This is the unusual record of the Citroën C5 Aircross

We live in a world where SUVs and crossovers spend most of their time on city streets, while their off-road capabilities are rarely put to use. The chevron brand wanted to test one of the SUVs in its range and set a rather unusual record. The car in question is the Citroën C5 Aircross, which took on the steepest street in the world.

Earlier this year, World Records announced that Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech, Wales, was the steepest street in the world, a title previously held by Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand.

This was enough for Citroën’s UK public relations team to devise a challenge for the brand’s flagship SUV, the Citroën C5 Aircross. It should be noted that this model is only available with front-wheel drive, so attempting to conquer the winding street, which has a 37.5% gradient, is no small feat.

However, the French brand never claims that the SUV drove up the street. In addition, all the images show the Citroën C5 Aircross driving down the street. Simon Broome, Citroën UK’s public relations manager, said that “the launch only referred to descending the street. In reality, it cannot climb the steepest sections in the northern half as they are one-way.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFDaQ2a2lZk

This was the unusual record of the Citroën C5 Aircross

The Citroën C5 Aircross can be equipped with the Grip Control, Hill Descent Assist and ConnectedCAM assistance systems. Winding through a series of sharp bends and steep descents, the street presents a challenge for everyone who tackles it, with a 50-metre climb over its 330-metre winding route. According to the chevron brand, “the new C5 Aircross SUV was able to handle the descent with ease thanks to its Grip Control and Hill Descent Assist technology, which provides supreme levels of traction at all times. When activated at speeds below 30 km/h and on a gradient of more than 5%, the Hill Ascent Assist system works to reduce the chance of slipping by electronically maintaining the vehicle’s speed and brake control, leaving the driver focused purely on the direction of travel.”

In fact, the Grip Control system allows drivers to select a range of driving modes to optimise traction on a variety of surfaces, including snow, sand and mud. Working through the front wheels, “Grip Control provides greater peace of mind when driving in difficult conditions without having to bear the weight and additional costs associated with a full four-wheel-drive system.”

The new Citroën C5 Aircross SUV also benefits from the Citroën Advanced Comfort programme. This includes the brand’s unique suspension system with progressive hydraulic cushions, a technology that integrates hydraulic stops for better control of compression and rebound. This ensures that the suspension travel is much more progressive, even on the most adverse surfaces.