Citroën is looking to launch a new subcompact competitor in the South Asian market. The low-cost car, which may also be sold in South America, is a budget offering from the French manufacturer, designed to widen Stellantis’ presence in emerging markets. Citroën’s entry into India has been long in the making. Initially derailed by the financial crisis back in 2008, the latest attempt will aim to replicate Renault’s success with the low-cost Kwid.
However, with European manufacturers
historically not faring well in the fiercely cost-sensitive Asian market,
Citroën’s new entry will have to fend off competition from the Kwid and Kiger
and the home-grown offerings of Maruti, Tata, and Mahindra. The low-cost
Citroën, codenamed CC21, is thought to be based on the same platform as
Europe’s C3 Aircross. It will be a small crossover-styled hatchback, larger
than the Renault Kwid and Maruti Alto and will compete squarely with the likes
of the Renault Kiger, Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, and Kia Sonet.
The engine range should comprise of three
or four-cylinder lumps, with a 1,200cc turbo likely the top-spec offering.
There may be an Indian market-specific CNG-powered model, and a pure-EV
launched later in the model cycle.
Although these shots don’t give away a
great deal, it’s evident that the front end will boast Citroën’s family face.
The CC21 prototype has high ground clearance, ideal for India’s and other
developing nations’ roads, while the short dimensions with minimal overhang
would indicate that it should have a length of fewer than four meters. An
unveiling is expected towards Q3 of 2021, with sales likely starting before the
end of the year.
