New Low-Cost Citroën Will Do Battle With The Hyundai Venue On Indian Soil

Fresh from the launch of the Indian-assembled C5 Aircross, Citroën is looking to launch a new subcompact competitor in the South Asian market. The low-cost car, which may also be sold in South America, is a budget offering from the French manufacturer, designed to widen Stellantis’ presence in emerging markets.

Citroën’s entry into India has been long in the making. Initially derailed by the financial crisis back in 2008, the latest attempt will aim to replicate Renault’s success with the low-cost Kwid.

However, with European manufacturers historically not faring well in the fiercely cost-sensitive Asian market, Citroën’s new entry will have to fend off competition from the Kwid and Kiger and the home-grown offerings of Maruti, Tata, and Mahindra.

Read: Peugeot’s US Invasion Canceled As Stellantis Wants To Focus On Alfa Romeo Instead

The low-cost Citroën, codenamed CC21, is thought to be based on the same platform as Europe’s C3 Aircross. It will be a small crossover-styled hatchback, larger than the Renault Kwid and Maruti Alto and will compete squarely with the likes of the Renault Kiger, Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, and Kia Sonet.

The engine range should comprise of three or four-cylinder lumps, with a 1,200cc turbo likely the top-spec offering. There may be an Indian market-specific CNG-powered model, and a pure-EV launched later in the model cycle.

Although these shots don’t give away a great deal, it’s evident that the front end will boast Citroën’s family face. The CC21 prototype has high ground clearance, ideal for India’s and other developing nations’ roads, while the short dimensions with minimal overhang would indicate that it should have a length of fewer than four meters.

An unveiling is expected towards Q3 of 2021, with sales likely starting before the end of the year.