Ever since setting foot in India in 2019, Citroen has maintained that it has big plans for the developing auto market here. The French carmaker currently offers four models in India—- C5 Aircross, C3, eC3, and C3 Aircross. The fifth model in this lineup is the Basalt, whose images were revealed a couple of months ago.
Test mules of the coupe SUV have been spied on numerous instances over the past year or so. According to a recent media report, Citroen has commenced production for the Basalt in India at the company’s production facility based out of Thiruvallur in Tamil Nadu. Basalt is based on the same CMP (common modular platform) architecture as C3 and C3 Aircross.
The crossover is expected to make its India debut in a couple of months followed by deliveries which are expected to commence around the festive season later this year. The Basalt marks the 3rd stage in the C-Cubed program deployed specifically for developing markets like India and South America.
Citroen Basalt: Design & specs
The most distinct exterior highlight of Citroen Basalt Vision is clearly the sharp receding roofline, giving the car a sporty coupe-like profile. However, apart from the profile and the new alloy wheels, there is hardly anything to differentiate between the Basalt and the C3 Aircross. For instance, the entire front fascia is almost identical to C3 Aircross, which has a more traditional design.
Both the models get the same chrome-lined Chevron logo at the top, a two-part grille and a faux silver skid plate for the chin. The integrated grille and air dam are flanked by a pair of projector LED headlamps, instead of the bulb units as seen in the C3 Aircross. That said, the LED DRLs remain unchanged.
Further, the LED taillamps are slightly sportier and edgier than the ones offered in C3 Aircross. Other exterior highlights include gloss black claddings on squared wheel arches, and door sills, faux skid plates on front and rear bumpers, and all-black alloy wheels.
The Basalt will be powered by a sole 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine, mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission. This motor churns out 109 bhp and 190 Nm (205 Nm in AT).There will be no diesel engine on offer. We expect the coupe SUV to sit on top of the C3 Aircross, and as a result should offer better creature comforts over the latter.
Source: Autocar India
