Despite a challenging Indian Premier League season, India’s most successful cricket captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, was spotted driving through Ranchi’s streets, leaving disappointment behind. The five-time IPL champion, known for his lavish car collection including a 1973 Pontiac Trans-Am and Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II, keeps a low profile in his Jharkhand hometown. The former Chennai Super Kings skipper cruised in a stylish, budget-friendly Citroen Basalt, pausing to wave at fans as he exited his residence.
MS Dhoni: Why a Citroen Basalt?
Not many remember this, but MS Dhoni is the first to take delivery of the Citroen Basalt Dark Edition, which he was seen driving. The former Indian wicketkeeper batter is also the brand ambassador for the French automobile manufacturer. Dhoni is regularly spotted driving the Basalt Dark Edition.
Citroen Basalt Dark Edition: What is it?
Citroen rolled out its Dark Edition lineup in April this year, featuring the C3, Aircross (previously known as C3 Aircross), and Basalt. All Dark Edition models are based on the top-spec variants and come with a premium of just under Rs 20,000. Notably, the very first Basalt Dark Edition was delivered straight to MS Dhoni.
The Basalt Dark Edition gets a sleek Perla Nera Black exterior, jazzed up with dark chrome accents on the Chevron badge, front grille, and side claddings. To top it off, the front and rear bumpers, along with the door handles, get a glossy black makeover. The all-black theme continues inside the cabin, featuring black leatherette seats and a leatherette-wrapped dashboard. To enhance the sporty appeal, Citroen has added red contrast stitching on the door trims, dashboard, front centre armrest, and seat upholstery. Additional highlights in the Citroen Dark Edition range include custom seat covers, dark chrome mouldings, and a grille embellisher. Apart from these exclusive touches, the rest of the interior layout and features remain unchanged from the standard version.
Citroen Basalt Dark Edition: Engine Specifications
The Basalt Dark Edition remains mechanically unchanged, continuing to draw power from a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine. This three-cylinder motor produces 109 bhp and 190 Nm of peak torque, which increases to 205 Nm when paired with the automatic transmission. Buyers can choose between a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. No modifications have been made to the powertrain or drivetrain setup in the Dark Edition lineup.