Peugeot and Citroen have revealed their new SUVs. But from where we're sitting, Citroen's effort wins the battle for French flair by default.
The 4007 and the C-Crosser are essentially the same as Mitsubishi's Outlander, albeit with reskinned front ends. The Citroen looks a curiously compelling beast but the Peugeot's deep, gaping grille makes it seem like the headlights and a (large) badge have been tacked onto the bonnet.
At launch the new SUVs will be available with a 156bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine (French-sourced) and a six-speed manual gearbox, but the Outlander has a four-cylinder petrol in its range so Citroen or Peugeot could adopt that unit at a later date.
Underneath, both cars have MacPherson suspension at the front and multi-link axles at the rear, and the transmission system can work in three modes - four- and two-wheel drive, and a diff lock setting for low-grip conditions. The options can be selected using a control behind the gear lever.
Inside, both cars have a third row of seats that folds away under the rear floor, so they can each accommodate up to seven passengers. The boot opens in two sections and the lower part of the tailgate can also support up to 200kg.
The deal between Peugeot/Citroen and Mitsubishi means that the 4007 and C-Crosser can't go on sale before the Outlander does. Given that the Japanese machine is set to hit showrooms in the spring, we'd expect its French cousins to reach British buyers in the summer.
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