The sub-compact SUV space is getting ever more crowded and the newest name in this space is now the Citroen C3-based sub-4m SUV which will be launched in India in 2021 and has been spied testing for the first time.
The sub-compact SUV space is now the most competitive space any car segment has ever been in this country. By the beginning of next year, we will have as many as nine different offerings in this segment, all wanting a piece of the pie. But that’s not the end of it. There’s another brand who’s soon going to start operations in India and that’s Citroen. While Citroen will be making their debut with the C5 Aircross SUV, their second offering in India will be a locally manufactured sub-compact SUV.
And now, images of a test mule of the Citroen-C3 based sub-compact SUV for India has surfaced on the internet for the first time. This sub-4m SUV is being developed specifically for India and is slated for a launch sometime in the second half of 2021. It is rumored to be called the Citroen C3 Sporty, although there has been no official confirmation on that name. Based on this highly camouflaged test mule seen above with temporary parts, the model seems to be in its early stages of development. It will be manufactured at Citroen’s plant on Tamil Nadu.
There’s not much that can be commented about the design of the car as the test mule is very heavily camouflaged. However, what gives it away that its a Citroen prototype is the distinctive bonnet line that has this inverted V cut upfront, which is made to align with the brand logo. The sub-compact SUV will carry on with the split headlamp design trend, much like bigger Citroen SUVs too. The LED DRLs will be aligned with the grille while the main headlamp cluster will sit lower on the bumper. The extensive pseudo cladding at the rear makes it impossible to comment about the rear design.
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Under the hood, we expect the Citroen C3-based sub-compact SUV to be powered by the similar engines to what the C3 gets internationally. There will thus be a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine along with a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. It also fits perfectly in the Indian context as almost all rivals have powertrain options of similar configurations. More details about the car will be revealed closer to its launch.
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The Citroen C3-based subcompact SUV will be launched under the company’s C-Cubed programme, under which Citroen plans to launch four new vehicles in India by 2023. Citroen will begin their India operations by early 2021 and the C5 Aircross will be first product to launched by the company. The C5 Aircross will come to India via the completely knocked down (CKD) route and will be assembled at CK Birla’s Thiruvallur plant in Tamil Nadu.
