Citroen has revealed a new mid-size SUV called the C5 Aircross which will rival the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga and Kia Sportage.
The C5 Aircross will make its first public appearance later this week at the 2017 Shanghai Motor Show. The SUV is expected to go on sale in China first later this year, before arriving to European markets, including Britain, in summer 2018.
First plug-in hybrid Citroen
This will also be the first Citroen available with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain. The PHEV version of the C5 Aircross combines a petrol engine with around 200bhp with electric motors, one driving the front wheels and the other driving the rear wheels. This set-up gives the Citroen four-wheel drive capabilities and a total output of around 300bhp. The PHEV also has an estimated full-electric range of about 37 miles.
Other non-hybrid petrol engines, plus some frugal diesel units, are likely to feature for the C5 Aircross range when it arrives in the UK. The Puretech petrol and BlueHDi diesels found on the latest C4 Cactus are likely candidates.
Equipment available for the C5 Aircross is set to include a panoramic sunroof, an eight-inch touchscreen, a 360-degree parking camera and wireless inductive charging for smartphones.
‘Magic carpet’ suspension
Another major feature of the C5 Aircross is Citroen’s new suspension called Progressive Hydraulic Cushions. It’s designed mainly to improve damping quality and overall ride comfort.
While a conventional suspension system is made up of dampers, springs and mechanical bump-stops, Citroen’s new system adds two hydraulic stops to each suspension unit – one for rebound and one for compression.
Citroen says that this more unique set-up creates a “magic carpet effect”, as if the car were flying over bumps and dips in the road.
UK pricing for the Citroen C5 Aircross SUV is likely to start from approximately £22,000.