Our Spies Spot 2021 Citroën C4 Aircross Next To Opel Grandland X, Engineers Go Mad

The successor to the Citroën C4 Cactus and regular C4, rumored to adopt the C4 Aircross moniker, has been spotted once again undergoing testing, this time in Germany.

These are actually the most revealing spy shots yet of the upcoming coupe crossover, which is expected to go on sale in 2021. Compared to the previous sighting in northern Sweden, the camouflage on the passenger-side front door of this C4 Aircross prototype was peeled off for some reason.

We also get to see how big the 2021 C4 is as we see it parked alongside an Opel Grandland X. It’s pretty obvious the C4 crossover is smaller than the Grandland X, with its Opel equivalent being the Crossland X.

You’ll notice there are several things out of place in the photos taken at a gas station, like the presence of police officers and a running man. As it turns out, the test engineers in the Citroën (employed by ZF, apparently) felt harassed by the camera and called the police. One of the engineers even hit the camera several times before officers came.

Two patrol cars arrived at the scene shortly after and calmed the young engineers down, with officers explaining to them the concept of “freedom of the press.” They didn’t seem to understand that, however, and attempted to drive away using an extra cover for the prototype. The police forbid them to do so as that would have meant breaking the law – the windscreen and the entire front of a prototype must be unobstructed when driving on public roads.

Anyway, back to the 2021 Citroën C4 crossover coupe, we know that it is based on an extended version of PSA’s CMP platform shared with the all-new Peugeot 2008. As a result, it’s expected to offer similar petrol, diesel and all-electric powertrains.

Using the stretched CMP architecture also means the C4 Aircross will have a longer wheelbase compared to the C4 Cactus, resulting in a roomier cabin. As for the design, we can see it features a sloping roofline, bulky wheel arches, and a higher ground clearance than the C4 Cactus. Previous spy shots also gave us a peek at the interior, which appears inspired by the latest Peugeot 2008.

The Citroën C4 Aircross is expected to have its official unveiling this autumn.