New Citroen Basalt Concept Is the Opposite of Vulcanic, Previews Upcoming Crossover Coupe

Nevertheless, coinciding with the start of the car show in The City that Never Sleeps, the French automaker has just unveiled a brand-new concept. It's called Basalt, after a volcanic rock, and it is quite the opposite of volcanic. In fact, it's a quirky crossover coupe with funky looks that previews an upcoming production model.

Save for some minor adjustments, the new study's face resembles that of the C3 Aircross. It has a different grille, new lighting units with a split design, a bigger mouth, and repositioned fog lamps. The taillights are also similar, but the similarities end here, as the new Basalt has a sloping roofline with an angular tailgate that has an integrated spoiler.

It also features a different rear bumper, funky C-pillar trim, and new lines on the lower parts of the doors. The black plastic cladding is different as well, and it rides on a set of alloys with an intricate design that sports a dark finish, unlike the lively yellow hue applied to the body. Citroen also gave it black on the roof and side mirror casings for a sportier appeal.

The French auto marque, which operates under Stellantis, says the production model the Basalt previews will sit alongside the C3 and C3 Aircross in the brand's lineup. This likely means it shares their Smart Car Platform, which is expected to be adopted by the upcoming Opel/Vauxhall Frontera, as well as the next-gen Fiat Panda and other similarly-sized models from Stellantis' upcoming portfolio.

Since the production variant has been tailored for India and South America, the architecture may have been tweaked to meet the local market's needs. This likely means different suspension setups and a few other modifications that will differentiate it from the models Citroen sells in the Old Continent. Rumors speak of at least one gasoline engine powering it and probably an electric version due in 2025, though we'll take the latter with a pinch of salt for now.

It may seem like it will be a while until Citroen launches the model previewed by this study. However, the yet-unnamed vehicle is right around the corner, as the car manufacturer says it will launch in the second half of 2024. As we already told you, it will make its way to India and South America only, so don't look for it in Europe, even though it would compete against the likes of the Renault Arkana and other subcompact crossover coupes.