Here we are! After long months of waiting, marked by doubts, misunderstandings, questions and hopes, Citroën is finally preparing to unveil the fourth generation of the C3, which will mark a new stage in the brand's development and which, at the very least, will be a unique proposition on the market. What style will this future C3 have? Find the answer in our exclusive images.
The automobile is undergoing a major transformation, with thermal engines being abandoned in favour of electric motors. This change will inevitably push up car prices, which have already risen by 40% in two years. Faced with this situation, which risks alienating a large part of the population from new cars, Citroën is responding with the future C3, the culmination of its promise to make the electric car accessible to all.
Pure adventurer
Since the presentation of the C3 in India and Latin America, many media have imagined that this version could be sold in Europe, but we can now say that this will not be the case. In fact, it is a brand new car that Citroën will present on European roads, rich in lessons learned by the C3 from the C-Cubed programme. The fourth generation Citroën C3 will therefore be a European exclusive in terms of both style and technology, as the differences between the CMP platform in India and that offered in Europe will be significant.
The next C3 will be an opportunity for Citroën to present, for the first time on a series product, its new stylistic direction, imposed by the change of logo and announced by the oli concept, even if this future C3 will not be a copy of the concept and will also be inspired by the restyled C5 Aircross. If the Oli marked a clear break in style, it seems that the brand's production models will make the transition smoothly and this future C3 will mark a new stage in this transition. If we will no longer find the double-decker headlights, we will always find the tip of the body which, this time, will delimit the LED modules located above the DRLs that signify the brand's new visual signature. Like the restyled C5 Aircross, the grille would also be black with the new logo in the centre, which would be more vertical. We can really say that the restyling of the C5 Aircross announced the transition of the Citroën style that this future C3 would continue since we should find, on the small Citroën, a grille inspired by that of its big brother by taking up herringbone patterns.
The profile would be the closest between the Indian C3 and the future European C3, as the window design would be similar even though the body would be very different. The first certainty: the door handles will not be clamshell like the Indian or South American versions, but real door handles. The profile will show a real adventurous tendency, as the C3 will have plastic protection all around the body, but the air bumps will disappear completely. After a third generation that already bore the SUV codes, the fourth generation C3 will go even further to become almost a real SUV, guaranteeing better visibility for the driver and good habitability. In this respect, the illustration Citroën provided during the presentation of the Indian C3 could well be the spirit, if not the style, of the future European C3.
For several years now, Citroën has been playing around with its logo, so it is only natural that after having placed it all over the interior of the latest models, it now appears on the body. We find the herringbone pattern on the grille and the rear bumper, but it should be on the... wheel arches! Indeed, it seems that Citroën will offer plastic covers on the wheel arches of the C3, with the chevrons engraved on the upper part, while the lower part is smooth.
In short, the future C3 will follow in the footsteps of the current generation with a real SUV attitude, still a strong personality that it will be possible to change via customisation packs, including the two-tone roof that will always be one of the trademarks of the C3.
By posing as an SUV, the future Citroën C3 will stand out completely from the competition and take a step forward, as many brands have already announced the arrival of small SUVs to replace their star models, such as Ford with the Fiesta or VW with the Polo. If this future C3 will have the mission of being accessible, Citroën has not forgotten style and this fourth generation will not lack assets to offer a rewarding, clean and typical SUV style with, in particular, much larger wheels. than those of the C3 marketed in India or Brazil.
Spacious and clever interior
The SUV body type has the advantage of offering more living space and Citroën will prove this with the future C3, which should be much more generous in the rear than the current one. Still in a compact format, even if it will be slightly larger than the Indian version, the future C3 should be able to compete with the Sandero and offer a good space for the knees of the rear passengers, but also for the boot which could well exceed 300 litres of capacity.
In any good Citroën, this future C3 should be very comfortable and be the most comfortable car in its segment, a real advantage over its rivals. Will Citroën be able to offer suspension with hydraulic stops? We will see at launch, but the comfort of this future C3 will be very neat with generous seats which should offer a new design that puts an end to the capsule designs currently offered on the European range. This motif should bring back some memories for Citroënists from elsewhere, as it was present on an old model...
As for the dashboard, this is where Citroën will show its capacity for innovation, because if it is certain to be completely different from the Indian C3, it should also offer innovation in the spirit of the oli concept. In fact, it seems that the brand has continued to think about instrument clusters and has been inspired by its work on oli to offer a very horizontal dashboard on the C3, free of any element to maximise visibility. In addition, the multimedia screen of the future C3 will be borrowed from the Indian C3 and will offer a 10-inch touch-screen to display the new multimedia system.
On this very horizontal dashboard, still in the spirit of the brand's latest models, Citroën should offer fabric elements on either side of the touch screen, giving the future C3 a far from cheap atmosphere.
A unique proposition
Typical SUV, liveable with a worked design, the future Citroën C3 already draws the contours of a unique proposal on the market, but Citroën will go even further since this future C3 will finally allow the brand to offer an electric motorisation on the segment. B.
Based on the CMP platform, the future Citroën C3 should use the new Stellantis eMotors engine, but its power could be reduced in order to offer sufficient autonomy (around 300 km) at a reasonable cost. And this is where Citroën will make the difference! Indeed, while the Peugeot e-208 or the Opel Corsa-e are available at around €35,000, excluding bonuses, the future C3 should be significantly lower with the aim of being under €20,000, excluding bonuses.
In conclusion, look carefully: a versatile, SUV-tinged, liveable, comfortable and electric saloon for less than €20,000 excluding bonuses: there is none! Citroën is therefore going to strike a blow with this future C3 which, with thermal engines, could start at 15-16,000€, i.e. be one of the most accessible cars on the market. In order to reach this price, choices have inevitably been made, choices that do not prevent Citroën from offering a C3 with a clean look, always customisable, in line with the current generation whose success has been real and lasting. It remains to be seen whether the choices Citroën has made will pay off, the answer will come on 17 October when the brand lifts the veil on this new and eagerly awaited C3.