Citroen's Jackson says C5 will return in 2020

FRANKFURT -- Citroen will bring out a third generation of the C5 sedan in 2020, brand chief Linda Jackson said at the Frankfurt auto show.

The sedan has not been built in Europe since June.

Jackson said spinning off the DS subbrand in 2014 created gaps in the Citroen lineup, which were now being filled as the brand adopts all eight of the body variations defined by parent PSA Group in its passenger car and light commercial vehicle range.

"Due to the separation of DS, some fairly small gaps in our portfolio emerged," the CEO said, adding that these gaps were soon filled.

In Shanghai in April, Citroen presented a compact SUV, the C5 Aircross, which is coming out in late 2018 in Europe. It is using the brand's new suspension system with a hydraulic stop for the first time. The system is replacing the elaborate, heavy hydropneumatic suspension at Citroen.

Jackson said only Citroen models will have this feature within the PSA Group and it will not be used in Opel cars.

Jackson said the recent acquisition of Opel/Vauxhall by PSA would have no effect on Citroen's future model strategy.