Citroen C3 X Spied in Europe, Crossover-y Sedan Destined for Emerging Markets

Spied testing at the Arctic Circle in Europe, the Citroen C3 X is a mix between a crossover and a sedan (liftback?). It has a familiar face that appears to have been inspired by the regular C3, with a trick lighting signature, a rather upright nose, and a pair of air vents separated by a horizontal slat.

The profile will help it stand out from the crowd – well, that and the very generous (for a sedan) ground clearance, as we can see in these scoops. Don’t mind the hump, as it is fake and meant to fool bystanders into thinking it is a crossover. It should have a sloping roofline towards the rear, likely ending with a tailgate that should open up into a decent cargo area.

Due to the thick camouflage, combined with the trippy vinyl stickers and the snow stuck to them, it is impossible to make out the design of the rear end. We can partially see the taillights, and a recess in the bumper that tells us that is where the license plate will sit. The prototype featured steel wheels, though alloys will be part of the offering once the model goes on sale.

Speaking of that, despite being spotted in the Old Continent, it has been reported that Citroen will only launch the C3 X in emerging markets. Certain outlets speak of it arriving in South America and India, and Europe might not get it at all, even if our spy photographers believe it might go on sale in Eastern Europe. Guess we will have to wait and see if that's the case.

Rumor has it the C3 X makes use of the CMP platform. This architecture is the foundation stone of the DS 3 Crossback, C4, C4 X, Jeep Avenger, and other similarly-sized models in Stellantis' portfolio. Chances are it might launch with gasoline power, and it might get a 1.2-liter turbo-three, estimated to produce a little over 100 horsepower, perhaps mated to an optional automatic or a standard manual transmission.

The ICE-powered lineup will allegedly be joined by a pure electric derivative, maybe sometime next year. And speaking of dates, the original estimate spoke about an official introduction this summer. Nevertheless, it appears that the French auto brand pushed it back by a few months, supposedly to add more standard gizmos to it, which would obviously translate to a slightly steeper starting price. That said, we expect it to premiere before the end of 2024 or early next year.