Citroën Elysée
| Company type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | June 2002 |
| Headquarters | China |
Area served | China |
| Products | Automobiles |
The Citroën Élysée is a compact family sedan manufactured specifically for the Chinese market by Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën Automobile, a collaborative venture between the French PSA Group and the Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor. Its production commenced in June 2002.
2002-2008: Élysée
Introduced in 2002, the Élysée represented a major redesign of the earlier Citroën Fukang, which itself was a localized version of the Citroën ZX for China, assembled at the Wuhan facility. While preserving the original vehicle layout, it featured a revamped front end with headlights borrowed from the second generation Peugeot 306, a grille and bumpers influenced by the Saxo model, and refreshed taillight designs. Inside, the cabin received enhancements including a dashboard sourced from the Xsara, providing a more contemporary appearance and higher-quality finishes.
The powertrain options included a 1.4-liter inline-four engine delivering 75 horsepower paired with a 5-speed manual transmission, alongside two 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines producing 88 and 105 horsepower respectively, available with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic gearbox.
Shortly following its debut, the Élysée VIP variant was launched—a stretched version with an extended wheelbase by 16 centimeters, measuring 4.50 meters in total length. This premium edition featured faux briar wood trims, leather upholstery, and chrome accents on the exterior. It was exclusively equipped with the 1.6-liter sixteen-valve engine generating 105 horsepower coupled with a 4-speed automatic transmission.
2008: Introduction of the C-Élysée
On April 8, 2008, an updated model was presented at the Beijing Motor Show under the new name C-Élysée to better integrate with Citroën’s naming scheme in China. The addition of "C" ensured brand consistency across the lineup. The facelift included a grille design aligned with European Citroën aesthetics, particularly resembling the second-generation Citroën C5, featuring the logo embedded within two prominent horizontal chrome bars. Engineers from Dongfeng implemented approximately 300 modifications compared to its predecessor. Positioned beneath the C-Triomphe (which is based on the C4), this model came with a 109-horsepower 1.6-liter sixteen-valve engine and upgraded features such as advanced ABS technology, revised suspension components, and an audio system equipped with USB connectivity. Transmission choices remained as either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. The dashboard design was largely retained, though seat cushioning was enhanced for greater comfort. The VIP trim also underwent restyling. Starting in 2009, a hatchback two-box body style replaced the former Fukang model, incorporating redesigned rear lights for a more modern appearance.
2012: Final facelift
In 2012, the model received its last facelift which included modifications to the front bumper and tail light assemblies while maintaining much of the 2008 design language. Both the five-door hatchback and VIP versions were phased out and replaced by locally produced Citroën C4 five-door and sedan variants. Production of this initial generation C-Élysée concluded in early 2013 when a fully redesigned second generation was introduced as part of Citroën’s global vehicle development strategy.
Design
Conceived in China, the Élysée is based on the Citroën ZX platform and integrates numerous parts—including its dashboard—from models like the Citroën Xsara and Citroën Saxo. A sport-oriented VTS edition was offered exclusively in red.
Associated Model
The Dongfeng Fengshen S30 was developed using the platform and engine derived from the Élysée/Fukang.