Citroen starts production of the Basalt coupe SUV in India, set for launch and festive season deliveries with a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine.
Ever since Citroen entered the Indian market in 2019, the French carmaker has been vocal about its ambitious plans for the region. Citroen currently offers four models in India: the C5 Aircross, C3, eC3, and C3 Aircross. Now, the company is gearing up to launch its fifth model, the Basalt, which was first revealed a few months ago.
Highlights:
- Citroen starts production of the new Basalt coupe SUV in India.
- Basalt to debut in India within months, with festive season deliveries.
- Built on the CMP platform, the Basalt shares features with C3 Aircross.
- Equipped with a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine, available in manual and automatic.
Production Begins for Citroen Basalt
Recently, media reports confirmed that Citroen has started production of the Basalt at its Thiruvallur plant in Tamil Nadu. The Basalt, a coupe SUV, is built on the same Common Modular Platform (CMP) as the C3 and C3 Aircross. The Basalt has been spotted several times during test drives over the past year.
Citroen Basalt Expected Price, Launch and Deliveries
The Basalt is expected to debut in India in the August, with deliveries starting around the festive season later this year. This launch marks the third phase of Citroen’s C-Cubed program, which is focused on developing markets like India and South America. The expected price in India will be around Rs.12-15 Lakh.
Citroen Basalt: Design and Specifications
The Basalt’s design features a sharp, receding roofline, giving it a sporty coupe-like profile. However, it shares many similarities with the C3 Aircross, including the front fascia, which sports a traditional look with a chrome-lined Chevron logo, a two-part grille, and a faux silver skid plate.
The Basalt’s front grille and air dam are flanked by projector LED headlamps, a step up from the bulb units in the C3 Aircross, while the LED daytime running lights (DRLs) remain the same. The rear LED taillamps are sportier and more angular compared to those on the C3 Aircross. Additional exterior features include gloss black cladding on the wheel arches and door sills, faux skid plates on the bumpers, and all-black alloy wheels.
Under the hood, the Basalt will be equipped with a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine, available with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission. This engine produces 109 bhp and 190 Nm of torque (205 Nm in the automatic variant). There will be no diesel option for the Basalt. Positioned above the C3 Aircross, the Basalt is expected to offer superior comfort and features.
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