A new beginning for all the hatchback lovers in the country. The entry of the French automobile manufacturer has made some heads turn in the Indian market. This will be Citroen's first automobile made in India and South America, and it will replace the current generation Citroen C3 crossover in those markets. Since the Citroen C5 Aircross, which was released earlier this year, has received a lot of attention, let's have a look at what the Citroen C3 has to offer.
The C3 is not a crossover, despite its crossover cues. Citroen CEO Vincent Cobee described the car as a "hatchback with a twist" in a statement. Shortly after the C3, Citroen plans to launch a more upright compact SUV in India.
The 3.98 m tall C3 has its attraction as a cross-hatchback because of its high suspension, high hood, and raised driving position. Citroen's design is quirky and chic, as is typical of the brand. On the front fascia, two split-LED headlights are connected by Citroen's characteristic double-slat grille.
The C3's SUV look is further enhanced by its black cladding all around. Orange details can also be found on the front bumper, side cladding, roof rails, and dual-tone diamond-cut alloy wheels. On the back of the C3, there are rectangular tail lamps on each end of the tailgate, as well as a dual-tone bumper. Customers will be able to customise the dual-tone colour selections on the C3. The C3 appears to be a scaled-down version of the C5 Aircross, which is already on the Indian market.
On the one hand, photos show a massive three-spoke steering wheel and a digital instrument cluster, yet the mirrors can be adjusted internally, the air conditioning is controlled manually, and the front seat has integrated headrests.
The automobile provides "market-leading comfort and space," according to Citroen's press release. The vehicle's actual dimensions have yet to be revealed. The rear seat bench has big (although fixed) headrests, indicating that it was built for two people. There is no centre armrest in the back of the car, and the rear window controls are visible on the centre console between the front seats.
The Citroen C3 is built on the CMP modular platform, which will also be utilised in a Jeep SUV that is under four metres long. Over 90% of the platform's components were sourced locally, making it highly specialised for India. Citroen is expected to position the C3 rather aggressively in its segment.
Citroen has not published the C3's engine specifications, although it is believed to be powered by a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine in India. There will be no diesel engines on hand. There will be an automatic transmission and a 5-speed manual transmission available.
The Citron C3 will be manufactured in Chennai's Thiruvallur facility, with serial production starting in December. The price for the C3 will be announced in the first half of 2022. In preparation for the debut of the C3, Citroen will expand its dealer network in India; currently, the company's dealer network in the nation is restricted to a few La Maison flagship locations and an online sales platform.
