Underpinned by the globally successful CMP architecture, the Citroen Basalt will lock horns with the Tata CURVV, but will miss out on the EV powertrain option
The production version of the upcoming Citroen Basalt coupe SUV has been teased showing exterior and interior details. This is the first time the brand has teased some interior details of the five-seater and it appears to be more premium than the C3 Aircross. In fact, the Basalt will be positioned above the C3 Aircross and below the C5 Aircross in India.
Observations from Spy Images and Latest Teaser
The upcoming coupe-SUV has already been spied on a handful of occasions. These sightings, along with the latest teaser, have revealed a few details of the official design. For instance, the side profile gets bold wheel arches along with black plastic cladding. Also, what’s surprising is that the door handles have a conventional design. The alloy wheels look pretty upmarket. Additionally, one of the recent spy images has provided us with a clear look at the rear end. As with the concept, the sloping roofline neatly culminated into the bootlid, thereby lending a pretty fludic look. My favorite bit, though, is the bootlid spoiler. I even like the presence of the skid plate that infuses some ruggedness into the design.
The front section of the production-spec model features a multi-tier lighting arrangement. It even sports the signature twin-slat grille with the prominent Double Chevron badge. Moving to the cabin, several interior panels come from the Citroen C3 Aircross parts bin. The latest teaser even indicates the availability of front and rear armrests. The rear armrest will even offer a phone holder.
Also Read: Tata Curvv-Rivalling Citroen Basalt Spotted Sans Covers
Citroen Basalt Launch Date, Price Expectations and Specifications
The first-ever C-segment coupe SUV will launch on August 2, just a few days before the arch-rival Tata CURVV steps into the market on August 7. Prices could start as low as Rs 12 lakh (ex-showroom), with the top model retailing at around Rs 16 lakh (ex-showroom). At such a price point, the Basalt, like the C3 and C3 Aircross, will have a clear pricing advantage over many of its rivals. However, I do hope the carmaker is more liberal with providing more comfort- and convenience-enhancing features. Some of the goodies on offer will be –
- 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wireless Smartphone Charger
- 6 Airbags
- Digital Instrumentation
- Automatic Climate Control
Underpinning the Tata CURVV-rival will be a heavily localized CMP platform. The new model will be powered by the same 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine as the C3 Aircross. This motor pumps out a maximum power of 110 PS and a peak torque of 205 Nm on the Aircross. Transmission options will include a 6-speed manual as well as a 6-speed torque-converter automatic unit. Other than the upcoming Tata coupe-SUV, the Basalt will rival a range of C-SUVs like the Skoda Kushaq, Hyundai Creta, Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, VW Taigun, and Honda Elevate.
Our View
While it’s the BMW X6 that is credited for starting the coupe-SUV trend, carmakers like the Citroen, Tata Motors and Mahindra are the ones that are bringing this body style to the masses. Now, it remains to be seen how well this new breed of vehicles is received by the car buying lot. So far, Citroen India has achieved little success with all its offerings. This is largely due to lack of enough goodies on the C3 range, limited service network and powertrains that don’t exactly excel at performance or fuel efficiency. However, let’s not ignore the great comfort levels and well-sorted dynamics that all Citroens offer. It will be now interesting to see if the Basalt turns out to be a game-changer for its carmaker. Wait and watch!
Also Read: Tata CURVV vs Nexon Comparison – What All’s Different?
