Citroen reveals third-gen C3 hatch pricing

CITROEN has announced pricing for its upcoming third-generation C3 hatch, which will be offered from $22,990 plus on-roads on its return to the Australian market.

The C3 will be resurrected after an Australian hiatus dating back to April 2015, when former PSA Group distributor Sime Darby determined they could not offer the French light car at a price competitive with comparable Japanese and Korean rivals.

Now under new distributor Inchcape Australasia, the C3 is the first new Citroen model released with Inchcape’s oversight, to be followed by a renewed focus on light-commercial vehicles.

Only a single level of specification has been announced for the C3, the Shine Puretech 110 variant, which teams PSA’s ubiquitous 81kW/205Nm 1.2-litre turbo three-cylinder engine to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Based on the same platform as the C4 Cactus, Peugeot 208 and DS3, the C3 measures 3996mm long, 1829mm wide and 1474mm tall, growing in all dimensions over the old model except for height.

Citroen has focused on three main areas with the design of the new C3, consisting of design, functionality and smart technology.

The C3 debuts Citroen’s new optional ConnectedCam feature, an integrated camera system that films on-road experiences which can then be uploaded and shared on social media, or can be used as an inbuilt dashcam in the event of an accident.

It uses a 120-degree wide-angle high-definition (HD) camera lens with GPS and 16GB internal memory, and will automatically record for 30 seconds before and 60 seconds after a vehicle impact has occurred.

Other technologies include lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, driver attention alert, reversing camera, hill-start assist, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a 7.0-inch touchscreen.

A significant design emphasis for the new C3 has been the inclusion of the Citroen Advanced Comfort Programme, which aims to increase occupant comfort over a number of areas.

These include new seats which have been designed for optimal lumbar support and overall comfort, as well as increased space within the cabin over the old model.

It also comprises additional storage nooks, a panoramic glass roof, and an advanced suspension system consisting of a pseudo-Macpherson strut front with a deformable strut and sprung torsion bar rear set-up.

Exterior and interior design continues Citroen’s theme of unmistakably quirky looks, with an exterior design reminiscent of the C4 Cactus SUV.

It will feature the Cactus’ Airbumps on the doors, as well as split headlights with LED daytime running lights, 3D tail-lights and the choice of nine exterior hues and four options for the two-tone roof colours.

Other standard equipment includes 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, front, side and curtain airbags, height and reach-adjustable steering wheel, automatic air conditioning, auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic wipers and rear parking sensors.

The ConnectedCam and panoramic sunroof are available as optional extras, priced at $600 apiece.

Citroen Australia is planning to roll-out the new C3 in early November with a local media drive.