Citroen Basalt has been the talk of the town since its global reveal on March 27. It has been spotted testing in both camouflaged and undisguised versions. According to reports, the Basalt, like other Citroen cars, will be produced in India for markets all across the globe. This lines up perfectly with the Make in India for the World campaign by the Indian government. Citroen has pioneered the campaign and recently became the first brand to export EVs from India by shipping out its eC3 offering. The timeline? Citroen would want to make an impact with the Basalt, the reason why it is being believed that it will land here before Diwali. Let’s dig deep into all we know about the upcoming SUV from the French maker.
Design
The Basalt will be underpinned by the same C-Cubed platform as the C3, eC3, and C3 Aircross. While some expected the SUV's design to differ from the concept, the test mules have proven otherwise. As seen in the concept, it looks eerily similar to the C3 Aircross. Its split grille and headlight housing replicate the current Citroen design language. Where it shines is the unique rear and the sloping coupe-like roof. This gives it a sporty appeal that might attract young buyers' attention.
Interiors
Citroen has stayed tight-lipped about the cabin of the Basalt as of now. We've got some hints from the spy shots, though. We expect its interior to use Citroen C3 Aircross' interior as a base and add more features and a touch of premium-ness.
The standard features we expect from the Basalt are a 10.2-inch touchscreen, a 7-inch digital instrument panel, Automatic climate control, Cruise control, and push-button engine start/stop.
It might come with six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), a rear parking camera, and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) to ensure safety.
Powertrain
Citroen isn't expected to bring a fresh engine for the Basalt. They will likely continue with the 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine in the Citroen C3 Aircross and Citroen C3. It can produce 109 hp of power and 205 Nm of torque. It will be mated with a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed torque converter automatic.
Rivals
The Citroen Basalt will face stern competition from established SUVs like Creta, Seltos, Grand Vitara, Elevate, Hyryder, Taigun, Kushaq and Astor. The entry of the upcoming Tata Curvv will ensure the Compact SUV market has a storm. The question is: Will the Basalt be able to ride through it?
