Groupe PSA (formerly known as PSA Peugeot Citroën) has confirmed that it will start building a new “market-winning” vehicle for Citroën at its Rennes plant by 2018.
The French automaker identified the new crossover only as “C84 project”, adding that it would be based on the EMP2 platform and built alongside the upcoming Peugeot 5008.
But reports suggest that the newcomer will be the production version of the Citroën Aircross concept, which was unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2015.
The concept car – which measures 4,58 metres on length – uses plug-in hybrid petrol technology, with an electric motor located on the rear axle. This electric motor develops 70 kW and 200 N.m, while a 1,6-litre turbocharged petrol mill adds a hefty 160 kW and 275 N.m to the mix.
That, of course, is plenty of oomph (even for a concept). In fact, Citroën reckons it’s enough for a sprint from zero to 100 km/h in just 4,5 seconds, along with an utterly optimistic combined cycle fuel consumption figure of just 1,7 L/100 km. The concept features lithium-ion batteries (that Citroën claims charge up in just three-and-a-half hours via a domestic socket), with an all-electric range of around 50 km.
Of course, the powertrain – along with the outrageous styling, rear-hinged back doors, zany cabin and 22-inch alloys – may well change as the Citroën Aircross transforms from a pure concept to an actual production vehicle. But, judging by the wacky looks of the C4 Cactus, there’s every chance at least some of the oddball design will carry over.
