Citroen presents new C3-XR crossover for China

Sat, 04 Oct 2014

At its flagship showroom on the swank Avenue des Champs-Elysées in Paris, Citroën revealed the new C3-XR. The compact crossover joins the C3 range alongside the five-door hatch and C3 Picasso minivan, but is targeted specifically at the Chinese market.

The C3-XR closely follows the lead set by the C-XR concept presented in Beijing earlier this year, with a higher riding stance than the conventional C3 and a more robust design. Details are few and far between, but the French automaker confirms that it will be launched with a gasoline-burning 1.6-liter turbo four with 160 horsepower and stop/start system mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox.

The new model launches at the end of the year in China, a market which accounts for a quarter of all the brand's sales and where it has already introduced such dedicated models as the C-Elysée and C4 L. The launch today in Paris coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and China.

AT C_42, CITROËN UNVEILS THE C3-XR, ITS NEW CROSSOVER TO BE LAUNCHED IN CHINA AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

CITROËN continues its strategy of internationalisation and asserts its position as a brand that is ever more global. At the heart of this strategy is the Chinese market, which for the brand now represents more than one sale in four and for which CITROËN today unveils at C_42 on the Champs-Elysées, the new C3-XR, a compact SUV projecting robustness, elegance and dynamism.

CITROËN further accelerates its policy of developing sales in overseas markets and consolidates its status as global brand. In recent months, this internationalisation has taken on a new dimension with sales worldwide up 7% in the first half of 2014, above the growth in the market (+4%).

At the heart of this sales offensive is China, now represents the biggest market for CITROËN with more than one in four of the brand's sales. There as well, CITROËN is progressing faster than the market with sales up 19% to the end of August 2014, compared to 12% for the market. This growth is supported by a rapidly expanding network of 470 dealers, which came first in the JD Power 2014 survey on service quality. It is also the success of the products, such as C-Elysée and C4 L, demonstrating that CITROËN has been able to win recognition by providing responses that are concrete, tailored and modern, meeting the expectations of these new customers.

It is on these solid foundations and to extend its cover of this market that CITROËN unveils today the C3-XR, its new model to be launched in China at the end of the year. This new offer embodies a resolutely modern approach to the SUV, based on CITROËN's values: strong design, remarkable comfort inherited from CITROËN's know-how, and technology choices aimed at the well-being of users. The vehicle is being presented at a symbolic location, C_42 on the Champs-Elysées, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Franco-Chinese diplomatic relations and emphasise the French origins of this SUV.

Very close to the concept car presented at Beijing in April 2014, the C3-XR is a pure product of the CITROËN centre of style, which applied all of its know-how and creativity in the conception of this SUV, with its immediately identifiable design projecting robustness, elegance and dynamism. As one of CITROËN's distinctive traits, comfort is at the highest level, thanks to benchmark levels of spaciousness, a roomy and welcoming driving position, and ride comfort worthy of the best saloons. The CITROËN C3-XR also benefits from the latest innovations, making for easier use through its technological equipment (keyless entry and starting, reversing camera, grip control...) and its connectivity via the Citroën telematic services.

On sale in December, C3-XR will be produced at Wuhan and will be available from launch with the THP 160 S&S engine coupled with the latest generation EAT6 automatic gearbox.

C3-XR will be on show at C_42 on the Champs-Elysées from 1st October.

By Noah Joseph