Citroën UK has added a new drivetrain option to its  C5 Aircross SUV range. The French brand has combined the  PureTech 130 S&S 3-cylinder petrol engine with its eight-speed EAT8 automatic gearbox. In addition, following re-homologation, selected BlueHDi diesel engines have seen their CO₂ levels reduced.

Citroën has added a brand new powertrain option to its flagship C5 Aircross SUV range. Available on the two most popular trim levels in the UK, ‘Flair’ and ‘Flair+’, the French marque has introduced a PureTech 130 S&S (Stop & Start) EAT8 eight-speed automatic option, replacing the SUV’s current PureTech 180 S&S EAT8 automatic versions.

This new powertrain option is available for customers to order now, with production starting in February 2020 and first deliveries expected in March 2020. It combines the multi-award winning PureTech 130 S&S engine – the manual version of which has proven to be the most popular engine choice among C5 Aircross SUV customers – with the eight-speed EAT8 automatic gearbox.

In addition to the new powertrain introduction, and as part of a re-homologation process, selected BlueHDi diesel engines in the new C5 Aircross SUV range benefit from significant CO₂ reductions. All 1.5L BlueHDi 130 S&S manual versions see a 3g/km decrease, from 108g/km to 105g/km, whilst the 1.5L BlueHDi 130 S&S EAT8 automatic versions see an even greater reduction of 5g/km, from 105g/km to 100g/km. Citroën says this reduction will continue to position the C5 Aircross SUV amongst the very best in the segment.

Since launching in January 2019, the C5 Aircross SUV has been recognised as ‘Car of the Year’ and ‘Best Medium SUV’ in the DieselCar & EcoCar magazine ‘Top 50’, and, more recently, the car was awarded the ‘Comfort Award’ in the annual carwow Car of the Year Awards.

In 2020, the C5 Aircross SUV range will also see the introduction of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option, marking the first step in Citroën’s electrification offensive – a strategy that the company says will come to full fruition by 2025.