Citroen Basalt Coupe SUV Deliveries Commence In India: Images
Citroen India has officially begun deliveries of the Basalt, the country’s first ICE SUV Coupe. The milestone event was held at the La Maison Citroen dealership in Naraina, New Delhi, where Citroen Brand CEO Thierry Koskas handed over the keys to the first Basalt customer. The occasion also had top executives, including Shailesh Hazela, MD & CEO of Stellantis India, and Shishir Mishra, Brand Head of Citroen India.
It is the top two variants that are currently commencing deliveries. The entry-spec YOU variant has a lower production rate. Deliveries of the base-spec are expected to begin in October. Currently, most variants of Basalt have waiting periods of up to one month.
Citroen Leadership Speaks About The First Delivery
The delivery of the first Basalt highlights Citroen India’s dedication to the SUV segment, experimenting with new variations within. Thierry Koskas expressed the importance of this launch, stating,
Touchpoint Expansion and Future Plans
Citroen India is gearing up for further deliveries across the nation, with additional handover ceremonies planned at various locations. The excitement surrounding the Basalt’s launch is evident, as the vehicle blends the sophistication of a Coupe with the practicality of an SUV. It is predicted to make a significant impact on the Indian automotive market.
In line with its ambitious growth strategy, Citroen India is rapidly expanding its network. It recently opened 15 new showrooms and 7 new workshops across key cities, bringing the total number of touchpoints to 145. The French automaker aims to reach 200 touchpoints by the end of 2024, further enhancing customer accessibility and service quality.
Pricing and Specifications
Citroen Basalt is offered in seven colours, including five monotone and two dual-tone options. Built on the same platform as the C3 and C3 Aircross, the coupe SUV measures 4,252mm in length, 1,765mm in width, and 1,593mm in height.
It has a wheelbase of 2,651mm. There is a generous 470 litres of boot capacity and 180mm of ground clearance on offer. The design shares similarities with the C3 Aircross, and features a sloping coupe roofline, V-shaped LED DRLs, LED headlamps, and wrap-around LED tail lamps. The coupe also comes with a black roof, shark-fin antenna, rear skid plate and dual-tone alloy wheels.
On the inside, the Basalt boasts a sophisticated dual-tone colourway comprising Beige and Black. It gets semi-leatherette seats, a three-spoke steering wheel, 7-inch digital instrument cluster, floor-mounted rear AC vents, contoured headrests, electrically adjustable ORVMs, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Under the hood is a 1.2-liter turbo petrol engine delivering 110 hp, paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission (190 Nm) or a 6-speed automatic (205 Nm), with the automatic box being offered only on the top two variants.
The Basalt’s price ranges from Rs 7.99 lakhs to Rs 13.82 lakhs (ex-showroom). The recently launched Tata Curvv. EV is the only coupe rival to the Basalt. However, Tata will launch the ICE version next month, bringing more heat to the rivalry.
Basalt’s Customer Appeal: How It Varies Among Options?
Sources say that the top-spec Max variant accounts for 60% of total Basalt bookings. People seem to like the coupe in all its glory. The Polar White and Garnet Red seem to be the most popular colourways. Almost half of the total bookings are for the automatic variants. Further, there is a 70:30 split between those opting for the turbocharged and NA petrol powertrains.