Photo: Citroen
Just as promised a couple of weeks ago, Citroen revealed its brand new crossover concept called Aircross today. What we didn't expect is that it will cross our path next week, making its debut at Auto Shanghai 2015.
But what is the Aircross and what does it do? Simply put, we see it as the preview for a future Nissan Qashqai rival. Everyone knows how well that model has sold, and it seems Citroen want to replace the current C4 Aircross model that is based on the Mitsubishi ASX with a creation of their own.
The big brother of the C4 Cactus measures 4,580mm long, 2,100mm wide and 1,800mm tall. At 22-inches, its wheels are gigantic though this is expected from a concept car. From the unmistakable squinting eyes to the black body armor and offroad tires, this Citroen wants to show the world how tough it is.
The design is similar to the B-segment model, but also brings original touches. The first of these is a set of coach rear doors and the lack of a B-pillar. Repeating trapezoidal shapes are used thought the design and we think nobody could ever say Citroen are afraid to take risks.
Like most concepts these days, the Aircross is designed to run on electricity sometimes. Under that red clamshell bonnet is a 1.6-liter turbo making 220 horsepower, and it works in parallel with a rear-mounted 95 hp electric motor to make this an all-wheel drive car. It sounds fantastic in theory, but most Citroens have around 100 hp, so 300 is a stretch of the imagination.
Just like plug-in hybrids from Audi or BMW, the Aircross has a built-in lithium-ion battery pack granting an electric range of up to 31 miles (50 km). Being green does help, but we're more interested in going fast, so the fact that this concept supposedly goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds is hugely impressive. After all, how often can you compare a Citroen to a BMW M3?
The interior is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the concept, combining different types of fabric materials to create a funky look. There's also a definite nod to the C4 Cactus, as the steering wheel and the screens are designed the same way. Citroen installed dual 12-inch high definition displays and fitted each seat speakers and microphone to encourage conversations.
There's no word on a production version yet, but we're likely going to hear all sorts of rumors in coming months. Mitsubishi will launch a new ASX in 2016, so by that time, Citroen should have a replacement for the current C4 Aircross as well. Here's hoping it's just as funky!
The big brother of the C4 Cactus measures 4,580mm long, 2,100mm wide and 1,800mm tall. At 22-inches, its wheels are gigantic though this is expected from a concept car. From the unmistakable squinting eyes to the black body armor and offroad tires, this Citroen wants to show the world how tough it is.
The design is similar to the B-segment model, but also brings original touches. The first of these is a set of coach rear doors and the lack of a B-pillar. Repeating trapezoidal shapes are used thought the design and we think nobody could ever say Citroen are afraid to take risks.
Like most concepts these days, the Aircross is designed to run on electricity sometimes. Under that red clamshell bonnet is a 1.6-liter turbo making 220 horsepower, and it works in parallel with a rear-mounted 95 hp electric motor to make this an all-wheel drive car. It sounds fantastic in theory, but most Citroens have around 100 hp, so 300 is a stretch of the imagination.
Just like plug-in hybrids from Audi or BMW, the Aircross has a built-in lithium-ion battery pack granting an electric range of up to 31 miles (50 km). Being green does help, but we're more interested in going fast, so the fact that this concept supposedly goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds is hugely impressive. After all, how often can you compare a Citroen to a BMW M3?
The interior is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the concept, combining different types of fabric materials to create a funky look. There's also a definite nod to the C4 Cactus, as the steering wheel and the screens are designed the same way. Citroen installed dual 12-inch high definition displays and fitted each seat speakers and microphone to encourage conversations.
There's no word on a production version yet, but we're likely going to hear all sorts of rumors in coming months. Mitsubishi will launch a new ASX in 2016, so by that time, Citroen should have a replacement for the current C4 Aircross as well. Here's hoping it's just as funky!
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