Citroen’s New Masterpiece: The Coupe SUV That’s Rocking New York

French Company Citroën
Reveals Distinctive Design of
Coupe SUV Concept Car

Various new models and concept cars have been unveiled at the annual New York International Auto Show, but some European manufacturers do not seem very interested. French automaker Citroen was also one of those brands. This appears because most of their cars are not sold in the North American market.

But this time was different. At the start of the 2024 New York International Auto Show, Citroen also unveiled a new concept car. The concept car was named Basalt after the volcanic rock—this crossover-type coupe-type SUV with a funky exterior preview the upcoming model.

Inheriting Existing Model Design
New Attempts Visible Everywhere

Citroen’s coupe-type SUV concept car, Basalt, creates a family look. The front of Citroen’s previously sold SUV, C3 Aircross, looks similar, but the grille, lights, and fog lights with adjusted positions show differences. The taillights are also similar to the original, but the new Basalt has a completely different look, as it has a sloping roofline, an angled tailgate, and an integrated spoiler.

Key features include the rear bumper, plump C-pillar trim, and a line at the bottom of the door. Citroen applied black to the roof and side mirror cases to highlight a sportier appeal than the existing model and create a distinction.

Sharing Stellantis Platform
Electric Model Planned for 2025

Citroën, a Stellantis Group subsidiary, said that once the Basalt vehicle officially enters production, it will fill the lineup alongside the brand’s C3 and C3 Aircross. This appears to mean sharing the smart car platform that will be applied to Stellantis’ future portfolio, starting with Opel’s Frontera and the next-generation Fiat Panda, which will be released soon.

However, since it is currently localized for the Indian and South American markets, adjusting the architecture to meet conditions suitable for other markets seems necessary. This will improve performance compared to models in existing regions. The electric vehicle model is said to be launched in 2025, but no specific information was provided.

Seems to be Released Soon
Unfortunately, it was released in limited areas

It appears it will take some time for Citroen to produce and launch the recently unveiled Basalt model. However, it was also revealed that it will be released in the second half of 2024, so we won’t have to wait long.

It was revealed that the model will first be launched in Indian and South American markets. After localization, it may be launched in other overseas markets. However, the launch in the South Korean market is unclear as there is no other mention.