Citroen C3 based 7 Seater SUV Spied Testing

Citroen India has commenced the road testing of its upcoming C3-based 7-seater SUV, ahead of its expected launch in early 2023. A spy video of the test mule has surfaced online revealing essential details of the 7-seater MPVs exterior design and interior layout. Earlier this month, the French carmaker launched its flagship SUV, the C5 Aircross  with a new updated face at Rs 36.67 lakh (ex-showroom).

Citroen C3 based 7 Seater SUV: Details

The test mule spotted seems to carry forward the same design as the Citroen C3 hatch but sports some differentiating elements. Upfront it gets the same headlamp as the C3 but features a significantly larger silhouette than the car it is based on. The stretched design gives the car the ability to accommodate an extra row of seats on the inside. The rear profile also resembles the C3 with a slightly longer overhang. Changes in the outside include a redesigned front bumper with larger air dam and a new housing for the fog lamps.

Read Also: Citroen India to Introduce its First Electric Car by 2023

On the inside, the upcoming Citroen SUV is expected to feature the same dashboard layout as the hatchback. We are expected to see the same 10-inch infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital instrument cluster and central power window switches among others. 

Citroen C3 based 7 Seater SUV: Powertrain

Under the hood, the Citroen C3 based 7 seater SUV will reportedly use the same powertrain options as the hatch. These include the standard 1.2 litre NA petrol motor putting out 82 bhp and 115 Nm torque along with a more powerful 1.2-litre turbo petrol unit that is good enough for 110 bhp and 190 Nm of peak torque. The former is mated to a 5-speed manual while the latter gets a 6-speed manual gearbox. The company is also working on an Aisin sourced 6-speed torque convertor automatic gearbox is due for the C3 in 2023 and we expect it to trickle down to this 7-seater MPV as well.

Read Also: Citroen C5 Aircross Facelift Teased Ahead of Launch

Citroen C3 based 7 Seater SUV: Expected Price, Rivals and Launch Timeline

Once launched, the 7-seater SUV is expected to command a premium of Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh over the C3 hatchback. The car will compete against the likes of other 6/7 seater MPVs like the Renault Triber, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, XL6  and the Kia Carens in its segment. The new model is expected to enter production by the first half of 2023 with a market launch soon after.