Citroen Shows Almost Production-Ready C5 Aircross Hybrid Concept

While Europe is still waiting for a new generation Citroen C5 sedan, customers on the Old Continent are already able to order the French company's latest SUV offering, the C5 Aircross. It's a quirky-looking, high-riding vehicle with a rich portfolio of available exterior color combinations and customization options, a wide array of safety and assist systems, and a range of five ICE engines, three diesels and two gasolines. They will be soon joined by a plug-in hybrid variant, which will be previewed by a new concept at the upcoming Paris Motor Show in early October.

The marque's first-ever PHEV will have a combined output of 222 horsepower (165 kilowatts) and will use an eight-speed automatic gearbox to transfer the power to the wheels. Thanks to a floor-mounted battery pack, positioned below the passenger compartment, the electrified SUV will be able to travel up to 31 miles (50 kilometers) on purely electric energy with a speed of up to 83 mph (133 kph). A full recharge of the batteries takes approximately two hours with a 32 Amp wall socket.

Citroen still uses the word concept, but the vehicle is actually very close to its final production form. It will be launched on the European market next year and will lead the company's electrified plans, which should include hybrid, PHEV, or all-electric versions of 80 percent of the brand's model range by 2023 and 100 percent by 2025.

Sitting next to the C5 Aircross PHEV in Paris will be the rest of Citroen's lineup, including the C3, new C4 Cactus, C3 Aircross SUV, and C5 Aircross SUV, as well as the refreshed Berlingo range. Celebrating its centenary in 2019 and the 70th anniversary of the 2CV this year, the brand will host a second world premiere in France, namely the debut of the C4 Cactus Limited Edition JCC+.