themes, providing a clear glimpse into the brand’s design future. 

The design of the Audi allroad prologue accentuates the elegance and uniqueness of the allroad concept.

Powerful and elegant: the side view

Viewed from the side, the 5.13 metre Audi prologue allroad displays the new, dynamic interpretation of the Audi allroad philosophy. A long front-end, a roofline that quickly begins to drop again and extremely flat D-pillars give it an athletic profile and emphasise the elegance and dynamics of the allroad concept in a fresh way.

The prominent bumpers and the widely flared wheel wells, which house 22‑inch wheels with a five-arm design, make the all-around talents of the Audi prologue allroad abundantly clear at the very first glance. The proportions emphasise the front and rear wheel equally.

The show car, finished in Dehua White, is a stage for progressive elegance in every detail. The window capping strips include sensor surfaces for the door locks; the covers for the charging port and fuel tank are also electric. Aluminium accents are present on the roof rails, the mirror housings, the area around the windows and both the front and rear of the car. 

An extension offset in grey runs along the wheel wheels and the entire bottom edge of the raised body. It expresses the power and robustness of the car and makes it seem even wider.

Progressive: the front end

A flat and wide Singleframe grille dominates the front. It is flushly integrated into the body. With their cohesive appearance, its brushed aluminium crossbars create a new variant of the Audi e-tron look. 

The show car’s wedge-shaped headlights feature Matrix laser technology, an innovation that further extends the Audi lead in lighting technology. The light is broken down into countless tiny pixels, and the possibilities for distributing this light are virtually boundless. LED light guides sketch a new e-tron light signature at the upper and outer edges of the air inlets, which are bisected by the bumper blade.

Dynamic: the rear

The rear of the Audi prologue allroad is strongly drawn-in laterally and as with a yacht is tilted in the direction of travel, giving the show car a dynamic appearance even when standing still. A narrow strip of lights connects the LED rear lights. Their housings are made of 3D glass producing three-dimensional, sculpted effects. 

The rear apron includes flat, horizontally split openings on both sides that graphically integrate the exhaust system into the rear-end design. This detail symbolises the drive concept of the Audi prologue allroad – the efficient interplay of combustion engine and electric motor.

Spacious and airy: the interior

With its elegant and highly variable interior, the Audi prologue allroad is the perfect car for everyday driving and recreation. Driver and passengers experience the spacious interior of the show car as a luxurious lounge. Graceful lines and slender geometric bodies convey the impression of expanse, serenity and lightness. 

The continuous centre console and the front seats appear to float. The instrument panel features a strictly horizontal orientation. Its upper level is part of the wraparound – the arc encircling the cabin and the luggage compartment. A perforated trim panel covers the broad air vent; it retracts as soon as the air-conditioning is set higher.

Glimpse into the future: the instrument panel

The interior architecture of the Audi prologue allroad merges with a groundbreaking new display and operating concept. Across its full width, the front of the instrument panel is designed to be a display surface which integrates three touch displays. 

Aluminium frames surround the driver displays to the right and left of the steering wheel. The front passenger can configure infotainment options using a widescreen display fully integrated into the instrument panel. He or she can swipe to send these to the right driver display or to the Audi virtual cockpit future behind the steering wheel.

The centre console tunnel houses an additional driver display for climate control system, infotainment and text input. Featuring innovative OLED technology with an extremely thin, flexible film, it displays brilliant, high-contrast images. When inactive, the display is in a flat retracted position; as soon as the car is started, it moves up at an angle. 

The brand with the four rings is also breaking new ground with the Audi virtual cockpit future, which lies in the driver’s field of view. High-resolution displays and three semi-transparent mirrors generate a virtual visual stage with three levels. Thanks to this staggered approach, information is structured better and is easier to grasp.

Innovation in the rear

Rear passengers in the Audi prologue allroad sit in individual seats. They use an additional OLED display on the centre console to adjust the seats, the climate control system and the infotainment for their area or to exchange data with the driver. When the audio system is switched on, a sound spoiler moves out of the rear wheelhouse panelings, homogeneously distributing music in the interior in top quality. Two Audi tablets, which can be mounted in the backs of the front seats, also use OLED technology. They are extremely thin and slightly curved.

The show car offers its driver and passengers superior comfort before the car even begins to move. The “butler” – an innovative, intelligent software program – identifies the passengers as they get in based on their smartphones and adjusts the seats and climate control system according to their preferences. The system also makes suggestions for music and route planning according to the owner’s preferences. The Easy Slot system in the centre console connects the phones with the onboard infotainment system and charges them inductively.

Novel: the materials and colours

The upper section of the instrument panel is finished in Lifestyle Blue, while the lower zone, the seats and the carpeting are Sard Brown. Bezels of open-pored, dark fine-grain ash veneer adorn the wraparound, the doors and the centre tunnel console. Aluminium elements set powerful accents.

Natural-looking Unicum leather is in large sections of the instrument panel, on the centre console tunnel and on the seats. Artfully designed perforations in the seat centre lines are evocative of the Singleframe grille bars. A generous band of Alcantara runs from the door inserts over the arm rests to the luggage compartment.

Powerful efficiency

Powerful on the road, superior in light terrain, always efficient: the technology in the Audi prologue allroad offers the ultimate in automotive freedom.

The 4.0 TFSI engine – a V8 with twin turbochargers – and the electric motor integrated into the eight-speed tiptronic produce 734 PS of system power and 900 Nm (663.8 lb-ft) of system torque. The quattro all-wheel drive system utilises the power of the Audi prologue allroad perfectly in every situation.

The show car rockets from 0 to 62mph in 3.5 seconds, yet is capable of achieving up to 117mpg according to the NEDC standard for plug-in hybrids, which corresponds to 56 grams CO₂ per km. The lithium-ion battery mounted in the rear of the car has a capacity of 14.1 kWh for a purely electric range of 33 miles. With its AWC (Audi wireless charging) technology which the brand is developing for series production, the Audi prologue allroad can also be charged inductively.

The body of the Audi prologue allroad is 77 mm higher than that of the Audi prologue Avant. The chassis is state-of-the-art. The front and wheel axles are lightweight, five-link constructions. The 20-inch brake discs are made of weight-saving carbon-fibre ceramic. 

The adaptive air suspension sport – an air suspension system with controlled damping – offers a wide range between extremely comfortable cruising and tight handling. The dynamic all-wheel steering combines a variable-ratio, dynamic steering unit with an additional steering unit for the rear wheels to harmoniously resolve the conflict between dynamic driving and stability.

CHINA - Lincoln celebrates opening first new stores in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou today

• Lincoln opens its first three stores in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou, officially unveiling The Lincoln Way, a unique new luxury automotive ownership experience in China
• Eight Lincoln stores will open in China by year’s end. By 2016, 60 Lincoln stores will be open in 50 cities across the country
• The Lincoln MKZ midsize premium sedan and Lincoln MKC small premium utility are the first two of five new vehicles Lincoln will bring to China by 2016

Lincoln opened its first three stores in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou today, officially unveiling The Lincoln Way, a unique new automotive ownership experience for Chinese luxury customers.

“The launch of The Lincoln Way and our first Lincoln stores in China marks an important milestone for Lincoln’s reinvention as a global luxury automotive brand,” said Kumar Galhotra, president of Lincoln.

“The Lincoln Way demonstrates how a storied brand with a nearly 100-year history is innovating for our Chinese customers while staying true to our roots of personal service. Our Lincoln customers will not only get the very best when it comes to product, but also when it comes to the entire ownership experience.”

In addition to these first three locations, Lincoln will open five more Lincoln stores in China by year’s end, and a total of 60 stores in 50 cities in China by 2016. The Lincoln Way will be embedded in all Lincoln stores in China.

The Lincoln Way will serve today’s younger and more discerning luxury customers who value individuality. Through Lincoln’s specially trained staff, customers will experience a warmer, more engaging purchasing and ownership experience personally crafted to their individual needs and desires.

The Lincoln Way was developed over three years and is based on research across luxury retailing experiences from different sectors, including hospitality. Key elements of The Lincoln Way include a dedicated Lincoln Team; a distinct, welcoming, home-like environment featuring a relaxing tea room; intuitive personalized technology, with an exclusive Personalization Studio; and complete sales and service transparency.

The Lincoln stores in China will first offer the all-new MKC small premium utility vehicle and the MKZ midsize premium sedan. The Lincoln MKZ and MKC will be followed by the Lincoln MKX, the Lincoln Navigator and an all-new full-size luxury sedan, fulfilling the brand’s promise to bring five new vehicles to China by 2016.

“The launch of the Lincoln Way in China is the result of our global team researching a wide array of luxury brands,” said Robert Parker, president of Lincoln China. “After extensive concept testing with luxury consumers, a comprehensive customer experience was developed defining the ‘Lincoln Way.’ We believe the resulting customer experience will reshape luxury automotive ownership in China today.

“We are humbled by the efforts our first three partners are putting forth sharing our vision of The Lincoln Way. Their experience in the luxury automotive industry and excellence in customer service represent the winning combination we believe customers will appreciate.”

The Lincoln Way meets the needs of today’s new luxury customer in China

The Lincoln team spent the last three years establishing a deep understanding of the new luxury automotive customer in China. This included extensive quantitative and qualitative deep-dives into luxury customer segmentations as well as behavior models and expectations.

“Our extensive study of the new luxury customer in China revealed a unique opportunity for Lincoln in the luxury auto market,” said Parker. “As a new brand entering the market in China, Lincoln has a great opportunity to differentiate itself by combining great products with a new way of purchasing and owning a luxury vehicle.”

The research showed that today’s Chinese luxury customers are quickly evolving. They are no longer satisfied with luxury as an overt statement of their personal net worth. Instead, they are increasingly seeking luxury as a way to express their unique individuality.

Based on these insights, the Lincoln team took the unprecedented step of building a fully functioning prototype dealer facility in Shanghai a year ago to research, test and refine every aspect of the Lincoln customer journey throughout the purchase and ownership process.

Redefining luxury automotive ownership in China

The Lincoln Way is how Lincoln sells and services its vehicles and how Lincoln customers experience the brand. It completely shifts luxury automotive ownership from a sales-and-service transaction model to an experience model.

A Lincoln dealership is built around the customer, using clean elegant designs, harmonious colors and quality materials. The overall effect is a warm, inviting environment that customers associate with the living room of a home or a five-star boutique hotel lobby. There are different zones and pavilions with seating clusters where customers can relax with their family and friends.

In line with this customer-centric dealership environment is a transparent sales and service experience that aims to surprise and delight. Different from a traditional transaction-model dealership where the purchase experience is all about making the sale, the purchase experience at the Lincoln dealership is designed around building a relationship with the customer and understanding his or her needs. Attentive and intuitive staff gauge when to allow for self-exploration and when to provide assistance.

At Lincoln dealerships, each customer has a dedicated team to ensure personalized service tailored to the customer’s individual needs is consistently delivered throughout the ownership experience.

At the core of The Lincoln Way is the Lincoln Team, led by the Host, the Master and the Craftsman, team members specially chosen and rigorously trained by The Lincoln Institute.

The Host tailors the customer’s experience and maintains the customer relationship throughout the ownership process. If more detailed information is desired, the Host introduces the customer to the Master.

The Master serves as the customer’s trusted resource during the sales process, providing information, advice and recommendations based on the customer’s needs. The sequence of information and level of detail is tailored to the guest’s needs and interests.

The Craftsman serves as the customer’s personal contact for service and maintenance. He maintains a full record of the vehicle and thoroughly explains any maintenance process. If requested, used parts are returned, packaged in a Lincoln box and tagged with a label, extraction date and the name of a service technician.

Personalization Studio: In every Lincoln store, the high-tech Personalization Studio features a 46-inch interactive LCD touch screen that projects a near life-size image of the vehicle. This allows customers, through controls on a nearby table, to visually explore the entire array of models, colors and features and configure the desired vehicle both inside and out before making a selection.

Personalized test-drive routes: Lincoln guests are able to make test-drive appointments of a specific model and available powertrain online or at any Lincoln dealership. Test-drive routes also are tailored to each guest’s personal needs.

Transparent maintenance and repair process: The Lincoln Way subverts the traditional vehicle-maintenance model, which customers in China distrust Lincoln customers have complete transparency throughout the process, including write-up, diagnosis and parts change. Customers also can watch their vehicles serviced real time, from the comfort of the Lincoln dealership Star Lounge, through the E-Console linked to cameras positioned in the service bays. In addition, every Lincoln store in China offers extended service hours and provides Lincoln loaner vehicles for repairs taking more than two hours.

Lincoln Automotive Financial Services

Financing also is an important part of the Lincoln luxury experience in China. Lincoln Automotive Financial Services, a financing organization dedicated to serving Lincoln customers and dealers in China, launched on Oct. 23 and supports Lincoln dealers and customers by providing competitive financing products and exceptional service.