PRODUCT IN DETAIL
STYLE – EXTERIOR
The new C3 represents an upmarket shift by Citroën towards the highest levels of B-segment comfort and prestige. Retaining some of the familiar lines of its predecessor, the tauter and sleeker new C3 takes inspiration from B-segment premium models and from the sector above. The result is a stylish and contemporary design that places an emphasis on quality, sophistication and fun.
The design of the body is much more dynamic, with smooth lines flowing over chrome trimmed surfaces. There’s even chrome detailing at the top of the panoramic Zenith windscreen where it meets the roof. The new look is underpinned by the gaping front grill, the incisive boomerang-shaped headlights and emphatically drawn wings, which help to give new C3 its purposeful, low-slung stance.
Catering for a wide range of customer preferences, buyers can personalise their new C3 with a choice of ten elegant body colours. There is also a choice of stylish alloy wheels, with 15” alloys available on VTR+ models and either 16” or 17” alloys on Exclusive versions.
STYLE – INTERIOR
Inside the cabin, Citroën’s designers have focused on quality and comfort, with a stylish and sophisticated interior tailored with chrome and gloss black trim, and a choice of four upholstery styles – including a leather seat option.
The flowing lines of the exterior are mirrored in the smooth horizontal dashboard design, which combines chic styling with high-tech appeal and is finished with either a brushed steel or chrome strip that runs the full width of the car.
The new C3 is designed for an enjoyable driving experience. From the comfort of the contoured seats, the driver looks through the sculpted steering wheel to a brand new instrument cluster design, which sports two analogue dials and an LED display – with a floating visor above to shield them from glare.
PANORAMIC ZENITH WINDSCREEN
VTR+ and Exclusive models, as well as the Airdream+ Special Edition, all feature the innovative panoramic Zenith windscreen, which dominates the car’s appearance from every forward angle. Unique to the market, this massive screen opens up new perspectives and sensations for all occupants.
Soaring 1.35m from bonnet to roof, the panoramic Zenith windscreen is 36% bigger than a normal screen on an average 5-door small car and the angle from the driver’s eye line to the top of the windscreen is a huge 108° instead of the segment average 28°.
Coupled with slim A-pillars, the curved glazed area offers unrivalled visibility – with obvious safety benefits – and gives occupants a truly panoramic view of the world. Progressive tinting across the top 25cm of the screen ensures optimal protection from overhead sunlight. A sunblind, featuring two sun-visors, can easily be pulled forwards when driving in low-angle sun conditions.
QUALITY
With breakthrough levels of quality, the new C3 was benchmarked by its designers against models from the segment above. The huge leap in refinement stems from the special attention paid to the quality of the finishes and materials used – such as on the ‘soft-touch’ upper dashboard. Throughout the interior, the new C3 is inspired by cues from upper segment vehicles, delivering the highest levels of comfort and prestige.
To maintain a calm and peaceful ambience in the cabin, the levels of soundproofing are amongst the best in the segment. Mechanical vibration, as well as noise from the road, have all been minimised and the engine compartment has three times as much sound-absorbent material (155 dm²) compared to the outgoing C3 (48dm²).
New C3’s occupants can be are bathed in light both day and night. Interior mood lighting is available to create a warm and welcoming night-time driving atmosphere in the cabin. Automatically adjusted by an integrated rheostat, the light sources are located in the central console and front foot-wells.
An integrated air freshener helps maintain a fresh and pleasant aroma in the cabin and is a luxurious little touch to enhance the sense of well-being on-board. With a range of available perfumes, the system can continually diffuse a light fragrance into the passenger compartment via the air vents.
SPACE
The new C3 is one of the most compact models in the segment at just 3.94m long, 1.73m wide and 1.52m high, and also offers one of the most generous cabin environments in its class for both occupant space and load volume.
The intelligent design of the car’s internal architecture utilises the best of Citroën creativity to generate the maximum amount of useable space. For example, the recessed lower dashboard frees legroom for the front passenger, which means they can sit further forward, creating more legroom for back seat passengers. The slim design of the front seat backs creates an additional 3cm of legroom in the rear and the semi-raised front seating position also creates space under the seats for rear passenger’s feet.
The 300-litre boot, with its optimised design, is the biggest in the segment and offers easy loading – thanks to the lowered boot sill (only 22.7cm from the floor of the boot to the top of the sill), and the increased width of the boot aperture (104cm). For secure stowage, the boot also has four lashing rings and can be equipped with a removable load net. To increase rear load space, the 60:40 split-folding rear seats can be tumbled down with one hand in a single effortless movement using levers accessed from either the boot or the back seats. With the rear seats down it is possible to load boxes up to 1029 x 1189 x 689mm in size.
Providing convenient storage throughout the cabin, the new C3 is fitted with front and rear door cubby holes, compartments in the central fascia and central armrest, as well as a handy sliding drawer beneath the front passenger seat.
EFFICIENT PERFORMANCE
One of Citroën’s key objectives in the development of new C3 was to maximise efficiency. A design emphasis was placed on minimising the car’s overall weight and optimising the aerodynamic performance – new C3 boasts a Cd of 0.30 – helping the model to deliver excellent fuel economy and low CO2 emissions.
With its agile frame and optimised aerodynamic profile, new C3 is effortless to manoeuvre with a responsive feel. Utilising Citroën’s extensive knowledge of combining smooth road manners with precise handling, new C3’s MacPherson-type front suspension, new rear axle with flexible traverse beam and variable electric power steering, all combine to strike the best balance between ride comfort and road holding. The refined running gear benefits from a range of suspension settings adapted to the power and torque of each engine. Light steering at low speeds and the 10.2m turning circle make the new C3 an ideal vehicle for city driving.
Benefitting from Citroën’s family of efficient power-plants, the new C3 will be offered with an extensive choice of four petrol engines and three HDi diesels, with a Special Edition Airdream+ 1.6HDi 90hp available from launch emitting just 99g/km of CO2 – the first production Citroën to emit less than 100g/km.
The three critically acclaimed HDi diesels – 1.4HDi 8V 70hp, 1.6HDi 16V 90hp and 1.6HDi 16V 110hp – all emit 115g/km of CO2 or less. The 1.6HDi 16V 110hp and the 1.6HDi 16V 90hp Euro V engines (the latter being specified in the Airdream+), are fitted with Citroën’s lauded DPFS (Diesel Particulate Filter System).
The four petrol engines – 1.1i 8V 61hp, 1.4i 8V 75hp, 1.4 16V VTi 95hp and 1.6 16V VTi 120hp – emit between 134g/km and 158g/km of CO2. The VTi 95hp and VTi 120hp are from Citroën’s family of refined and economical BMW co-developed power-plants.
For drivers keeping a close eye on their fuel costs, the new C3 delivers excellent combined cycle fuel economy of up to 48.7mpg for petrol models and 74.3mpg for diesel-powered versions.
All engines are mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, apart from the 1.6HDi 16V 110hp, which has a
6-speed manual transmission. The 1.6 VTi 120hp is offered with a choice of either 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmissions.
From 2011, new C3 will be available with even more efficient power-trains – as well as Citroën’s second generation Stop & Start system. Two diesel versions will emit CO2 at just 90g/km and 95g/km, whilst models fitted with Citroën’s new generation 3-cylinder petrol engines will emit less than 100g/km.
TECHNOLOGY
New C3 can be specified with a range of convenient driver aids, including cruise control with speed limiter, the new Gear Efficiency Indicator (GEI) that helps drivers maximise fuel economy and even rear parking sensors. The new C3 is also available with Citroën’s integrated MyWay satellite navigation and multi-media system, which incorporates European mapping, a wide aspect colour screen, live traffic information and Bluetooth®.
For a rich audio experience, new C3 can be equipped with an all-new Hi-Fi sound system, which features an additional speaker in the centre of the dashboard and an amplified subwoofer in the boot.
Designed for those who like to travel with their music library, new C3 is always well connected with an auxiliary socket fitted as standard across the range – meaning portable music players can always be hooked up to the car’s audio system. Customers can also specify a USB box that features an integrated socket on the central console. This allows users to connect, play and control portable media devices through the car’s audio system with the song title and information shown on the audio display.
The optional Bluetooth® hands-free equipment allows drivers to stay safely in contact on the road and conveniently enables music stored on mobile phones to be streamed wirelessly through the audio system – without the need for connective cabling.
As a neat example of technology meeting stylish design, Exclusive models equipped with the optional Visibility Pack (automatic headlights, automatic wipers and electrochrome interior rear-view mirror), also gain a row of three white LED lights that illuminate the upper dashboard and central console from above.
SAFETY
With high levels of both active and passive safety, including a reinforced cabin structure, the new C3 is a reassuringly secure environment for both driver and passengers.
For confident stopping power, all models are fitted as standard with front ventilated disc brakes and ABS with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) and EBA (Emergency Braking Assistance). Providing even more assured handling in low-grip conditions, ESP is also available.
From the VTR+ trim level, all models are specified as standard with six airbags (driver, front passenger, front lateral and curtain), and for the secure fitment of child seats, all models are equipped with two Isofix mountings on the rear side seats.
TRIM LEVELS
The new C3 will be offered in Citroën’s three core trim levels – VT, VTR+ and Exclusive – with a Special Edition Airdream+ that emits just 99g/km of CO2.
Representing outstanding value-for-money, the entry-level VT models features generous levels of standard equipment, including an MP3-compatible radio/CD player with steering mounted controls, electrically adjustable door mirrors, front electric windows and a multi-function on-board trip computer.
At the heart of the range, the VTR+ trim gains the sensational panoramic Zenith windscreen, air-conditioning, 15” alloy wheels, front fog lights, leather steering wheel and cruise control with speed limiter.
The range-topping Exclusive models offers premium levels of design and comfort with additional equipment such as digital air-conditioning, front and rear ‘one-touch’ electric windows, electrically folding and heated door mirrors, part-Alcantara upholstery, 16” alloy wheels and dark tinted rear windows.
The Special Edition Airdream+ will be Citroën’s first production model to emit less than 100g/km of CO2 and represents the greenest choice for the environmentally conscious motorist. Based on the VTR+ trim level, it gains two additional features as standard – rear parking sensors and Bluetooth® with USB box.
PRICES
Prices start at just £10,790 for the entry-level 1.1i 61hp VT petrol model, rising to £16,140 for the range-topping 1.6HDi 110hp 6-speed manual Exclusive. At the heart of the model line-up, offering an excellent balance of value and equipment, VTR+ models start at £12,690 for the petrol versions and £13,790 for the HDi-powered equivalent.
| ENGINE | Insurance Group |
|
VT | 1.1i 8V 61hp * | 2E |
| 1.4i 8V 75hp | 3E |
| 1.4HDi 16V 70hp | 3E |
VTR+ | 1.4i 8V 75hp | 3E |
| 1.4 16V VTi 95hp | 4E |
| 1.4HDi 8V 70hp | 3E |
| AIRDREAM+ | 1.6 16V HDi 90hp * | 4E |
EXCLUSIVE | 1.4 16V VTi 95hp | 4E |
| 1.6 16V VTi 120hp | 5E |
| 1.6 16V VTi 120hp Auto * | 5E |
| 1.6HDi 16V 90hp | 4E |
| 1.6HDi 16V 110hp * | 5E |
Citroen C3 2010 Insurance Group
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