Introduced in 2002 with a 4-door sedan body, the car was nothing more than a profound restyling of the previous Citroën Fukang or the specific version for the Chinese market of the Citroën ZX produced by the joint venture between the PSA Group and the Chinese manufacturer Dongfeng Motor in the Wuhan plant.

The Élysée, while maintaining the layout of the old car, introduced a totally new front with new headlights inherited from the second series Peugeot 306, a new grille and bumpers similar to those of the Saxo and new taillights made their debut at the rear.

Inside, the change was more evident: the same dashboard as the Xsara debuts with a rounded and more modern style and the finish and overall quality of the car are greatly improved.

Shortly after the launch, the Élysée VIP was also introduced, a version with the wheelbase extended by 16 centimeters and a 4.50 meter long bodywork characterized by richer and more luxurious fittings with faux briar finishes and leather seats as well as external chrome along the car body.

In 2012, a final restyling of the car was presented which saw only the front bumpers and rear light clusters modified.