Sooner than expected, Citroen released official pictures and details of the new C4 Crossover, called the Aircross.

The new French crossover goes on sale in the first half of 2012, available in two and four-wheel-drive versions. The car has a nice Citroeny design which they say helps with the aerodynamics as it provides better air flow. Taking inspirations from the DS series and the Hypnos concept car, the C4 Aircross is one of the best looking compact SUVs with its unique grille, LED lights, and 18-inch wheels.

AWD versions of the car come with a clever system that allows drivers to manually select one of the three transmission modes to meet their needs and their wishes: 2WD for optimal fuel consumption, 4WD, which automatically distributes the torque between the front and rear axles, or lock mode, which increases the torque transmitted to the rear wheels for more grip under severe conditions.

As for the powertrains, the C4 is set to become a segment leader in terms of CO2 emissions, so it comes with the HDi 110 engine, mated to a 6-speed manual, HDi 150 engine (also available with 2WD and 4WD with a 6-speed manual gearbox) and a 115 bhp 1.6i petrol engine (available in a 2WD version with a 5-speed manual gearbox). The 150 bhp 2.0i petrol engine will be available on markets outside Europe, in 2WD and 4WD versions, coupled to a 5-speed manual gearbox or continuously variable transmission (CVT).