The Citroen C5 Aircross will reportedly be replaced with a new electric SUV.
Ouest France reports the CFE-CGC union have confirmed it will be produced at the Rennes plant in France where the current model and its Peugeot 5008 cousin are manufactured.
It says the model will use a “new electric platform” – likely Stellantis’ STLA Medium platform. A 2025 launch also appears likely.
The STLA Medium architecture is designed to support vehicles with an electric range of up to 700km.
STLA Medium cars will use batteries of between 87kWh and 104kWh, and both single- and dual-motor powertrains. The architecture can support front-, rear- and all-wheel drive.
C5 Aircross
There’ll apparently be two types of electric drive modules available: one with between 125 and 180kW of power, the other with 150-330kW.
L’Argus reports before the new EV C5 Aircross’ launch, the current model will receive a facelift. It’s expected to be revealed in 2022.
The current car uses the PSA EMP2 platform, which doesn’t support all-electric powertrains but can accommodate a plug-in hybrid powertrain – see the Peugeot 3008 GT Sport Plug-In Hybrid AWD, due here early in 2022.
The updated C5 Aircross will sit atop a Citroen range that’s being reinvented.
C4 
C5 X
The C4 and C5 have been resurrected as higher-riding hatchback models, the latter now wearing the C5 X nameplate but yet to be confirmed for Australia. Under VFACTS sales data, the C4 is even classified as an SUV.
A planned C4-based C4 Aircross SUV has reportedly been axed, while the next-generation version of the C3 Aircross – recently discontinued here – will grow in size.
The current model still uses the old PSA PF1 platform. It therefore doesn’t support electric powertrains like its EMP1 successor, which underpins the new C4 and Peugeot 2008.
The next C3 Aircross will reportedly launch in 2024 and measure 4.3m long, or around 145mm longer than the current car and identical in length to the 2008.
C3 Aircross
Citroen will be the latest European brand to drop its car-based MPV offerings, with the current Grand C4 SpaceTourer not slated to receive a replacement.
Fellow Stellantis brands Peugeot and Opel have already replaced their MPVs with SUVs, while all three brands also offer van-based MPVs like the Opel Zafira Life, Citroen Spacetourer and Peugeot Traveller trio.
Citroen sold 69,409 C5 Aircross models in Europe, ahead of the three-row Peugeot 5008 (53,697) but behind the related 3008 (125,103) and Opel Grandland (71,578).
It’s a considerably less successful model in Australia.
To the end of September, Citroen sold just 30 examples. That puts it dead last in Australia’s mid-sized SUV segment, and puts it behind other low-volume models like the Jeep Cherokee (344), Peugeot 5008 (140) and 3008 (861), and SsangYong Korando (268).
While there’s a wider range of petrol and diesel engines on offer in Europe, the local C5 Aircross is offered with just two trim levels and one engine, a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 121kW of power and 240Nm of torque.
The Citroen brand doesn’t fare any better in the local market, relative to other brands. In 2020, its three model line-up posted just 203 sales, putting it behind even Ferrari (205).
