Currently reading: Paris motor show 2010: Citroën Lacoste 'should be made'
Citroën wants to put an affordable car into production, the firm's boss tells Autocar

Citroen’s boss Frederic Banzet has given clear indications that he wants to put a car such as the Lacoste concept into production.

Speaking to Autocar at the Paris motor show he revealed that a stripped out, simple car such as the Lacoste was on the cards: “This is a philosophy of a basic car that we are working on’ he admitted.

“We need to come back from adding more weight and equipment. We can see a category of people who want a more simple car and more essential, and who will be attracted by the modernity and attractive design.”

Read the full story on the Citroën Lacoste, including Paris show pics

However, he also revealed that the super-stripped out feel exhibited by the last such concept, the C-Cactus went “too far” as it lacked even a dash and controls. Banzet, though, was keen to stress that such a basic model needn’t be low-cost, merely affordable.

“I couldn’t see a low-cost car in a Citroën showroom because it would be inconsistent. It would have to be by another brand,” he said, alluding to the ultra low-cost car the company is believed to be developing with Chinese maker Dong Feng for developing markets.

Banzet also confirmed that a new C1 model, jointly developed with Toyota, was also being planned. The Lacoste concept is said to show some of the styling clues for the new city car.

Chas Hallett

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