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NEWS
Citroen global boss backs SUV
Aircross show car expected to form basis for high-riding family wagonCitroen global CEO, Linda Jackson, has given the clearest indication yet that the Aircross concept – or something very much like it – will enter production and lift the company's profit and sustainability in the future.
Speaking with Australian journalists in France to drive the C4 Cactus, Ms Jackson was unequivocal: "We have to have an SUV."
"That's where the volume and the profitability is."
The Aircross, which was revealed earlier this year, is driveable and is believed to be – if not actually built on the company's EMP-2 modular platform – at least compatible with it. The EMP-2 can be chopped into different lengths by 55mm increments, and would be more than adequate to underpin a production version of the Aircross.
According to the show car's design team, the Aircross represents strength, but not aggression, is made to explore and do so offering all the traditional comfort and style expected from the Citroen brand. The car was specifically developed with plenty of rear-seat spaciousness, since the vital Chinese market is very sensitive to that packaging trait.
Some of the design traits of the Aircross, which took some inspiration from running shoes, would have to be discarded in a production vehicle. The suicide doors would be kissed goodbye, as would the expensive brushed aluminium trim pieces, but in a telling aside by one of the design team, "We don't do show cars for free."
One problem facing Citroen in this regard however, is the need to reduce production and engineering complexity within its product portfolio. According to Ms Jackson, Citroen currently runs a global model range of 14 silhouettes, which doesn't include commercial vehicles or models sharing platforms and mechanicals outside the PSA stable – such as the discontinued C4 AirCross, which was a Mitsubishi ASX incognito.
In Citroen-speak, a silhouette is a specific variant of model based on body type and platform. Citroen needs to halve the number of silhouettes it has in production currently.
"Our plan is to get down to seven..." Ms Jackson said.
Where an SUV would fit in this scenario remains to be seen, but the Citroen boss sees the design study building on the trail being mapped out for Citroen by the C4 Cactus.
"Aircross is taking the spirit of Cactus and putting it into SUV [style]," she said.
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Written byKen Gratton
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