The Citroën C5 Aircross is a compact crossoverSUV produced by French manufacturer Citroën since 2017. Production started at the Dongfeng-PSA Chengdu plant in China that also produces the Peugeot 4008 and 5008 models with the same platform, engines and transmission. In 2018 production of the C5 Aircross started as well in France at the PSA plant in Rennes. This European version will be for sale internationally. The model takes advantage of the 100-million-euro investment share of Groupe PSA..
History
The Citroën CEO, Linda Jackson, showed on her Twitter page sketches of this future SUV at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, and confirmed that it would be called C5 Aircross. The C5 Aircross name is logical because it is the successor of the C4 Aircross and it is slightly bigger than that model and is on a segment equivalent to that of the Nissan Qashqai. Moreover, the brand does not want to nominally fragment the range of models bearing the number "4", and the C5 Aircross must also avoid cannibalizing the Peugeot 3008, proposed at a probably-near price. Finally, it must temporarily fill the gap left by the shutdown of production of the C5 sedan in Rennes. The Citroën Aircrossconcept car was unveiled at the 2015 Shanghai Auto Show. The production version was officially presented at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show. Sales on the Chinese market started in the fall of 2017. In Europe, the model was presented at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, and sales began at the end of 2018.
Features
The C5 Aircross takes the Airbumps of the concept on the sills, partially coloured as on the recent C3, and the front double-part, inaugurated on the latest Citroën, but in a more stretched alternative. The 3D-effect taillights are, however, abandoned in favour of rectangular four-optical lamps. On the technical side, the C5 Aircross is part of the Citroën "Advanced Comfort" program. Efforts have focused, in particular, on interior space and interior luminosity and on suspension comfort, via a new progressive hydraulic thrust system. Users benefit from a 12.3" TFT digital dashboard screen and an 8" capacitive HDtouchscreen. In terms of driving aids, the C5 Aircross offers in the higher-end models, among other things, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring or adaptive cruise control. There are also proven technologies of PSA as the Grip Control and start assist.
Acoustic insulation is excellent, thanks to an especially laminated double glazed windscreen and, on the top model, front side windows.
The European version has a choice of two petrol engines: the 1.2 PureTech 130 hp and the 1.6 PureTech 180 hp, as well as two Diesel versions: the 1.5 BlueHDi 130 hp and the 2.0 BlueHDi 180 hp. Depending on the version, these different engines can be coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox, or eight-speed EAT8 automatic transmission. Citroën also announced that the C5 Aircross will be the first Citroën vehicle equipped with a plug-in hybrid power train at the end of 2019, which should offer a range of 60 km in all-electric mode. The engine options in China are the, for PSA China, standard modern turbocharged 1.6 and 1.8 engines that are used as well in the Chinese Citroën C5 and C6 and the Peugeot 4008 and 5008 and the Peugeot 508 and some DS models. All these models use the 6 speed third-generation Tiptronic automatic transmission. The European and Chinese cars are very much alike, apart from the engine and gearbox options. The main difference is the rear seats. The European version has three individual adjustable and foldable seats, while the Chinese model has a fixed folding 2/3 bench at the back. In Europe 7 colour options are available, while, in China, there are 5.
Sales figures
Since the introduction of the model in September 2017, 23,000 units were sold in China that year.
The vast majority of the models sold in China are in white. The colour-contrast used on the front bumper, the side door padding and the roof supports are most noticeable with this colour, because they are orange-red. The car in the picture above carries red ribbons on the wheels and mirrors, which is common practice in China when delivering a new car.
Citroën C5 Aircross Plug-in hybrid
The hybrid versions of the Citroën C5 Aircross Will go on sale on March With a fully electric range of around 50km according to WLTP
