• All-new Citroen C3 Aircross will launch in Australia during the marque's centenary year
• All models feature extensive safety equipment including Autonomous Emergency Braking and Blind Spot Monitoring
• Value-laden model will carry a Recommended Retail Price of $32,990

Inspired by the C-Aircross concept car presented at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show and featuring classic Citroen design cues, the all-new C3 Aircross brings a breath of fresh air to the Compact SUV segment.

To be offered here as just one highly-specified model, the all-new C3 Aircross stands out with its unique body styling and striking colour palette giving it an assertive personality.

Citroen Australia Managing Director, Ben Farlow, said the arrival of the all-new C3 Aircross signals Citroen's move into the booming SUV segment with a vehicle designed around urban motorists.

"The all-new Citroen C3 Aircross arrives at a time when the market is demanding practical, spacious, feature-laden models and the C3 Aircross delivers," Mr Farlow said.

"For over a century Citroen has proudly forged its own path in the automotive space and today we bring that individuality and personality to the compact SUV class," he added.

Inside, it innovates through its use of the Citroen Advanced Comfort® programme which brings enhanced spaciousness, modular design and brightness.

Completely contemporary, the all-new C3 Aircross is fully connected and equipped with a range of technologies including a full suite of safety systems that make life easier in the city and on the open road.

All-new C3 Aircross's comprehensive standard equipment list includes:

• 1.2L PureTech e-THP 110 turbo-petrol engine with 81kW and 205Nm
• Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission
• Security Pack featuring:
• Active Safety Brake (AEB)
• Forward Collision Alert
• Automatic high-beam assist
• Drive Attention Alert (DAA3)
• City Pack featuring:
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• City Park Assist
• Apple CarPlay + Android Auto + MirrorLink
• Bluetooth-compatible 7-inch touchscreen for navigation and digital audio
• Lane Departure Warning System
• Head-up display
• Speed limit recognition and recommendation
• Top Vision 180-degree parking camera
• Electronic Stability Control
• Front, side and curtain airbags
• Cruise Control with speed limiter
• Automatic air-conditioning
• Height-adjustable driver's seat
• Electrically-adjustable door mirrors
• Auto-dimming, electrochromic rear-view mirror
• Automatic windscreen wipers
• Automatic headlamps
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Keyless entry and start
• 17" diamond-cut alloy wheels
• Grey rear skid plate
• Bi-tone roof
• White accent pack for roof rails, headlamp surrounds, wing mirrors, wheel centre cap outline
• Space saver spare tyre
• LED daytime running lights
• Rear window wiper
• Electric windows
• Driver and passenger sun visors with courtesy mirror
• Boot light
• Grey Mica cloth interior
• Height and reach-adjustable steering wheel

The all-new C3 Aircross arrives into Australian dealers mid-April, 2019.

An SUV With An Assertive And Customisable Personality

The all-new Citroen C3 Aircross is a compact SUV. Measuring 4.15m long and distinguished by its powerful, original and fresh attitude, it boasts unique body styling that is fully representative of new Citroen models and has all the attributes of a robust and protective SUV, including raised ground clearance, a high-set driving position, front and rear skid plates, large wheels and wing extenders.

The body styling, with its generous form, is underscored by strong graphic features such as touches of colour on the roof bars and 'Venetian blind' rear quarter lights.

The C3 Aircross offers a unique take on the urban-centric SUV and in Australia will be offered in five high contrast and contemporary colour packs, all featuring a two-tone roof, contrasting highlights package and distinctive 17-inch alloy wheels.

The cabin, with its horizontal design approach, clearly conveys spaciousness and protection.

The Most Spacious And Modular SUV In The Compact Segment

The Citroen Advanced Comfort® programme, which focuses on mental and physical well-being, underscores the practical and generous personality of the new-generation compact SUV.

Through its ingenious architecture, the all-new C3 Aircross makes everyday life easier, with absolutely no compromises on comfort or functionality.

The cabin is home to broad and comfortable seats and offers class-leading spaciousness (best ceiling height and generous leg room) - and exceptional boot volume ranging from 410 litres with the rear seats raised to 1,289 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

In step with the times, the all-new C3 Aircross features ingenious storage spaces, including a wireless smartphone charging area on the central console.

Furthermore, all-new C3 Aircross comes with a complete range of driver assistance systems including a head-up display, Active Safety Brake (AEB), automatic high-beam headlights, Speed Sign Recognition with Recommendations and useful technologies that include Park Assist and satellite navigation.

Unique SUV Styling

From the outset the all-new C3 Aircross appeals with its unique body styling, freshness and protective appearance. Its compact, high-set dimensions (4.15m long, 1.76m wide and 1.64m tall) are well proportioned and showcase the car's flowing and dynamic lines.

Citroen's attractive compact SUV dominates the road visually with a design that is unique to the segment.

With its short, high-set and muscular bonnet it conveys a sense of robustness which is underscored by the front and rear light signatures while remaining free of aggression, courtesy of its horizontal balance and generous forms.

Standing firm on its large-diameter wheels, the all-new C3 Aircross has a ground clearance some 20mm higher than its C3 hatch stablemate, whose platform it shares.

The new model's wing extenders and protective skid plates also contribute to the dynamic and protective SUV styling, these visual features reinforcing the car's adventurous nature and expressing its characterful personality.

At the front, the all-new C3 Aircross sports Citroen's classic graphic signature with two-tier lights, the headlamps strengthening the expression of the front end and confirming kinship with the brand's latest models.

The upper headlight section consists of LED daytime running lights which connect to the iconic Citroen chevrons via a double chrome strip which serves to express the car's impressive width.

The lower section is home to the main light unit and comprises 'square-yet-round' lamps which have been enlivened by a coloured surround. This area also houses the fog lamps while a large central air intake strikes a powerful note.

A protective skid plate underscores the entire area beneath the all-new C3 Aircross's front bumper.

At the rear, the powerful shoulders of the all-new C3 Aircross emphasise its width and muscular character, aided by the 3D-effect rear lights which highlight its family connection with both the new C3 and the C-Aircross concept car.

The sophisticated light units are complemented by Gloss Black liftback inserts featuring both the two-tone 'C3 Aircross' badge and the Gloss Black chevrons. This bold combination broadens the two light units and underlines the sense of width, while firmly denoting the car's high-tech nature.

The imposing rear bumper is finished-off with a protective skid plate on its lower surface which echoes the front end and, once again, affirms both the car's robustness and its SUV spirit.

All-new C3 Aircross also features wheel arch wing extenders and body-tinted sill panels while its profile thoroughly conveys its SUV personality.

The sides of the new model are characterised by their horizontal balance, which promise interior volume. They are marked by innovative components such as the stylish quarter lights, constituting a unique signature.

Previewed by the C-Aircross concept car the rear quarter lights, made from polycarbonate and layered with a coloured film, create a strong graphic contrast on the C-pillar. With their 'Venetian blind' effect they add a unique character trait and also serve to conceal the inside of the car without restricting light or reducing occupant visibility.

A Standout SUV With A Colour Palette Inspired By Australia

Another distinctive feature of all-new Citroen C3 Aircross's design and personality is the way it can be adapted to match both the character of the customers and the environment into which it is sold.

As with the new C3, Citroen designers have given the all-new C3 Aircross a bold and modern spirit that is highly customisable through touches of colour applied to the roof bars, rear quarter lights, door mirror housings, front headlamp surrounds and wheel centre trims.

Taking advantage of this broad colour palette, Citroen Australia gave prospective buyers the choice of the final five colours with an online poll.

When the poll closed the clear crowd favourite was blue with white highlights – garnering 73 percent of the votes.

This was followed by red with a black roof and silver accents, 69 percent of respondents placing it second. Third, with 60 percent of the votes, was white with a black roof and orange accents.

Positions four and five were split by a mere five percent with black body, sand roof and silver accents joined by sand bodywork featuring a black roof and orange accents to round-out the line-up.

All vehicles will feature stylish 17"-diameter, diamond-effect aluminium wheels with a contrasting black and polished finish.

Interiors will be finished in Mica Grey with a pure and uncluttered design scheme featuring a textured grey dashboard combined with Mica Grey cloth seat upholstery and enhanced by white air vent surrounds.

From a design perspective the interior of the all-new C3 Aircross is inspired by a number of worlds including those of furniture and fashion with the emphasis on pure lines, protective forms, meticulous finish and a variety of textures on the dashboard.

The interior is home to harmonious work on colours and materials, a place where the door panel designs combine with touches of colour on the steering wheel and air vents as well as the seat upholstery to create a singular, lounge-like atmosphere. 

Dominating the urban environment with its raised ground clearance, stand-out styling and broad stance, the all-new C3 Aircross backs up its fresh design with enjoyable driving dynamics.

For the Australian market all-new C3 Aircross will feature the 1.2L, three-cylinder PureTech e-THP turbo-petrol engine paired with a six-speed Aisin automatic transmission.

The 81 kilowatt, 205 Newton metre variant of the turbocharged, 1.2L PureTech e-THP engine is a shining example of technological innovation and its development has led to 121 individual patents being filed by the PSA Group.

The PureTech e-THP engine is the same three-cylinder unit found in a variety of vehicles from the PSA Group including the Citroen C3 hatch, Citroen Cactus and a range of Peugeot models.

It has undergone a thorough and rigorous testing process involving more than 25,000 hours on the test bench and four million-plus kilometres of on-road tests.

This stringent focus on quality, reliability and durability, coupled with astounding performance, saw the 1.2-litre PureTech engine take out its class in the coveted 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 International Engine of the Year Award and finish in the top three for the overall award.

Its frugal efficiency is achieved without compromising performance, with peak torque from the turbocharged 1.2L engine available from just 1500rpm.

TRANSMISSION

All-new C3's PureTech engine is paired to a proven electronically-controlled, six-speed automatic gearbox designed and developed in conjunction with Aisin.

This new transmission differs from the superseded four-speed automatics used in previous Citroens in three ways.

First, gear changes are 40 percent faster than those of previous gearboxes thanks to Quick Shift, a new technology for synchronised engine and gearbox control which includes a new and more efficient internal calculator.

Second, the new Aisin six-speed transmission shifts and runs far more smoothly thanks to a compact torque converter boasting much improved filtration, which reduces engine speeds.

Third, higher gear ratios maintain start-up performance and decrease engine speed at higher vehicle speeds.

Fuel consumption through parasitic loss has been lowered by reducing internal friction in the gearbox's operation through optimisation of the clutch discs and oil pump, which is now flow-controlled according to engine load. The oil pump is also smaller, a feat achieved by using a newly-designed hydraulic distributor.

PLATFORM

The PSA 'Group A' platform was optimised for this new model, bringing an excellent footprint/space ratio, an appealing design and superb comfort, efficiency and quietness.

For comfort, an advanced suspension design based on proven axle system architecture is used. It comprises a front pseudo-Macpherson strut design using deformable struts, coil springs and telescopic dampers to filter-out road surface irregularities and aid overall comfort.

A new "H"-shaped torsion beam rear axle with coil springs and telescopic dampers, developed to enhance safety, fits beneath the seats for increased occupant protection through greater impact strength.

The Most Spacious And Modular SUV In The Compact Segment

Present at each design stage, the Citroen Advanced Comfort® programme underlines the meticulous attention paid to the wellbeing of body and mind while underscoring the practical and generous character of this human-oriented compact SUV.

Designed as a true space for living, the all-new C3 Aircross is warm and hospitable.

Its ingenious architecture combines compact exterior design with outstanding interior roominess. An easy car to live with day in and day out, the all-new C3 Aircross scores high on user friendliness with its intuitive technologies.

 CLASS-LEADING SPACIOUSNESS

The C3 Aircross is fully focused on travelling comfort, in which the perception of space and the sense of wellbeing play a key role. These sensations, felt instantly on entering the vehicle, are created by the horizontal design of the dashboard which frees-up space, and by the welcoming, comfortable seats.

Roomy and extensively modular, the all-new Citroen C3 Aircross compact SUV's interior is home to class-leading spaciousness.

Influenced by the Citroen Advanced Comfort® programme, the all-new C3 Aircross innovates through its design, providing exceptional cabin space, practicality and boot volume.

• Spaciousness: The high-set architecture of the all-new C3 Aircross gives it the most spacious interior in the segment and achieves outstanding comfort, its five seats all offering generous leg and headroom.
• The all-new C3 Aircross is the segment leader in terms of front and rear headroom with the best ceiling height in class. Each passenger is fully at ease in the front and rear alike and rear knee room is generous thanks to the impressive 2.60m wheelbase.
• Modular design: The all-new C3 Aircross has a modular design which maximises interior space. With its class leading headroom, the C3 Aircross creates a spacious and comfortable interior environment with generous rear leg-room for the class.
• Boot volume: The all-new C3 Aircross's 410 litre boot can be boosted to 1,289 litres when the 60/40 split/fold rear seats are laid flat. The all-new C3 Aircross also features a removable luggage shelf that can be stored in a vertical position behind the rear seat when transporting tall objects and a moveable dual-height boot floor provides a continuous flat floor when the rear seat backs are folded.

INGENIOUS STORAGE SPACES

Storage space is an essential component of travelling comfort and the eminently functional all-new C3 Aircross benefits from a wide range of storage compartments.

Ingenious and use-specific, they meet a broad range of needs. The central console, for example, was designed to store a smartphone and is complete with a special dock for wireless charging.

The illuminated and cooled glove box has space for a 1.5 litre bottle, as do the front passenger and driver door bins. The 'penholder' space on the passenger side of the dashboard can accommodate slim objects such as keys, pens and coins.

Rear seat passengers also benefit from extra storage spaces. The central folding backrest, for example, includes cupholders and also features a ski-flap function for transporting long objects.

CLASSIC CITROËN COMFORT

Faithful to the brand's DNA and the Citroen Advanced Comfort® programme, the all-new C3 Aircross benefits from Citroen's extensive know-how and provides drivers and passengers with peerless travelling comfort.

The aim is to make each journey in the all-new C3 Aircross more pleasant by filtering-out all external disturbances. The standard-setting comfort on board the C3 Aircross is demonstrated through:

• seat comfort, with broad and generous bases
• suspension comfort, with classic Citroen settings for all driving conditions
• sound comfort, with meticulous soundproofing and acoustics.

12 USEFUL DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS

Inspired by the Citroen Advanced Comfort® programme, the all-new Citroen C3 Aircross compact SUV was designed for seamless use.

To that end, it is equipped with intuitive technologies for peace of mind and safety at the wheel thanks to a complete range of technologies serving to make each trip easier and safer.

They include:

• Keyless entry and start: a hands-free access and start system that allows the driver to open and start the vehicle without physically using the key.
• Colour head-up display: projected in colour on a retractable screen, the data (speed and cruise control/speed limiter settings, etc.) is constantly accessible, ensuring drivers do not have to take their eyes off the road.
• Top Rear Vision reversing camera: for extended vision and easier manoeuvres. When the driver shifts into reverse, the camera displays the rear view of the vehicle on the 7-inch touchscreen, the image supplemented by colour reference points indicating proximity to any obstacles. A reconstituted image shows a 180° view of the environment behind.
• Park Assist: making parking manoeuvres more relaxing, easier and safer, Park Assist is an active parking assistance system which can be used for both parallel and perpendicular parking. When prompted by the driver, it automatically detects a space then controls the steering for an entirely safe park. All the driver has to do is shift into reverse and accelerate and brake as required.
• Active Safety Brake (AEB): with audible and visual alerts to reduce the risk of frontal impact by automatically braking for the driver. The multi-function camera on the upper part of the windscreen detects obstacles such as vehicles travelling in the same direction, either moving or stopped. Between 5km/h and 85km/h the sensor automatically applies the brakes if a risk of collision is detected. The speed of the vehicle must not exceed 80 km/h when an immobile vehicle is detected or 60 km/h for a pedestrian.
• Lane Departure Warning System: fights against drowsiness at the wheel or a simple moment of inattention at speeds above 60 km/h. The system detects any accidental crossing of road markings (continuous or dotted) when the indicator is not activated and warns the driver with an audible signal and a message on the instrument cluster.
• Blind Spot Monitoring System: alerts the driver of the presence of a vehicle in blind spots via a flashing icon in the door mirrors.
• Speed Limit Recognition System and Recommendation: drivers are informed of this information via the instrument cluster and the system records the speed indicated as a setting for the cruise control/speed limiter system.
• Intelligent Beam Headlights: for safer driving at night, this system automatically switches between high and low beams depending on the lighting and traffic conditions.
• Driver Assistance Alert: monitors driver behaviour via the multi-function camera on the upper part of the windscreen and alerts drivers of any drop in vigilance. This system assesses the driver's attention level by identifying differences in trajectory relative to the road markings. It is particularly adapted to highway speeds over 65 km/h.
• Coffee Break Alert: drivers are alerted when it is time to take a break after driving for two hours at speeds above 70 km/h.

Useful Connectivity

For a more seamless driving experience and even more intuitive functionalities, the all-new Citroen C3 Aircross compact SUV sets great store in non-stop connectivity and infotainment through its 7-inch touchscreen, the command centre of the vehicle and home to the air-conditioning, audio, telephony and sat-nav controls.

To make the car an extension of the driver while staying connected, the all-new C3 Aircross features:

• Wireless smartphone charging via a special docking area. This system can be used to induction charge a wide range of smartphones or devices compatible with the Qi standard using a charging mat built into a dedicated storage space in the centre console. It also disposes with physically and aesthetically cumbersome cables. Wireless electric energy transmission is based on the principle of magnetic induction.
• MirrorScreen function for Android Auto, Apple CarPlay™ and MirrorLink®. Drivers enjoy the multimedia content and apps of their smartphones in complete safety by replicating and controlling them via the 7-inch touchscreen.