Introduced in 2017 at the Shanghai Motor Show, the C5 Aircross prepares to roll out another concept. Going live at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, the SUV Hybrid serves as a preview for the plug-in hybrid drivetrain coming in 2019. The DS 7 Crossback, Peugeot 508, and Opel Grandland X are also confirmed to receive the 300-horsepower option.
Even though Citroen didn’t release anything more than a handful of pictures, we know how the SUV Hybrid and production-ready model will turn out. Propulsion comes from a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder up front and a rear-mounted electric motor.
Based on the EMP2 vehicle architecture, the C5 Aircross Plug-In Hybrid houses the lithium-ion battery in the floor, right under the passenger compartment. Citroen quotes up to 50 kilometers of zero-emissions driving, after which the internal combustion engine takes over until the battery is recharged.
Able to reach high speeds in electric mode (133 kph or 83 mph) is nothing to scoff at, nor is the time it takes to juice up the battery. According to Citroen, it takes approximately two hours using a 32-amp wall socket. In regard to transmission, the eight-speed automatic available in the bone-stock C5 Aircross will do the trick.
For some reason or other, Citroen quotes 225 horsepower for combined rating in the case of the concept. That’s way off the 300-horsepower target for the production model, but then again, don’t forget this is a one-off meant to hype up the crowd about the electrified future of Groupe PSA.
As far as design is concerned, changes over the ICE-only specification are few and far between. Some blue-painted accents on the outside, bits of blue trim inside the cabin, specific software for the digital instrument cluster and infotainment system, and that’s about it.
Expected to offer less than 49 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, the 2019 Citroen C5 Aircross is nothing more than a turning point for Citroen. An electrified option to every model line will be added by 2023, and by 2025, the French automaker will offer hybrid and electric options across the range.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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