Citroen Basalt Vision Concept makes global debut

Citroen today pulled the wraps off the Citroen Basalt Vision, a new SUV Coupe concept that will join the brand's range in India in the second half of 2024. This upcoming vehicle, known as the Citroen Basalt, will compete with C-segment SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, MG Astor, and a few others. The car will be locally produced and will also be exported to South American markets.

The Basalt shares a lot of similarities with the C3 Aircross that is already on sale. The Citroen Basalt's design is its main selling point, with its unusual coupe-like roofline which although common in foreign markets, is not a very conventional piece design from the Indian market's point of view.

A major upgrade over the C3 Aircross is the addition of projector headlamps over halogen. What remains unchanged though is the now recognisably Citroen light signature in the DRLs. The wheel arches are more squared off and the wheels themselves look quite stylish, although we expect the production-spec car to have a bit more conventional styling.

The panelling on the bottom half of the doors has also been removed, and the C-pillar has a sophisticated blacked-out extension of the window line. From the rear, the Basalt has wraparound LED taillights, a silver fake plate, and a large Citroen emblem in the centre.

Apart from the exterior, Citroen hasn't shared any other details on the Basalt. We expect the SUV to be powered by the same 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine capable of producing 110PS and 190 Nm (215 Nm in AT). The transmission options will be a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. There will be no diesel engines on offer.

The inside of the Citroen Basalt SUV Coupe is expected to be comparable to that of the C3 Aircross SUV but with significantly more features. We also expect higher-spec Citroen Basalt SUVs to have leatherette upholstery and other premium-feeling features.

Keeping in mind that the Citroen Basalt Vision will measure about 4.3 meters long, the same size as the C3 Aircross, it will largely compete with the future Tata Curvv, as well as other mid-size SUVs such the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Honda Elevate, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun, and MG Astor.

Speaking on the occasion, Thierry Koskas, CEO, Citroen, said, "We are delighted to unveil the third opus of this program designed to drive Citroen's international growth. Local teams are strongly committed to deliver in the coming months this innovative concept of an SUV Coupe that exudes bold design, space inside, and unique onboard comfort. Developed and produced locally, we are confident that Basalt will appeal to a large number of customers and strengthen our position in major markets. We can't wait to tell you more about it in the middle of the year."

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