Citroen Aircross Concept
As the brand celebrates 50 million vehicle sales since its creation some 95 years ago, Citroën is unveiling a surprising, creative and bold new concept car ahead of the 2015 Shanghai Motor Show.
The new Citroën Aircross concept confirms the brand's ability to develop its new positioning, which is already:
The Citroën Aircross concept successfully builds on the achievements of the C4 Cactus with:
The Citroën Aircross concept car will be unveiled at the 2015 Shanghai Motor Show. This symbolic venue was chosen to reflect the importance of the Chinese market, which accounts for 25% of total sales and stands as Citroën's number-one market.
CITROËN AIRCROSS: A UNIQUE SUV PERSONALITY
The Citroën Aircross concept conveys a sense of power and determination. The body is set on large wheels with 275/42 R 22 tyres. The tyres were designed exclusively for Citroën Aircross by Continental and feature large tread blocks and a unique pattern for excellent traction on the most demanding surfaces. The striking design of the wheels highlights the all-terrain abilities of the Citroën Aircross.
With its parallel-to-the-road waistline, the new Citroën Aircross conveys an air of confidence, but without the feeling of arrogance or aggression.
The front and rear bumpers fully convey Citroën's design identity. The front end features a new chevron design and a two-tier light signature, which first appeared on the latest-generation C4 Picasso. At the rear, the new 3D-effect lights have a high-tech and emphatically graphic appearance. These classic Citroën design touches are rounded out by a floating roof and uninterrupted area of glass right around the cabin.
HARNESSING DESIGN FOR ENHANCED FUNCTIONALITY
The body of the Citroën Aircross is punctuated by strong graphic components designed to enhance functionality. Citroën has developed a fresh take on the Airbump® technology of C4 Cactus, adapting it to SUV requirements. Whilst Airbump® technology is designed to protect the car's body from everyday bumps and scrapes, the 'Alloy Bumps'on the Citroën Aircross are there to protect the vehicle from lateral impact with their visible padding. The 'Alloy Bumps' are made using a highly absorbent aluminium honeycomb structure, which was first used in motorsport, and combines protection, lightness and style. The 'Alloy Bumps' are an innovative and fitting solution for the SUV segment.
The graphic components also highlight the search for enhanced aerodynamics, on bodywork that has already been optimised for efficient air penetration. The 'Air Signs' are chrome-finished signatures that surround each rear window to form an air-flow tunnel. In addition, 'Air Curtains' are air intakes located at the front of the concept car. These two features are accompanied by front and rear wheel arch extractors and the highly tapered shapes of the door mirrors. Together these components improve the overall aerodynamics of the Citroën Aircross while enhancing its design.
The 'Air Signs' play a two-fold role, improving aerodynamics while highlighting the importance of the second row of seats. With the Citroën Aircross, particular importance has been placed on the passengers and the interior. This is an SUV for sharing.
The Citroën Aircross concept features intense orange-red body paint, signifying optimism and open-mindedness. The colour elicits anything but indifference and underscores the lines and shapes of the vehicle. To ensure continuity between the exterior and the interior, the colour perfectly matches the cabin colour scheme.
The orange-red hue is punctuated by solid metal elements on the base of the wing mirrors, grille, 'Air Signs' and towing hooks. These raw and authentic components lend an air of assurance and robustness to Citroën Aircross, confirming its SUV nature.
CITROËN AIRCROSS: COMFORT & A SENSE OF WELL-BEING
The Citroën Aircross interior immediately denotes a sense of total comfort, transforming road travel into a time of well-being for the body and the mind. In this respect, the Citroën Aircross takes an all-new path, avoiding classic automotive cues to create a modern cabin where the occupants simply feel good.
Making comfortable vehicles is a fundamental part of Citroën's DNA. Comfort assumes its full potential with the Citroën Aircross through an interior architecture dominated by:
Well-being is also generated visually, by the bright and colourful interior that is in total harmony with the exterior body colour. The atmosphere is refreshing and modern, with white leather contrasting with orange stitching. This approach to colours and materials enhances the all-enveloping atmosphere inside Citroën Aircross.
Physical well-being is encouraged by the 'king-size' seats. The seat backs are open and welcoming, inviting passengers to embark on a new kind of travel experience. The generous, wraparound headrests contribute to the overall feeling of comfort. The upper parts of the seats are finished in a mesh-like material that lends a warm and inviting feel to the cabin. This reinterpretation is both highly technical and futuristic, although it also hints at vintage materials that evoke pleasant travel memories for all passengers and constitutes a source of inspiration for Citroën's designers.
Picking up where C4 Cactus left off, the Citroën Aircross concept also references the world of travel and luggage. The luggage-maker spirit is expressed in the design of the eminently practical storage compartments, including a reinterpretation of the central console. This classic SUV feature takes on a new dimension inside the Citroën Aircross, as it frees up space for generous and functional compartments. Ingenious storage spaces are also found in the door panels and the upper part of the dashboard.
The travel theme is also expressed in the use of straps for the grab handles. Featuring on the doors and on the console, they fit in perfectly with the SUV spirit and serve both a practical and design function. Inside the Citroën Aircross, aestheticism complements practicality.
TECHNOLOGICAL INTELLIGENCE FOR RELAXED MOBILITY
With the Citroën Aircross concept, technology complements practicality. A variety of technological features benefit all occupants with:
COMBINING EFFICIENCY & TOP-LEVEL PERFORMANCE
Citroën Aircross is powered by plug-in hybrid petrol technology, with an electric motor located on the rear axle. This configuration is a perfect fit for the Citroën Aircross, optimising performance and traction while ensuring low fuel consumption and emissions.
The electric motor develops 95bhp (70kW) and torque of 200Nm. The motor is powered by lithium-ion batteries that charge up in just three and a half hours via a 16A domestic socket. The electric motor is combined with a 1.6 THP petrol engine developing 218bhp (160kW) and torque of 275Nm.
With its plug-in hybrid powertrain, the Citroën Aircross respects the environment. This is especially true in urban driving conditions in ZEV mode. This all-electric mode has a range of 31 miles (50km).
On roads that require successive acceleration and deceleration, the hybrid technology limits fuel consumption by combining both energy sources. On the motorway, the internal-combustion engine takes over, providing optimum high-speed performance.
No compromise has been made in terms of driving pleasure. When the driver accelerates quickly and torque is required immediately, a boost function combines the torque of the internal-combustion engine and the electric motor delivering optimum performance with up to 313bhp available. Combined cycle fuel consumption is 166mpg (1.7 l/100 km) and CO2 emissions are an impressively low 39g/km. Citroën Aircross accelerates from 0 to 62mph in just 4.5 seconds.
