Citroen C3 Aircross to make global debut in India on April 27

Citroen has just announced the global unveiling of an all-new SUV in India on April 27. While the French carmaker has not given out any specific details, it says that the SUV has been entirely designed and engineered here in India.

As we already know, Citroen’s next product for India will be a midsize SUV based on the C3 hatchback, and it will be this very SUV that will be revealed in the production-spec guise. It has already been spied testing on our roads on several occasions, and will likely be called the C3 Aircross.

Previous spy images of the C3 Aircross have hinted at a design that’s similar to the C3 hatchback, but in reality, it will be a much larger vehicle and not just an extended C3. Design elements such as the split headlight set-up, the grille and wraparound tail-lamps will be carried over, but it will have a more upright stance with a completely new rear quarter and more SUV-centric design traits. The new midsize SUV is expected to measure around 4.2 metres in length and sources tell us it will have two- and three-row seating layouts.

Citroen C3 Aircross fresh interior layout, more features
We have also had a sneak peek inside the C3 Aircross's cabin, and here too, the dashboard features a design that’s different from the C3, but some parts like the steering wheel and some switchgear are expected to be carried over. The upcoming SUV will have a different touchscreen layout than the widescreen unit seen on the C3, and we also expect more in terms of features compared to the stripped-out C3, chief among which could be automatic climate control system on the higher-spec trims. The third-row seats will also be one of the biggest talking points of the C5 Aircross.

Citroen C3 Aircross platform and powertrain
The C3 Aircross will share the CMP modular platform with its hatchback sibling and is expected to carry over the 110hp, 190Nm, 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine from the C3. While this engine makes the C3 a peppy city commuter, it remains to be seen how it performs in a vehicle that will be comparatively heavier. It also remains to be seen what gearbox options this engine comes paired to in the C3 Aircross.

As we have reported before, this upcoming midsize SUV will also get an electric powertrain that will be introduced at a later point in time, after the regular petrol-powered SUV goes on sale in India.

Citroen C3 Aircross expected price, rivals
The C3 Aircross will be rivalling other midsize SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq. However, going by Citroen’s strategy in India, it could aim to undercut the segment by a fair margin, which means it will be positioned directly against naturally aspirated petrol variants of Creta and Seltos, mild-hybrid versions of the Grand Vitara and Hyryder, and 1.0 TSI variants of the Kushaq and Taigun.