Citroën is gearing up to launch a new version of the C5 Aircross next year that will effectively become its flagship model and gain electric power for the first time.
The French firm has committed to focusing on main-segment models in the future. As a result, it will not replace the slow-selling C5 X, but that saloon’s more popular SUV sibling will survive into a new generation.
The C5 Aircross was launched in the UK in 2018 and is currently offered with petrol and hybrid powertrains. For its second generation, it will switch to the multi-powertrain STLA Medium platform shared with the Peugeot e-3008 and the Vauxhall Grandland.
Citroën boss Thierry Koskas confirmed the new platform will allow the C5 Aircross to be offered with an electric powertrain for the first time and he said this was something “we really want to offer”.
The platform is natively front-drive and the single-motor version of the e-3008 makes 207bhp, although a twin-motor 316bhp version is also offered.
The platform can accommodate either a 73kWh or a 98kWh battery, the latter giving the Peugeot a range of 435 miles.
While the STLA Medium platform was developed with a focus on electric power, it still allows for hybrid cars.
Koskas confirmed the C5 Aircross will be offered with standard and plug-in hybrid powertrains – making it the only model in Citroën’s future line-up that will have a PHEV.
“Plug-in hybrid can be an answer to some of the requirements of the market [for that car],” said Koskas. “But it’s another cost because the battery is not small, so to put it in smaller cars doesn’t make sense.”
The new C5 Aircross is tipped to take styling cues from the recently launched C3, which introduced the brand’s new design language. That suggests a focus on a more boxy and expressive design, along with Citroën’s new logo.
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I assume that image is just a photoshopped Vauxhall Frontera!
No... I's just a photoshoped current C5 Aircross...
Love the fighting talk at the end of the article about the C5 X diaster. "It's market share is good but the market is tiny" as if you didn't know the market was small'ish to begin with.
Plenty of low mileage 1.2 3 pots and mega depricating tax dodging PHEVs for sale of the spot i car.
It's also rubbish. They cynically made a car that's absolutely dogshit (as is the similar Peugeot 408) and then threw their hands up and said 'no one wants these' we must make more US boomer transport style trucks'. Slightly better than ford who don't make actual cars at all, I suppose, but these people don't really deserve to be in business.
People aren't buying cars. There's nothing to buy.
Cynically, dogshit ....Apparantly it's a language deficiency and/or lack of knowledge that led to an illegible post. Let me explain, C76: Former PSA, successful with a dozen Cross Overs / SUV's decided to 'TEST the market" with something less ordinary. The mighty left field C5X was born, and 100.000 craving Chinese bought it. On C5X pinnings, Peugeot replicated the Citroen fastback design with the stunning looking 408. See? Nothing to get upset about!
I guess you don't speak from first-hand experience, but out of your "omnipotent wisdom"... because I drove this, as you call it, dogshit of C5X and by my experience, it was one of the most comfortable, nice and relaxing cars I ever drove or been driven in. And I've been in and even owned a fair share of generalist and premium vehicles...