First pictures as Citroen unveils new C3
Brand new Fiesta rival unveiled in Lyon ahead of 2017 release Will take cues from rest of Citroen range, including Airbumps
THE all-new C3 will be a crucial car for Citroen when it’s released early next year, because it’s the maker’s first mainstream model since the DS sub-brand was carved off to become a manufacturer in its own right. After losing the DS 3 from its own line-up, Citroen needs the C3 to succeed to prove that it can still make a successful small car with the double-chevron badge, and take on the likes of the Ford Fiesta.
The newcomer’s exterior styling builds on the family traits shown in the C4 Picasso and incorporates some key elements from the quirky C4 Cactus. At the front, there are ultra-slim daytime running lights neatly integrated into the chrome badge above chunky headlamps, with a set of foglights mounted further down the bumper.
The rear gets small tail-lamps that are similar to the C4 Cactus’s – making use of LED technology for extra design depth. The flanks are relatively flat, but the shortage of complex metal surfacing is balanced by the inclusion of Citroen’s innovative Airbump technology. This textured protective plastic finish, which first appeared on the Cactus, will be fitted to all but the most basic C3s.
The new C3 will be offered with a choice of nine exterior colours and three contrast shades that appear on the roof, foglight trims, side mirrors and Airbump surrounds. Citroen claims the range will offer a total of 36 different colour combinations.
The cabin looks set to build on the ‘sophisticated simplicity’ of the Cactus’s. There aren’t many buttons on the facia, with most functions controlled through a seveninch touchscreen that’s mounted high up in the centre of the dash. The infotainment system will support Apple Carplay and Mirrorlink at launch, with Android Auto expected soon after. Some cues from the C4 Cactus are retained; there are still Air bump-influenced‘ indents’ on the door in lays, and the door handles are straps designed to replicate luggage handles. The area around the glovebox looks more conventional here – it features a coloured insert that will be available in a variety of finishes and textures.
Interior personalisation will be focused on four ‘moods’. As well as the standard configuration, Metropolitan Grey brings softer shades and textures on the seats and trim, while Urban Red incorporates dark and bright colours, including red stitching.
The most expensive cabin mood is likely to be Hype Colorado, which has softer, more upmarket materials, special upholstery and a two-tone leather steering wheel. The most significant tech on the C3 is Connected-cam, a forward-facing, two-megapixel GPS camera mounted in the rear-view mirror.
It’s primarily designed to record any accidents, as it activates in the event of an impact and stores the preceding 30 seconds and following 60 seconds. However, drivers can also click a button to safely take photos or videos and then share the content online.
Citroen has released few technical details about the new car, but it will continue to be based on the same PF1 chassis technology that underpinned its predecessor – as well as the Peugeot 208 and the C4 Cactus.
At 3.99 metres in length, the C3 is likely to be smaller than the next generations of the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo, which are both set to grow slightly when they arrive within the next 18 months. Still, its boot capacity of 300 litres is decent for a supermini.
The engine line-up will be based firmly around PSA’S Puretech petrols and Bluehdi diesels. The Puretech options will be 1.2litre three-cylinder units, producing 67bhp, 81bhp and 109bhp, while the diesels will be 1.6-litre units with 74bhp or 99bhp.
Stop/start will be standard on most versions, while the only transmission available at launch will be a manual; a six-speed automatic is due to arrive soon after the first C3s land in UK showrooms.
As with its predecessor, the new C3 will continue to be offered as a fivedoor only. Its prices should be roughly in line with the outgoing model’s, with
“C3 is likely to be smaller than the next Fiesta and Polo, but a boot capacity of 300 litres is decent for a supermini”
a starting figure of around £11,000. The C3 family is set to expand over the next 18 months, too. As well as a replacement for the C3 Picasso MPV, Citroen is planning a small SUV version as a rival to the Nissan Juke and Vauxhall Mokka.
CITROEN is also promising to take a radical approach to its next C4 and C5 models – and that could mean dropping the regular bodystyles to build SUVS instead, Auto Express can reveal.
The ultra-conservative C4 and C5 now look increasingly outdated compared with the rest of Citroen’s range, which features the refreshed C4 Picasso and the C4 Cactus. Speaking at the launch event of the new C3 (Page 8), product boss Xavier Peugeot said that while a new C4 is part of the brand’s planned eight ‘silhouettes’ (bodystyles), it may not be a regular rival for the Ford Focus.
“There will be a new C4,” he explained, “but it will not be conventional. It is possible to change the image of a model name and we can do that with that car. Perhaps we will change its silhouette.” Peugeot suggested the same switch could occur with the C5:
“It’s clear we want to be a mainstream player, and to do that, we need to cover the various segments. So yes, we want a Citroen offering in the D segment where the C5 currently is. But would it be a direct successor to the C5? I’m not sure.”
Citroen’s head of future product, Pierre Monferrini, backed up Peugeot’s view. “We will be present in the D segment [Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia class],” he told us, “but it won’t be conventional.”
The next Citroen launch is likely to be a new Nissan Qashqai-rivalling SUV, based on the Aircross concept (above) and built at the company’s factory in Rennes. It is possible that Citroen could give the car the ‘C5’ suffix and call it the C5 Aircross to make it an indirect successor before dropping the regular saloon.
Citroen’s desire to produce a more compact line-up is likely to result in other adjustments to existing names. The five and seven-seat C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso models could be replaced by a single vehicle, and there’s no chance of the C2 name returning in the near future.
Citroen has previously used this badge on a three-door supermini, but there are no plans for a successor. “The market has moved towards five-door vehicles,” said Monferrini. “We have to reflect that.”
The new C3 and replacements for the upcoming C4 and C5 form part of an extensive product overhaul for PSA’S brands (Peugeot, Citroen and DS), which will see 26 new global cars introduced by 2021.
“Next Citroen launch is likely to be based on the Aircross concept” “Citroen could give the Aircross the ‘C5’ suffix and call it the C5 Aircross”