From some time now, the French PSA (Peugeot Citroen) Group has started collaboration with the Japanese automaker Mitsubishi. The best example of a common realization of this alliance is the set of SUVs based on the Mitsubishi Outlander platform. The PSA derivates of the Mitsubishi Outlander are the Peugeot 4007 and the Citroen C-Crosser as most of you know. Now, PSA has chosen another successful Mitsubishi project for a small rebranding procedure. More precisely, starting from the successful Mitsubishi i-MiEV both Peugeot and Citroen have developed their own versions of the electric mini. The first one to present their take on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV was Peugeot. The French automaker presented the Peugeot i0n during the Frankfurt Auto Show back in September. Now, the other half of the PSA Group has revealed the Citroen C-Zero, ahead of the world debut that will take place next year. Both the Peugeot i0n and the Citroen C-Zero are nothing more than a Mitsubishi i-MiEV with characteristic badges. Until now, it seems that the PSA has got more advantages from the collaboration with Mitsubishi and I am wondering when PSA will start to give back.

The powertrain of the Citroen C-Zero is quite complex. Practically, the Citroen C-Zero will get the same drivetrain as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, which consists of a permanent magnet synchronous engine that has an output of 64 horsepower from 3000 to 6000 revs per minute and 180 Nm of torque available from 0 to 2000 revs per minute. The power is sent to the rear wheels through a single speed reduction gear. The engine gets its juice from a 330 volt lithium ion battery which consists of 88 cells with the capacity of 50 Ah (Ampere-hour) that is mounted in the center of the vehicle. Thanks to the powerful lithium ion battery system, the Citroen C-Zero will have a range of about 130 kilometers on pure electricity. When an external station with a single phase current of 125A at 400V is used for power up to 50kW, the battery is charged 80% in about 30 minutes while a complete charge of the battery pack takes about six hours through a conventional 220 volt socket.

According to Citroen, the C-Zero can reach a maximum speed of 130 km/h while being able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 15 seconds and from 60 to 90 km/h in 6 seconds. The Citroen C-Zero has a length of 3480 millimeters and will hit the market towards the end of the next year.