Citroen has finally taken the wraps off its first made in India and made for India sub-compact SUV. Citroen calls it the C3 and it bridges the gap between a hatchback and an SUV. Citroen C3 will be manufactured in India and South America and the India launch will take place in early 2022.
The design of the Citroen C3 is inspired by the bigger Citroen SUVs, like the C5 Aircross and the recently-unveiled C4 coupe SUV. On the front, it gets the signature Citreon double arrow grille that is complimented with X-shaped LED DRLs. However, the main headlights are halogen-sourced rather than modern LEDs. Uplifting the SUV stance, Citroen has also added a silver skid plate and rounded fog lamps.
Like most of the Citroen SUVs, the C3 also gets bubble panels on the side combined with fender flares. Its 180mm ground clearance and dual-tone alloys lend it an imposing stance. On to the back, we get squared LED taillights and a silver skid plate. It is worth noting that skid plates and dual-tone colour options won’t be part of standard fitment.
Citroen C3 has been built on the French marque’s Common Modular Platform (CMP) that, in future, will also underpin the Jeep sub-compact SUV. The platform is heavily localised and will serve three more products including the international lineup by 2024. Talking about the dimensions of the C3, it measures 3.98 metres in length, benefitting from the taxes, and it’s claimed to be the tallest of the lot. The wheelbase is measured at 2,540mm and it’s claimed to have segment-leading legroom, shoulder room and headroom. With the great space, the C3 also offers a boot capacity of 315 litres.
Citroen C3 offers a very quirky cabin with splashes of orange everywhere. The centre of the dash is finished with orange that ends with large side AC vents. Large 10-inch touchscreen infotainment sits in the middle and Citroen has also incorporated a mobile holder for easy storage. The touchscreen is compatible with both Android Auto and Apple Car Play. Talking about the other bits, we get manually-operated climate control and internally adjustable ORVMs. The rear power window switches are mounted on the centre tunnel, to save costs.
To your surprise, Citroen hasn’t revealed the powertrain options for the C3. It is expected to come powered with a sole 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine that will be mated with a 5-speed manual and an automatic transmission. The engine and gearbox will be assembled locally in India to save costs. Citroen is expected to pull the curtains of the prices in the first half of 2022 and bookings could open early next year. The C3 will take on the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet and every other offering available in the sub-compact SUV space.
If you enjoyed reading this article, make sure to read other interesting stories on the Carorbis Blog and also read 2021 Kia Carnival launched
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