Distributor assures C3 Aircross unveiled internationally today is a starter.

ARRIVAL in the third quarter of this year is envisaged for the updated Citroen C3 Aircross, revealed internationally overnight.

A restyling, new infotainment and more versatile interior storage are among alterations for the compact crossover. It’s the five-seater model’s first major update since it released in 2017.

The design changes mainly occur at the front. New chrome chevron shapes extend out to restyled LED headlights and a new geometric-pattern grille, while a skid plate with coloured inserts also features. The lower lights move from the rounded squares of the old model to thinner rectangular units. Citroën says it gives “greater structure with the impression of a higher-set bonnet”.

A new diamond cut and gloss black alloy wheel design also arrives, available in 16 and 17-inch sizes.

On the inside, the basic design and layout of the dashboard remains, but Citroen has introduced new trim options and it also adopts front seats shared with the next-size-up C5 Aircross.

New Zealand pricing and final specifications are as yet unresolved, but on strength of past preferences it seems likely rights’ holder Autodistributors NZ will adopt the upmarket trim that includes a larger and sharper nine-inch central touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. There’s also a new, larger central console with more storage space.

Driver assistance technologies such as speed sign recognition, automatic emergency braking and automatic high-beam control feature, plus a head-up-display and a top-down style 360-degree parking camera will likely arrive here. Off-road functions such as hill-descent control and a grip control selection feature can be optioned.

Electrified powertrains don’t figure in this car. The engine line-up for right-hand-drive starts with a PureTech 110 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine developing 80kW and sending drive to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox, but more likely for here is the PureTech 130 option, developing 95kW, which is also offered with the choice of a six-speed automatic gearbox. Citroen has diesel options as well.