Citroen launched the Basalt SUV coupe in India on August 9, 2024. It has an introductory starting price (valid till November) of 7.99 lakh, ex-showroom and goes up to 13.57 lakh for the top-spec variant. At this price point, the Basalt packs ample value and is thus in high demand now. It has become the best-selling Citroen car in India.
579 units were sold in the first month. This, if you notice, is more than the monthly averages of most other Citroen models. It is more than the manufacturer’s net July sales. The momentum is expected to be sustained and the coupe SUV format could yield Citroen a fortune. The second most-selling Citroen in August was the C3, which posted sales of 507 units.
Celebrating its success, Citroen India released a new TVC featuring MS Dhoni that shows the Basalt going off-roading. Dhoni is currently the brand ambassador for Citroen India. The video starts by explaining how Citroen says No to the old safety standards, comfort and design and how the product disrupts the segment on these grounds. The coupe can be seen driving through smooth roads, amidst the woods and taking some off-beat trails. The TVC puts a special focus on the design and high-ground clearance of Basalt. Watch it below:
Citroen Basalt: What Is It?
The Basalt is the fourth product of Citroen’s C-Cubed program after the C3, eC3 and C3 Aircross. It is based on the same platform as the C3 and C3 Aircross. There are three variants (You, Plus, and Max) and 7 colours (5 monotones and 2 dual tones) available. The way it is priced, makes the Basalt put up a strong fight against various compact and sub-4m SUVs.
In dimensions, Basalt is 4,352 mm long, 1,765 mm wide and 1,593 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,651 mm. It rides on 16-inch alloy wheels and has a ground clearance of 180mm. The boot capacity stands at 470 litres.
There are design similarities with the C3 Aircross. Key highlights include the sloping coupe roofline, LED headlamps, DRLs, split grille, bumpers that resemble those on the C3 Aircross, shark fin antenna, skid plates, and wrap-around LED tail lamps. Door handles are flap-type.
On the inside, the base variant gets a Black-Grey colourway, while the higher trims come with a White and Black colour scheme. The top-spec comes packed with features like semi-leatherette seats, a three-spoke steering wheel, 7-inch digital instrument cluster, floor-mounted rear AC vents, contoured headrests, electrically adjustable ORVMs, wireless charger, 6-speaker audio, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The Basalt also comes with roof-mounted dual cabin light, auto air-conditioning with floor-mounted AC vents, central armrest for front and rear passengers, adjustable and contoured headrests and adjustable thigh support (‘Smart Tilt Cushion’) for rear seats.
It offers two engine options: a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol and a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol. The NA engine produces 82 horsepower and 115 Nm and comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The turbocharged engine, on the other hand, delivers 110 horsepower and 205 Nm (190 Nm on the manual) and can be had either with a 6-speed manual or an automatic gearbox.
The coupe also has a strong focus on safety. It comes with six airbags, a rear camera and sensors, tyre pressure monitoring, stability control, hill hold assist, and ISOFIX child seat mounts. The body has the use of high-strength steel, advanced high-strength steel, and ultra-high-strength steel. It hasn’t been sent to Bharat NCAP’s crash tests yet.
![Old Goan Man Revving Up His Porsche 911 Supercar Is Super Cool [Video]](https://www.cartoq.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Old-Gentleman-revving-his-Porsche-911--253x131.jpg.webp)
