Citroen uncovers C3 Aircross compact SUV
BY ROBBIE WALLIS | 13th Jun 2017
GoAuto has contacted Peugeot’s recently-announced Australian distributor, Inchcape, to confirm whether it will be offered Down Under, but if it arrives, a would likely follow the European debut which is set for the second half of the year.
Based on the C-Aircross concept from this year’s Geneva motor show, the C3 Aircross can be customised in 90 different exterior colour combinations, as well as five interior design schemes.
The C3 Aircross has retained much of the styling from the Geneva concept, including the two-part headlight set-up, narrow grille with integrated Citroen emblem, square air intake and silver lower bumper.
Rear styling is virtually unchanged from the show car, with a prominent, three-part rear bumper, soft, rectangular headlights, and ‘Venetian blind’ C-pillar design.
European customers can choose from a range of wheel designs either 16- or 17-inches in diameter, while the colour combinations are split into eight body colours, four roof colours and four colour packs.
The diminutive C3 Aircross measures 4150mm long, 1760mm wide, and 1640mm high, making it shorter and narrower than the segment-leading Mazda CX-3, but with a higher roofline. It also sits 20mm higher than the C3 hatch, with which it shares a platform.
Citroen is claiming the C3 Aircross has one of the most spacious and adjustable interiors in the segment, with ample head and legroom, boot space of 410 litres (that can grow up to 1289L with the rear seats folded), and a flat-folding front seat that offers a load length of 2400mm.
The interior features a simplistic, square-shaped theme with a large touchscreen infotainment system, sparse use of buttons and five different design schemes.
Tech features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, MirrorLink and wireless smartphone charging.
Safety features include park assist, active safety brake, lane departure warning, blind spot monitor, speed limit recognition, intelligent beam headlights, driver assistance alert, top rear vision reversing camera, colour head-up display and Grip Control, Citroen’s multi-terrain driving system which features hill descent control.
Powertrains for the C3 Aircross will be a mixture of 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder units in both manual and automatic configuration, and a turbo-diesel engine, most likely the 1.6-litre four-cylinder unit, teamed exclusively to a manual gearbox.
Produced at Citroen’s Zaragoza plant in Spain, the C3 Aircross will go on sale in Europe in the second half of 2017 followed by a global rollout after that, with pricing announced in July.
Citroen CEO Linda Jackson said the uniqueness of the C3 Aircross would set it apart from its rivals.
“Bringing together all of Citroen's expertise in cabin space, modular design and comfort, this people-minded SUV stands out in the B SUV segment with its unique body styling,” she said.
“It has a different mind set, a source of protection and adventure, consistent with the expectations of customers today.”
