General de Gaulle had his Citroën DS limousine. Why shouldn’t Marine Le Pen or Emmanuel Macron, the two candidates remaining in the running for the 2022 presidential election, have their Citroën C5 X Élysée? Times change, bodywork too.
Born during the events of May 68 in the workshops of the famous coachbuilder Henri Chapron, in Levallois-Perret (92), the Citroën DS 1 PR 75, PR meaning Presidency of the Republic, was impressive with its 6.40 m length. Its flag was also raised so that the “great” Charles could take his place on board without taking off his kepi.
Copiously stretched by 1.60 m, she embodied, at the time, the greatness of France. And even if it was only used very rarely by General de Gaulle, this Citroën limousine left its mark. The current President, Emmanuel Macron, has benefited from several DS7 Crossback SUVs, a model that can be discovered during his investiture on May 14, 2017, then an even more exclusive version as it has been extended for the ceremony on November 11, 2021.
TO READ. Citroen and DS. All cars of French Presidents
The Citroën C5 X transformed into a limousine
Today in the Citroën range, it is a new grand tourer that responds to the call, not of June 18, but of a global clientele concerned about their postural comfort. Coming from China where it is assembled, it is called there Dongfeng Citroën Versailles C5 X. But the Citroën C5-X will not have the opportunity to make a career in the ministries. Admittedly of French design, but imported, its image is already tarnished. The made in China would be synonymous with a guaranteed media scandal for an official vehicle.
However, the writing of The argus looked at his case using Photoshop software and a graphics palette. We had already imagined in 2017, the “possible” presidential vehicles at the time. Five years later, the car candidates have changed a lot, which is why we adapted and thought about an extended variant of the Citroën C5 X. Not as much as its ancestor from the end of the 1960s, the splendor is not more topical, but the car is impressive all the same. Indeed, the length goes from 4.80 m to 5.20 m, enough to add a pair of jump seats or allow passengers to stretch their legs. This transformation tends to visually lower the high stature of the car while the dark blue tint erases its SUV attributes. A crossover limousine, never seen before. What do you think ?
TO READ.
- Citroën C5 X (2022) test: our opinion on the 180 hp petrol version
- Citroën C5 X hybrid test: madam comfort!
C5 X Élysée, a logical name
To name “our” limousine, a surname naturally imposed itself: Citroën C5 X Élysée. A nod to the Citroën C-Élysée – the Citroën Logan – which has nothing to do with a presidential vehicle, quite the contrary. It is a lengthened Peugeot 208 adapted for emerging markets, which makes it the exact opposite of a presidential car. It is also assembled in China, in the Wuhan factory, as well as in Spain, in Vigo. Elsewhere in the Iberian Peninsula, the C-Élysées abound painted in yellow and black. They serve as taxis.
TO READ. Citroën C-Elysée, Citroën’s Logan, in France from €13,450
