Sportier Citroen Basalt Vision Unveiled At Sao Paulo Motor Show

Citroen has unveiled a sportier Basalt Vision concept at the 2025 Sao Paulo Motor Show in Brazil. It is a performance themed evolution of the Basalt coupe SUV that is already on sale in India and some Latin American markets. Finished in a bright amber yellow shade, the Vision shows how a future sport-oriented trim of the Basalt could look if Citroen decides to put it into production.

The concept sits lower than the standard Basalt, giving it a more planted stance. It gets revised bumpers with dual chrome exhaust finishers, 18-inch chrome finished alloy wheels with a petal like design, Vision badges on the front doors, red brake calipers and red accents on the spoiler and exterior trims. Together, these cues signal a sportier intent without changing the basic body shape.

Interestingly, the Vision comes only a few months after the regular Basalt’s market launch, reversing the usual order where a concept appears first and the production model follows later. This suggests Citroen is using the Sao Paulo show to test customer reaction to a possible sport styled variant that could sit above the standard car in the range.

Design changes over the standard Basalt

Compared to the regular Basalt, the Vision adds several cosmetic and stance changes. The skid plates and Citroen chevrons are darkened to create more contrast with the bright body colour. At the rear, the tail lamp bar appears darker and blends more smoothly into the bodywork, while the bumper gets a more aggressive shape with air intake like cut outs.

Gloss black cladding runs along the lower body and door protectors, offering some protection from minor scrapes while also toughening the look. Unique decals inspired by the double chevron logo add further distinction without relying on oversized badges.

The lowered suspension is the most significant functional change. It reduces the gap between tyres and wheel arches and should help cut body roll in corners, while improving high speed stability. The trade-off is likely to be a firmer ride on broken surfaces, which is in line with how most manufacturers tune sport themed variants.

Cabin and equipment expectations

Citroen has not shown the full interior in detail, but the company has indicated that the Vision is based on top specification versions of the Basalt. That means buyers can expect the same dual digital screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment, automatic climate control, connected car functions with remote control and diagnostics, and ventilated front seats.

Since the concept shares the production car’s basic cabin layout, it would be relatively easy for Citroen to add small changes such as different upholstery, contrasting stitching, unique trim inserts and branded floor mats if it decides to build a Vision style variant.

Under the skin, the Basalt Vision is expected to use the same platform and powertrains as the standard car. The current Basalt line up offers a 1.2 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 1.2 litre turbocharged petrol. The naturally aspirated unit is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox, while the turbo petrol is available with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. Power outputs range from 80 to 109 Bhp and torque figures span 115 to 205 Nm, enough for city and highway use without the cost of a bespoke high-performance engine.

Production potential and expected positioning

From an engineering point of view, a production Basalt Vision would be straightforward. The concept builds on the standard Basalt’s structure and mechanicals, with changes focused on suspension height, wheel and tyre package, brake caliper finish and exterior styling details. This keeps development costs low compared to an all-new model and makes it easier to justify as a niche variant.

If it reaches showrooms, a Vision spec Basalt is likely to be priced roughly ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh higher than equivalent standard trims. That would put fully loaded versions in the ₹14 lakh to ₹15 lakh ex showroom bracket, where it would line up against SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder and Honda Elevate. In that context, the sportier look and slightly sharper dynamics would be the main hooks rather than outright performance gains.

Citroen will now track visitor feedback at the Sao Paulo Motor Show along with internal market research to decide whether there is enough interest to add a sport styled Basalt to the production range. The attention drawn by the bright amber yellow concept and its visual tweaks will help the company judge if a Basalt Vision variant can attract buyers who want something more distinctive than the standard coupe SUV.