Citroen had showcased the new C3 hatchback globally in late 2021. The company is all set to unveil the India-specific Citroen C3 this month. Citroen dealers have already started accepting pre-orders for the new C3 at a token amount of Rs 21,000. The new model will go on sale in the country by mid-July 2022.
Citroen is currently selling the C5 Aircross as a CKD unit. The C3 will be the brand’s first model to be locally developed in India. The company claims to have achieved over 90% localisation levels, hinting at an aggressive pricing for the new hatchback.
The new Citroen C3 is designed and developed on the Stellantis CMP modular platform, which will also underpin a new mid-sized SUV and a sedan. In fact, the Jeep’s upcoming B-SUV will also be based on this platform.
Citroen is marketing the new C3 as a hatchback with a twist. However, the vehicle looks like a crossover with raised riding height, flat bonnet, high ground clearance and black plastic cladding. In terms of styling, the new Citroen C3 gets the brand’s signature double-slat grille connected the split LED headlamp setup.
We have recently spotted the new C3 on Bangalore-Hyderabad Highway. The company is testing multiple variants of the C3, and even the top variants are devoid of heavy cladding and alloy wheels. The hatchback will come in multiple montone and dual-tone colour options.
The C3 hatchback features short overhangs, a 10m turning circle and a short bonnet for maximum visibility. The new model will have a ground clearance of 180mm. The small hatchback will come with multiple interior colour scheme. We have seen two different interior themes – an all-black and a dual-tone (Black & Orange). It features a large touchscreen infotainment system, manual air conditioning, plain steering wheel without any switches, a digital instrument console, etc.
The upcoming Citroen C3 will come with two petrol engines – a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder naturally-aspirated and a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged. The 1.2L NA engine is likely to produce close to 80bhp, while the 1.2L turbo petrol engine could offer power close to 108bhp. Both manual and automatic gearbox options will be on offer.
Source – AutoCarIndia
