All posts by Francis Mitterrand

NEW CARS

Citroën C5 Aircross Émeraude Debuts With Emerald Blue Design and Up to 680 km of Electric Range

Citroën has introduced the new C5 Aircross Émeraude special edition, adding a distinctive French character to its flagship SUV just one year after the arrival of the latest-generation C5 Aircross. Combining a striking new colour, exclusive design details, enhanced comfort equipment and a choice of electrified powertrains, the C5 Aircross Émeraude is designed to make long-distance travel as enjoyable as the destination itself.

The new Citroën C5 Aircross has already marked a significant change in direction for the French brand. Its more expressive exterior design, improved aerodynamics, spacious cabin and focus on comfort have transformed it into one of the key models representing Citroën’s modern identity.

With hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains available across the C5 Aircross range, Citroën is also positioning its flagship SUV as a versatile choice for drivers moving toward electrification. In its extended-range electric configuration, the C5 Aircross can deliver up to 680 kilometres of WLTP range, giving it the ability to combine everyday practicality with genuine long-distance capability.

Citroën C5 Aircross Émeraude Gets a Distinctive Emerald Blue Finish

The defining feature of the Citroën C5 Aircross Émeraude is its new Emerald Blue exterior colour. Deep, luminous and designed to change character with the surrounding light, the colour gives the SUV a more sophisticated appearance while establishing a direct connection with the coastal landscapes of Brittany.

The choice is particularly significant because the C5 Aircross is produced at Citroën’s Rennes-La Janais factory in Brittany. The region’s famous Emerald Coast, located only a short distance from the production site, provides the inspiration for both the special edition’s name and its signature colour.

Citroën has complemented the Emerald Blue paintwork with matching details throughout the exterior. Emerald Blue Color Clips appear on the front bumper and front door protection elements, while the rear aerodynamic appendages feature a subtle French flag motif alongside an Émeraude signature.

For customers who prefer a different exterior colour, the Citroën C5 Aircross Émeraude is also available in Perla Nera Black, Platinum Grey, Okenite White and Astoria Green.

Exclusive Interior for the C5 Aircross Émeraude

The C5 Aircross Émeraude is based on the PLUS trim level and receives an interior treatment developed specifically for the special edition.

The cabin features an Emerald-themed design intended to create a brighter and more sophisticated atmosphere. Blue accents appear on the front-seat labels and on an embossed insert integrated into the fabric section of the dashboard in front of the passenger.

Special floor mats complete the interior treatment, while a comprehensive equipment list reinforces the C5 Aircross’s focus on comfort.

Standard equipment for the Émeraude special edition includes an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a second-row armrest, wireless smartphone charging and a hands-free power tailgate.

The combination makes the C5 Aircross Émeraude more than a cosmetic special edition. Citroën has used the opportunity to reinforce the SUV’s comfort-oriented character while adding technology designed to reduce the workload on longer journeys.

Citroën Drive Assist 2.0 Adds Advanced Driver Assistance

The C5 Aircross Émeraude is also equipped with Citroën’s Drive Assist 2.0 Pack, bringing together several advanced driver-assistance technologies.

The system includes lane positioning assistance, semi-automatic lane-change assistance and an advanced speed-limit warning system. A reversing traffic alert can monitor approaching traffic from a distance of up to 40 metres, while the long-range blind-spot monitoring system can detect vehicles up to 75 metres away.

Together, these technologies are designed to make highway driving and manoeuvring in busy traffic more relaxed, particularly during longer journeys.

Comfort Remains the C5 Aircross’s Biggest Strength

Despite its new appearance and additional equipment, the defining characteristic of the C5 Aircross remains unchanged: comfort.

The latest-generation C5 Aircross was developed around Citroën’s philosophy of making the journey itself an important part of the experience. The SUV uses Citroën Advanced Comfort suspension with progressive hydraulic stops to absorb road imperfections, while Advanced Comfort seats are designed to provide a more supportive and relaxing environment over longer distances.

The spacious rear passenger area is another important part of the formula. Combined with generous luggage capacity, it allows the C5 Aircross to accommodate passengers and their belongings without forcing owners to compromise when planning longer trips.

The dashboard is dominated by a 13-inch HD Waterfall touchscreen, providing a central interface for the vehicle’s infotainment and connected functions.

Citroën’s Alternative Approach to the SUV

The C5 Aircross Émeraude illustrates Citroën’s attempt to differentiate the model from conventional European SUVs. Rather than focusing exclusively on performance or aggressive styling, the French brand continues to build the C5 Aircross around comfort, practicality and relaxed long-distance travel.

That philosophy is particularly relevant in the current automotive market, where electrification is changing the way manufacturers approach family SUVs.

With hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric versions available, the C5 Aircross gives customers several routes into electrified driving. The extended-range electric version, with up to 680 km of WLTP range, is particularly significant for drivers who want the advantages of an electric SUV without limiting the vehicle to short-distance urban use.

A French SUV With a French Story

The Émeraude name is closely connected to the C5 Aircross’s production story.

The SUV is manufactured at the Rennes-La Janais plant in Brittany, one of Citroën’s historic production facilities. The site has been associated with the brand for more than six decades and continues to play an important role in Citroën’s European manufacturing operations.

The proximity of the factory to Brittany’s Emerald Coast makes the connection especially appropriate. The coastline’s distinctive landscapes and changing shades of blue and green provided the inspiration for the special-edition colour.

Citroën is therefore using the C5 Aircross Émeraude to highlight more than a new visual identity. The model also serves as a showcase for French industrial expertise, with the vehicle conceived, designed and manufactured in France.

Citroën C5 Aircross Émeraude: A Special Edition Built Around the Journey

The new Citroën C5 Aircross Émeraude adds a distinctive visual identity to an SUV already defined by comfort and practicality. Its Emerald Blue finish, exclusive interior details, additional equipment and Drive Assist 2.0 technology give the special edition a character of its own without moving away from the core philosophy of the C5 Aircross.

More importantly, the Émeraude name connects the vehicle directly with its French roots. Produced in Rennes, just a short distance from the Emerald Coast that inspired its name and colour, the C5 Aircross Émeraude represents Citroën’s interpretation of modern French automotive design.

With electrified powertrains ranging from hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology to a fully electric version capable of up to 680 km of WLTP range, the C5 Aircross is also designed to meet the changing demands of modern family travel.

For Citroën, the message is clear: the journey should not simply be the distance between two destinations. It should be part of the experience.

Source: Citroen

NEW CARS

Porsche 550 J Reimagines a Motorsport Legend as an Electric Collector’s Car

The legendary Porsche 550 Spyder has returned in a radically different form. Created by British design and engineering company Hedley Studios in an officially licensed partnership with Porsche, the new Porsche 550 J transforms one of the marque’s most important racing cars into a handcrafted, fully electric collector’s item.

Built to celebrate 75 years of Porsche Motorsport, the Porsche 550 J pays tribute to the lightweight mid-engined sports car that established an important chapter in the company’s competition history. Limited to just 250 examples, the miniature recreation combines classic Porsche design, modern electric propulsion and extensive personalisation.

It may look like a tiny version of a 1950s racing car, but the 550 J is a thoroughly modern creation. Measuring approximately 2.9 metres in length and 1.2 metres in width, it is around 80 percent the size of the original Porsche 550 Spyder and can accommodate up to two occupants.

The result is not intended to be a conventional road car. The Porsche 550 J is not road legal and is instead positioned as an exclusive collector’s piece for Porsche enthusiasts and design aficionados.

Porsche 550 Spyder: the racing car that started the Carrera legacy

The original Porsche 550 Spyder occupies a special place in Porsche history. Developed specifically for motorsport, it was one of the company’s earliest purpose-built racing machines and quickly demonstrated that low weight and intelligent engineering could overcome a significant power disadvantage.

One of its defining moments came at the 1954 Carrera Panamericana, one of the most demanding road races of its era.

Porsche factory drivers Hans Herrmann and Jaroslav Juhan competed with two 550 Spyder models over the race’s 3,077-kilometre route. After five days of competition, Herrmann emerged ahead of his teammate by just 36 seconds.

More importantly, the two lightweight Porsches managed to finish third and fourth overall while winning their class, despite facing competitors with considerably larger engines.

That performance helped establish the Carrera name within Porsche’s performance-car vocabulary. The designation would subsequently become synonymous with some of the company’s most sporting road cars.

The 550 Spyder’s formula was deceptively simple: compact dimensions, low weight, a mid-mounted engine and a clear focus on the driver. Decades later, those same characteristics form the foundation of the Porsche 550 J’s visual identity.

Porsche 550 J is an officially licensed reimagining

The new Porsche 550 J is not simply an aftermarket replica. It is an officially licensed reinterpretation of the original 550 Spyder, developed by Hedley Studios with direct support from Porsche.

During development, Hedley Studios was given extensive access to Porsche’s corporate archives, allowing the team to study the original car and its history in considerable detail.

The collaboration reflects a shared approach between the two companies: traditional craftsmanship combined with contemporary technology.

“The Porsche 550 Spyder is far more than a legendary sports car. It embodies the pioneering spirit, innovative strength and passion that have defined Porsche from the brand’s earliest days to the present,” said Deniz Keskin, Director Brand Management and Partnerships at Porsche AG.

The Porsche 550 J therefore aims to capture more than the appearance of the original. Its designers sought to reproduce the character and philosophy of the 1950s racing machine while adapting the concept for a modern collector.

Porsche 550 J gets an electric powertrain

Perhaps the biggest difference between the original Porsche 550 Spyder and the new 550 J is hidden beneath the bodywork.

Instead of a petrol engine, the Porsche 550 J uses a fully electric 48-volt drivetrain. In standard specification, the system produces approximately 8 kW, equivalent to roughly 11 horsepower.

Customers opting for the RS Package can increase output to approximately 16 kW, or around 22 horsepower.

Top speed is approximately 80 km/h.

Those figures might appear modest by modern sports-car standards, but outright performance is not the purpose of the 550 J. This is a compact collector’s vehicle designed around craftsmanship, design and the experience of owning a miniature interpretation of a Porsche racing icon.

The electric drivetrain also gives Hedley Studios the opportunity to reinterpret the 550 Spyder without attempting to reproduce its original mechanical package.

Steel space frame and carbon-fibre body

Despite its diminutive dimensions, the Porsche 550 J uses serious construction techniques.

The car features a steel space-frame chassis combined with a carbon-fibre body. This approach allows Hedley Studios to maintain the lightweight philosophy associated with the original 550 Spyder while incorporating contemporary materials and manufacturing techniques.

Every Porsche 550 J is handcrafted in the UK at Hedley Studios in Bicester.

That handcrafted construction is central to the car’s appeal. Rather than being a mass-produced lifestyle product, the 550 J is intended to occupy the space between automotive design, motorsport heritage and collectible craftsmanship.

Ben Hedley, founder of Hedley Studios, describes the original 550 Spyder as a milestone in Porsche’s history because it was developed specifically for motorsport.

With the 550 J, the company’s goal was to retain the lightweight, driver-focused character and straightforward design philosophy of the original while making the concept relevant to a new generation.

Limited to only 250 examples

Exclusivity is another defining element of the Porsche 550 J.

Production is limited to just 250 examples, making the new model considerably rarer than any conventional Porsche production car.

The limited production run, official Porsche licensing and direct connection to one of the brand’s most historically significant racing cars are likely to make the 550 J particularly attractive to collectors.

However, unlike a conventional Porsche sports car, the 550 J is not designed for public roads. It is explicitly a collector’s item and is not road legal.

That distinction is important. The 550 J is less about replacing a modern sports car and more about owning a physical piece of Porsche’s motorsport heritage.

Porsche 550 J offers extensive customisation

Hedley Studios has also given customers considerable freedom to personalise their cars.

The Porsche 550 J can be specified in a broad selection of colours, including classic Porsche Silver as well as heritage-inspired blue, white, yellow and red finishes.

For customers looking for something more individual, the company’s Bespoke programme opens up significantly greater possibilities.

Historic and contemporary Porsche colours can be combined with motorsport-inspired liveries and other individual details, allowing owners to create highly personalised versions of the 550 J.

The result is that no two cars necessarily need to look identical.

This emphasis on individualisation is particularly relevant for a vehicle aimed at collectors. Rather than simply purchasing a miniature Porsche 550 Spyder, buyers can commission a specific interpretation reflecting their own taste, preferred Porsche racing era or personal collection.

A modern interpretation of Porsche’s racing DNA

The Porsche 550 Spyder was created in an era when racing success depended heavily on reducing weight, maximising mechanical efficiency and giving the driver a focused machine.

The Porsche 550 J translates that philosophy into a very different technological era.

Its 48-volt electric drivetrain replaces the internal-combustion engine, carbon fibre replaces much of the traditional construction philosophy and modern manufacturing techniques allow the car to be produced at a scale that would have been impossible in the 1950s.

Yet the fundamental visual language remains unmistakably connected to the 550 Spyder.

The tiny proportions, open cockpit and streamlined bodywork deliberately evoke the original racing car, while the extensive customisation programme gives owners the opportunity to create something closer to a bespoke automotive sculpture than a conventional vehicle.

Porsche 550 J price and availability

Hedley Studios has announced that the Porsche 550 J is available to order now through the company.

The production run is limited to 250 examples, with each vehicle handcrafted in the UK and offered with extensive personalisation options.

The supplied announcement does not specify a purchase price for the Porsche 550 J, so the final cost will depend on the specification and bespoke options selected by the customer.

Porsche 550 J: specifications at a glance

  • Officially licensed Porsche 550 Spyder reimagining
  • Created by Hedley Studios
  • Limited to 250 examples
  • Handcrafted in Bicester, UK
  • Approximately 2.9 metres long
  • Approximately 1.2 metres wide
  • Around 80 percent of the original 550 Spyder’s size
  • Seating for up to two people
  • Steel space-frame chassis
  • Carbon-fibre body
  • 48-volt fully electric drivetrain
  • Approximately 8 kW in standard specification
  • Up to approximately 16 kW with RS Package
  • Approximately 80 km/h top speed
  • Extensive colour and livery personalisation
  • Bespoke programme available
  • Not road legal

Source: Porsche

News

Volvo Cars Appoints Klaus Zellmer as New CEO

Volvo Cars has appointed Klaus Zellmer as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, bringing an experienced automotive executive with more than three decades in the industry to the top job at the Swedish automaker. Zellmer will assume the role no later than October 1, 2027, with current CEO Håkan Samuelsson remaining in place to support a smooth leadership transition.

The appointment comes at an important point for Volvo Cars as the company continues to navigate a rapidly changing global automotive industry, including the shift toward electrification, evolving customer expectations and increasingly intense competition in the premium vehicle market.

Klaus Zellmer brings extensive experience across both premium and high-volume automotive brands. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Škoda Auto, where he has overseen a period of strong commercial performance and continued expansion of the brand’s electric vehicle lineup.

Volvo Cars Chairman Eric Li said Zellmer’s combination of automotive expertise and international leadership experience makes him a strong match for the company’s next phase.

“Klaus Zellmer combines deep automotive expertise with broad international leadership experience and a strong record of guiding organisations through transformation and changing market conditions,” Li said.

According to Volvo Cars, Zellmer’s experience across both the premium segment and high-volume automotive market will be particularly relevant as the company works to strengthen its position as a premium car manufacturer.

Zellmer said he was attracted to Volvo Cars by the strength of the brand, particularly its longstanding reputation for safety, distinctive design and clearly defined identity.

“I am delighted to join Volvo Cars at such an important moment in the company’s development,” Zellmer said. “Few automotive brands have built such a strong and lasting reputation for safety, consistently applying this core value across the mobility sector.”

He also highlighted Volvo’s design philosophy and its ability to reinvent itself throughout its history.

The incoming CEO added that Volvo Cars has a solid foundation and an experienced workforce, while emphasizing the importance of continuing to evolve the company as the automotive industry enters another period of major transformation.

Klaus Zellmer’s Automotive Career Spans Porsche, Volkswagen and Škoda

Zellmer has spent more than 30 years in the automotive industry, building a career that includes senior positions at Porsche, Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Škoda Auto.

Before taking charge of Škoda Auto, Zellmer served on the Board of Management of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, where he was responsible for Marketing, Sales and After Sales.

His longest period within the Volkswagen Group was spent at Porsche. Zellmer worked for the sports-car manufacturer for more than 20 years and held several senior management positions, including CEO of Porsche Deutschland and CEO of Porsche North America.

His career began in the automotive sector after graduating with a degree in Business Administration. From 1994, he spent three years working at the Institute for Automotive Economics at Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Sciences.

At Škoda, Zellmer has overseen one of Europe’s most successful volume automotive brands. Under his leadership, Škoda delivered record results in 2025, followed by continued growth and record electric vehicle deliveries during the first half of 2026.

That experience could prove particularly relevant at Volvo Cars, where the transition to electrified vehicles remains a central part of the company’s long-term strategy.

Håkan Samuelsson to Support Volvo Cars Leadership Transition

Håkan Samuelsson has led Volvo Cars during two separate periods. His first tenure ran from 2012 to 2022, before he returned as CEO in April 2025.

Samuelsson came back to the company at a challenging moment for the global automotive industry, with the task of developing Volvo Cars’ future strategic roadmap and providing stability during a period of significant change.

His latest tenure has also been focused on preparing the company for a long-term leadership transition.

Volvo Cars says Samuelsson will work with the Board of Directors to ensure a seamless handover to Zellmer. The exact transition process will therefore take place well before Zellmer officially assumes the CEO position, which must happen no later than October 1, 2027.

What Klaus Zellmer’s Appointment Means for Volvo Cars

Zellmer’s appointment gives Volvo Cars a CEO with experience spanning luxury and premium vehicles, high-volume passenger cars, global sales operations and large-scale corporate transformation.

His background at Porsche gives him direct experience with the premium end of the automotive market, while his years at Volkswagen and Škoda provide experience managing large international organizations and high-volume vehicle operations.

That combination is particularly significant for Volvo Cars as the company attempts to balance its premium positioning with the need to compete at scale in a rapidly evolving global market.

Zellmer will inherit a company with a strong heritage built around safety, Scandinavian design and premium mobility, but also one operating in an automotive market undergoing profound technological and competitive changes.

Electric vehicles, software-defined vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems, connected services and changing global market dynamics are reshaping the traditional automotive business. Volvo Cars’ next CEO will therefore face the challenge of preserving the brand’s identity while continuing to adapt its products and business strategy.

Source: Volvo