A few weeks after its presentation in a 100% electric version only, Citroën officially unveils the thermal engines that will accompany the launch of its new versatile saloon in the coming months. With a highly competitive electric range and a consistent thermal range, Citroën will offer a wide and varied range to meet customer needs.
Until now, the new Citroën C3 has only been available in a 100% electric version, allowing the brand to be the first to offer a versatile electric saloon with no restrictions below €25,000. This unique offer, which has only been on the market for a few months, is therefore a real advantage for Citroën in terms of attracting the public's attention, which it has succeeded in doing with a well-stocked order book even before the commercial launch.
But the new C3 is not only a 100% electric car! Thanks to the Smart Car platform, which was designed for electric vehicles but is in fact multi-energy, Citroën will offer two thermal engines on the new C3 in order to meet the needs of all consumers, particularly those for whom an electric drive is not yet possible.
Thermal and hybrid on the programme
In addition to the electric version, the new C3 will benefit from two thermal engines, including a hybrid, but will finally abandon diesel. At launch we will find the 1.2 Puretech engine with 100 bhp and a 6-speed manual gearbox. This will make it possible to offer an entry-level thermal engine, again at very competitive prices, with the thermal C3 benefiting from the advances of the electric C3.
At the end of 2024, Citroën will enrich the range of the new C3 with a 100 bhp hybrid offering combining the Puretech engine, extensively revised and equipped with a chain instead of the famous belt, which will be associated with an electric motor delivering 21 hp peak and a 6-speed automatic transmission, the same unit found in the C5 Aircross in short, but with reduced power compared to the latter.
A few months after the presentation of the new ë-C3, Citroën is therefore unveiling the other engines that will accompany the launch of its new versatile saloon, which is based on diesel but which also embraces electrification with a hybrid version in addition to the electric version. The Puretech 100 version will be the only one with a manual gearbox, which should make it a competitive proposition on the market. Although the brand has not yet announced the prices of the thermal engines, it is reasonable to assume that they will be very well positioned. Answer in the coming weeks.