Citroën on Monday released first details of the fully redesigned C3, successor to a model line that has sold over 2m units worldwide. Sales begin in 2010.
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The body and cabin have been completely restyled with what Citroen UK calls a “unique and innovative Zenith windscreen design” – a screen wrapped up over into the roof panel.
“The huge progressively tinted windscreen offers a truly panoramic field of vision – along with optimum overhead sun protection,” the automaker said. “The screen helps to create a bright and pleasurable cabin environment for driver and passengers alike – improving visibility, road safety, driving pleasure, ambience and the overall feeling of spaciousness.”
A similar type of windscreen is used on the company’s C4 Picasso MPVs and is an option on General Motors Europe’s outgoing Astra three-door hatchback.
The cabin has been completely redesigned with new plastics and trim materials and attractive new retro-look dials. Citroen has also incorporated its air freshener system integrated into the air conditioner (with full automatic climate control on top versions).
The new C3 remains one of the most compact vehicles in its segment and there is no weight increase compared with the current model. The new car is 3.94m long and 1.71m wide with a 300-litre boot [trunk], plus the numerous cabin storage areas familiar to owners of other current Citroen models such as the C3 and C4 Picasso MPVs.
Citroen said occupants “also benefit from a feeling of comfort and roominess with a slightly raised seating position for ease of access and improved visibility”.
Launch variants will include an HDi 90 diesel emitting just 99g/km CO2 – the first full production Citroën to emit less than 100g/km – which will exempt owners here in the UK from paying the government-imposed vehicle excise duty (aka ‘road tax’).
New engines available from 2011 will include second-generation stop and start technology (Citroen’s current combined starter/generator system is supplied by Valeo) and diesel versions emitting as low as 90g/km CO2, and will be followed by new generation three-cylinder petrol engines emitting under 100g/km of CO2.
Available features will include USB, iPod and Bluetooth audio system connectivity and Citroën’s ‘MyWay’ satellite navigation and sound system.
The C3 will be built at Citroen’s Aulnay and Poissy factories in France. Pre-release on-road testing will total 2m kilometres, the automaker said.
