Citroën C5 Aircross Concept, the forerunner of a family SUV model arriving in 2025

The Paris Motor Show is bringing us interesting news, especially from the brands playing at home, such as Renault or Citroën, who are taking the opportunity to present their latest novelties and prototypes to the world. An example is the chevron brand, which, in addition to presenting the new C4 and C4 X, has also brought along the C5 Aircross Concept, a preview of a new SUV arriving next year.

The Citroën C5 Aircross Concept marks the upcoming arrival of a new SUV in the C-segment, a prototype that, according to the brand, previews a model promising comfort and very generous interior space, characteristics the brand sums up by saying it will be a sofa on wheels aimed mainly at families. Furthermore, the C5 Aircross Concept is built on the STLA-Medium platform of the Stellantis Group, which guarantees that we will be facing an SUV covering the full range of combustion, hybrid and electric powertrains, thus meeting the different needs and preferences of each customer.

Aerodynamics is a very important part of any vehicle, but in an SUV it perhaps gains even greater relevance due to its larger dimensions. It is no coincidence that the Citroën C5 Aircross Concept is presented as an SUV reaching 4,650 mm in length (150 mm more than the current C5 Aircross), with an extended rear overhang, as well as a height of 1,660 mm. The improvements in this respect are significant for Citroën, considering that, compared with the current generation of the C5 Aircross, up to 30 kilometres of electric range are gained.

The front of the Citroën C5 Aircross Concept features fluid, understated lines, interrupted only at the sides and the lower part of the bumper by the black false air intakes, and into which the new three-point light signature applied and reinterpreted by the brand on its new models, such as the new C4 and C4 X, has been perfectly integrated. This ensemble contrasts with the muscular lines of the wings and the bonnet, the latter, incidentally, with a lower, sunken nose that allows greater air penetration.

At the rear, inspired incidentally by the world of technology and electronic devices, an important aerodynamic exercise has also been carried out with the aim of avoiding, as much as possible, the swirling effect of airflow behind the vehicle, which works against range due to its tendency to hold back air. To this end, it features a curved volume that approaches the bumper and which, depending on speed, lets the flow joining at the apexes partly reverse the drag and create thrust. The roof has also been hollowed out and fins have been integrated across the bodywork, all also aimed at improving aerodynamics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2i0dQUS8po

Staying with the rear, we cannot forget the recessed rear lights Citroën Light Wings, with two points of light that move away from the side moulding of the bodywork and appear to float like two aerodynamic fins, thus creating a combination of hollow section and fins that again work in favour of aerodynamics and efficiency.

As we can see, the exterior of the Citroën C5 Aircross Concept is very carefully worked out, being not only a design exercise but also an engineering one. Now the question is what happens with its interior, a place where all five occupants will be able to travel with great comfort in a cabin that Citroën has designed as a zone of well-being with a lounge spirit, and which hides a number of innovations, although the French brand prefers, for the time being, to keep them secret until the new model is unveiled in 2025.