Citroën Basalt Coupe SUV Makes India Debut; Launch Soon

The Citroën Basalt has finally debuted in India. The Basalt is the fifth model from the French marque in India and the fourth from its C-Cubed programme. The Coupe SUV is based on the C3 Aircross but is a bit different. 

The Basalt is one of the two new models in India that kickstarts the mass-market coupe SUV segment in the country. At the front, it looks very similar to the C3 Aircross but the black panel connecting the headlamps now has a body-coloured finish. It still gets the same LED DRL signature and split headlamp design. However, the halogen setup has been replaced by LED units. 

The obvious difference on the side is the coupe SUV roofline. Till the A-pillar the Basalt looks very similar to the C3 Aircross but things change aft of the front doors. The rear gets slightly different taillamps compared to the C3 Aircross. 

Inside, the Basalt gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a 7-inch digital cluster, wireless charger, automatic climate control and more. It also gets a seat tilt cushion which helps improve the under-thigh support for rear passengers but it is only available with the automatic gearbox variants. 

Safety has also been improved with the Basalt. Citroën has used ultra-high-strength steel in the structure and 6 airbags come as standard. 

The Basalt gets a choice of two engine options. It has a 1.2-litre petrol engine producing 81 bhp and 115 Nm and is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The other engine is the 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine with 109 bhp and 190 Nm (205 Nm with the AT). This engine is paired with a 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmission. 

Prices for the Citroën Basalt are expected to be announced in the coming weeks and it is likely to start at around ₹10 lakh (ex-showroom, India). It will rival the upcoming Tata Curvv.