Citroen has confirmed that its next product for India, the C21 compact SUV, will launch in 2022. It has begun gearing up for this mass-market product’s introduction, with the expansion of its sales and service network. This new model will be made in India and will be heavily localised. Likely to be called the Citroen C3 Sporty, this new compact SUV saw an early reveal recently, in the form of a promotional scale model.
- New Citroen C3 global debut in the coming months
- Citroen C3 (C21) India launch slated for 2022
- Will be built in India and South America initially
2021 Citroen C3 SUV: what do we know so far?
The new Citroen C3, internally named as C21, is the first model of the multi-model C-Cubed programme that was announced earlier by the French brand. This programme will cater to cars built for emerging markets like India and South America, to name a few.
As planned for C-Cubed cars, the new C3 (C21) will be underpinned by the new Common Modular Platform (CMP). This architecture is already in use by multiple Peugeot models overseas and will also underpin a made-in-India sub-4m Jeep product in the future.
The new Citroen C3 will continue the brand's quirky design language. It will be positioned in the highly competitive compact SUV segment in India, and thanks to its unique design cues, it is expected to stand out among its long list of rivals.
The new C3 will get a boxy design that does resemble the Hyundai Venue, but a closer look confirms multiple design elements that are common on Citroen vehicles. Sources tell us that the C3 will be positioned at the lower end of the compact SUV market, which means it will have the Nissan Magnite, Renault Kiger and the Vitara Brezza in its sights. A closer look at the scale model reveals some of the features like flap-type door handles, instead of the pull-type ones, an absence of a sunroof, no shark fin antenna and also no rear wiper. The model in pictures also seems to use pseudo-alloy wheels that are now becoming common in more and more cars like the Renault Kiger, Hyundai i20 and the Venue, to name a few. Do note that the final equipment and features could differ on the model that comes to India from what has been noted on the scale model.
2021 Citroen C3 SUV: engine and powertrain options
The new Citroen C3 will be powered by a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. There are also talks of a DCT-automatic gearbox for this model. As reported by us earlier, the new C3 will not come with a diesel engine. The C3’s 1.2 turbo-petrol engine and the sub-4m length will help it avail tax benefits and aggressively take on rival compact SUVs in the Indian market.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Saptarshi Mondal
