The upcoming Citroen Basalt coupe SUV has been spotted plying on the Indian roads without any camouflage. This indicates that the launch, or at least the unveiling is near. For the unversed, the Basalt coupe SUV is based on the Basalt Vision which was showcased a couple of months ago. The main attraction of this concept was its coupe silhouette. Interestingly, the French carmaker has been able to translate almost the identical silhouette of the concept version into the production car. Let us check out the details of the C3-based Basalt Coupe SUV here.
Citroen Basalt Coupe SUV Spotted
We are able to experience the live footage of the SUV courtesy of 1dgasm on Instagram. The man who is making the video does a great job in showcasing all aspects of the exterior of the upcoming coupe SUV. At the front, it bears similarities in design with the existing C3 siblings. Remember, there is already the C3 and C3 Aircross in our market. Based on the same platform, the French carmaker wants to maximize its product range by simply changing the body type and dimensions of its new cars.
At the front, it gets a split setup with LED DRLs on the bonnet and the main headlamp cluster just above the bumper section. In the middle, there is the typical Citroen grille with a broad section completed by a sporty bumper. In essence, the front fascia looks quite bulky, indicative of an SUV with an imposing road presence and rugged credentials. On the sides, it looks like the vehicle gets a new design of the alloy wheels. However, I am not too certain if this is an alloy or a stylish wheel cover. However, the most prominent aspect has to be the sloping roofline which culminates into the boot compartment. That is what makes this SUV get the coupe appearance. At the rear, the extended luggage area bears rather subtle taillamps and a sporty bumper. All in all, the Citroen Basalt Coupe SUV will look unlike anything else on the Indian roads in this price segment.
Citroen Basalt Coupe SUV Interior and Features
While this video doesn’t offer any insights about the cabin of the coupe SUV, we can make some logical assumptions going by what the C3 Aircross offers. In fact, the cabin layout will largely resemble that of the C3 Aircross. That is understandable since carmakers often do part-sharing to keep the costs in check. A key aspect to consider is the availability of the 5+2 seating arrangement in the C3 Aircross. However, with the sloping roofline and coupe silhouette, I don’t expect Citroen to offer the same in the Basalt. We shall have to wait to know the exact details once Citroen makes the official announcement. Still, the most expected amenities on the Basalt will include:
- A 10.1-inch Infotainment Display
- A 7-inch Digital Instrument Cluster
- Powered ORVMs
- Connectivity Functions
- Automatic Air Conditioning
- Engine Start/Stop Function
- Keyless Entry
- Auto-Dimming IRVM
- Electric Sunroof
- LED Headlamps
- 6 Airbags
- ABS with EBD
- ESP
- Hill Host Assist
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
- Rear-View Camera
- Parking Sensors
Citroen Basalt Coupe SUV Specs
Yet another aspect where Citroen will benefit from localization and part-sharing will be the powertrains. The C3 and C3 Aircross share the engine and gearbox options. Hence, I also expect the new Basalt Coupe SUV to come with the same engine and gearbox. This is a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder turbo petrol mill which churns out a healthy 110 PS and 190 Nm of peak power and torque. This figure translates to 205 Nm with the automatic gearbox. Talking about transmission options, there will be the availability of a 6-speed manual or an automatic unit.
| Specs | Citroen C3 Aircross |
| Engine | 1.2-litre 3-Cylinder |
| Power | 110 PS |
| Torque | 190 Nm (205 Nm w/ AT) |
| Transmission | 6MT / AT |
Safety
The car buyers are extremely conscious about the safety prowess of their vehicles in recent times. Unfortunately, the e-C3 (electric version of the C3) recently brought an abysmal 0-star rating at the Global NCAP. This included a 0-star rating for Adult Occupant Protection and a 1-star rating for Child Occupant Protection. In order to resonate with the new buyers, Citroen will need to ensure that it improves in this regard in the upcoming Basalt SUV. However, since it is based on the same platform, I find it challenging for the French carmaker to devise a strong strategy to change this safety rating by too much.
Our View
Citroen is continuing with its SUV-offensive strategy for the Indian market. It already offers C5 Aircross, C3 Aircross, C3 and e-C3 in India. All of these belong to different categories. With Basalt, Citroen wants to tap into a rather niche segment. While there are no direct rivals in this space just yet, we will see the Tata Curvv enter our market, probably before the end of this year. It will also have this coupe silhouette. Let us keep an eye out for more details as and when they emerge.
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