Citroën decided to attack the most accessible segments of the market with everything. And he did it with a project that includes three models: the C3, the C3 Aircross and the Basalta model that has just been presented in India and that allows us to know details before it arrives in Argentina, scheduled for the end of this year.
This model, the third of the C-Cubo project, will offer a silhouette crossover that tries to merge an SUV with a coupe. An idea that works very well and has great acceptance among users: it has not only been successful in luxury brands, such as BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, but also resulted in models such as the Volskwagen Nivus or the Fiat Fastback.
Until now, the images released by the French brand corresponded to a prototype, with wheels of larger dimensions than those that the series version will have. The official presentation in Indiaallows us to have a more real image of the model that we will see in the region.
What is also noted with the Basalt presented in Asia is that some improvements are corrected or added that were criticized in the C3 and C3 Aircross and that will later also be incorporated in these models.
The first images that appeared of the prototype showed a vehicle that stands out for its ground clearance, raised hood, flared fenders with black moldings and a long tailgate drop (style fastback). The horn, for its part, has all the features present in the other models of the same project.
Presentation with changes
Much of that original silhouette of the prototype is evident in the series version, but the big change appears in the size of the tires: Although the measurements are not specified, they appear to be a more normal size (in C3 Aircross, the largest measurement is 17 inches.
The big change in the interior that the new crossover shows is that it places the controls for the rear electric windows in the doors and not in the console between the front seats, as, for now, the other C3s sold on the market do. local.
Another novelty presented by the Basalt launched in India are the air conditioning commands with digital controls. In this way, it replaces the knob controls offered on the other vehicles in the C3 family.
The rest of the interior is very similar to that of the models manufactured at the French brand’s plant in Porto Real, Brazil. The Basalt includes the same 10.25″ horizontal screen for the media center.
In the same way, it also carries the digital instrument panel with a 7″ display. The model should come with 6 sets of airbags, stability control, ramp start assist and tire pressure monitor.
In terms of safety, it should share front and side airbags, electronic stability control (ESP), tire pressure monitor and hill start assist.
In terms of engine there is a big difference with respect to the Mercosur models, since the Indian Basalt will use 1.2-liter gasoline engines, with an aspirated and turbo version that offer powers from 82 to 110 horsepower. In those cases, both can have a manual gearbox.
For this region, it is ruled out that the engine options will continue to be the same as those offered in the C3 Aircross: the 1.0 turbo 120 horsepower and CVT automatic transmission.
