Officially Official: 2010 Citroen C3 is here
2010 Citroen C3 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Citroen C3 is old enough in car years that it's getting a re-do before it undergoes a mid-life crisis. The new version is certainly a more mature design, receding hairline and all. Citroen has come up with its own euphemism for it, coining the phrase "Zenith Windscreen" to describe a large windshield that extends further up into the roof than normal to create a panoramic feel to the interior.
The new C3 is a smoother looking supermini than before, with slicker styling keeping it modern and slipping through the air with a Cd of .30. Inside the redone sheetmetal, the interior gets classed up and quieted down. Most notably, there's an integrated air freshener, presumably useful when you're using all 10.5 cubic feet of boot space to haul big dogs or foie gras party platters.
An HDi (Citroenese for "diesel") engine keeps CO2 emissions low, and new powerplants are in the pipeline for 2011. The new engines will use stop/start, the diesel versions of which will drop carbon dioxide emissions further, while gasoline-fueled C3s will also dip below the 100g/km of CO2 emissions level with a new three-cylinder engine. The C3's new duds don't come with the typical generational increase in weight, and the Chevron-emblazoned C-class car will motor onto the small car battlefield ready to earn more accolades with its latest generation. Follow the jump for Citroen's official press releas,e or browse over the C3's new design in the high-res gallery below.
Gallery: 2010 Citroen C3
[Source: Citroen]
Press Release:
A TOUCH OF GLASS: CITROËN INTRODUCES THE NEW C3
Citroën has released first details of the new C3, a completely redesigned successor to the popular C3 supermini – a bestseller with over 2 million units delivered worldwide.
Arriving in the UK early in 2010, the new C3 boasts contemporary lines and seductive styling, compact exterior dimensions – cleverly matched to exceptional interior space – good environmental credentials and a refined, high quality interior – as well as offering a unique and innovative windscreen design.
On the outside, new C3 gets a sportier edge, with a tauter profile that gives the car a more dynamic, yet robust appearance. Nowhere is the modern styling more apparent than in the design of the new C3's unique Zenith windscreen, which flows dramatically up and over the heads of the front occupants. Coupled with slim side pillars, the huge progressively tinted windscreen offers a truly panoramic field of vision – along with optimum overhead sun protection.
'Visiodrive' – the word created to best describe the new Citroën C3 – is born out of this unique windscreen, which is yet another example of Citroën's use of 'Creative Technologie'. The screen helps to create a bright and pleasurable cabin environment for driver and passengers alike – improving visibility, road safety, driving pleasure, ambience and the overall feeling of spaciousness.
Inside the cabin, attention to detail and the use of high quality materials, delivers an air of refinement and class, which is complemented by enhanced sound insulation and a pleasant fragrance from the car's integrated air freshener.
Despite its added sophistication, increased comfort and interior space, the new C3 remains one of the most compact vehicles in its segment – and avoids any increase in weight over the current model. At just 3.94m long and 1.71m wide, it offers a generous 300 litres of boot space, along with numerous storage areas throughout the cabin. Occupants also benefit from a feeling of comfort and roominess with a slightly raised seating position for ease of access and improved visibility.
The new C3 is at ease in the city, with its compact dimensions and 10.2m turning circle, as well as on the open road, thanks to its enhanced dynamics. The careful control of weight, combined with optimised aerodynamics (Cd of 0.30), allows the new C3 to achieve excellent fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
From launch, an HDi 90 powered version will be available emitting just 99g/km CO2 – the first full production Citroën to emit less than 100g/km. Whilst the arrival of new power plants from 2011, incorporating second-generation Stop & Start technology, will see diesel versions emitting as little as 90g/km CO2, to be followed by new generation three-cylinder petrol engines with less than 100g/km CO2.
Modern and perfectly at home in the 21st century, the new C3 can be well connected with USB, iPod and Bluetooth® functionality, as well as offering Citroën's 'MyWay' satellite navigation and Hifi System®.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DiRF 2:05PM (6/30/2009)
"receding hairline and all."
HA!
To me, overall, it's a very pleasing design for a compact... thought it'll probably be polarizing for a lot of people.
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letstakeawalk 2:13PM (6/30/2009)
I like that extension of the windscreen into the roof area. I'm right at 6ft, and in most cars I have to lean forward at stoplights in order to see the traffic signals. Having a few extra inches of glass would be a great benefit for me.
zamafir 6:19PM (6/30/2009)
I love it, esp that windshield, looks like it'd be pretty cool to be inside, and the proportions work perfectly, better than anything else in the same class.
Jerk Face 2:07PM (6/30/2009)
So wish that was coming to the U.S.
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Ben Roethig 2:09PM (6/30/2009)
I'm not a fan of hatches, but I really like what Citroen and its sister brand are doing.
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cdwrx 2:14PM (6/30/2009)
I really like that windshield provided it has a nice tint and doesn't act as a magnifying glass between me and the sun. I'd consider that car for my next purchase if it were available to me.
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havoc 2:14PM (6/30/2009)
wow, i think this is a really nice looking design, the windscreen is (interestingly) massive and the mirror doesn't sit right...
but besides that i actually like it.
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Bloke 2:29PM (6/30/2009)
It isn't a new idea though in terms of production models. Vauxhall/Opel have a very similar design on the mk5 Astra Panoramic model.
Redline 3:04PM (6/30/2009)
Thanks, wanted to mention the Astra as well. Opel had this for quite some time.
Kaveh 2:29PM (6/30/2009)
Wow, thats a huge windshield, fun looking car. To bad they don't bring Citroen's here, but I remember a private company tried to in florida in the 80's.
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why not the LS2LS7? 2:37PM (6/30/2009)
They must not have strong sunlight in Europe. This extended windshield seems like a recipe for glare entering above my sunglasses and the interior getting even hotter when parked than it already does.
Yes, I realize it's tinted, but if it were tinted to fully keep the light out, they wouldn't bother extending the windshield at all, because it would be opaque.
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Bloke 2:47PM (6/30/2009)
The Astra Panoramic has an extending louvre underneath (rather like that under a glass sunroof) to keep out the sun's rays when required. I suspect the new C3 has a similar set up.
Andrew 3:35PM (6/30/2009)
Oh, please, stop talking about Europe as if we're one country or have anything at all in common. The Mediterranean countries have plenty of strong sun, while the Arctic Nordic countries obviously have a lot less.
France in general is sunny and hot especially in the summer time, it happens to be the world's #1 tourist destination. The French Riviera is fantastic and believe me any shade is welcome.
I don't know how well the design works, but the French have plenty of incentives to make it work for their market alone. Driving in France without A/C is unimaginable.
why not the LS2LS7? 4:10PM (6/30/2009)
Andrew:
Get that chip off your shoulder. I wasn't trying to say all of Europe was the same, I was just using flowery language to point out how having glass over your head isn't always a win.
If I were to speak of Europe and the sun, I'd mention the South of France (Nice) is North of Boston! The southernmost point of the EU, Malta? Same latitude as Raleigh, North Carolina.
The US is a quite a bit further South than Europe, and almost all of it (if we exclude Alaska) is south of France.
Bloke 4:22PM (6/30/2009)
Andrew: - LS2LS7 is just one of those Americans who thinks he's at liberty to criticise and poke fun at everyone else, but the minute anybody criticises him or his country he immediately starts prodding the "chip on your shoulder" stick and essentially throwing a small fit.
He can't accept that other countries do things differently to his and that their reasons for doing so are completely at their discretion.
Seriously, look at his comments about sunlight. How worse does this "we're better than anybody else in the world" crap get? He's clearly never spent any time anywhere in the Mediterranean, or even on the south cost of England or north/west coasts of France for that matter. Still, ignorance is bliss!
why not the LS2LS7? 9:27PM (6/30/2009)
Bloke, would you like me to send you some pictures I took when I was Valetta, Malta last year? I have never been on the south coast of England or the North coast of France though.
I never said Americans were better than Europeans or anything like that. You two are making up your own things to be angry about!
I don't think having glass over your head like that makes sense. You want to say I'm wrong? That's totally fine. People disagree all the time. But you'd do well to stop trying to put words in my mouth by saying I'm criticizing Europeans and you'd be really stupid to say I don't know what I'm doing because I've never been to the Mediterranean when you don't have the facts.
EU_reader 10:49PM (6/30/2009)
As mentioned before in this thread, I'm also 6'4"... Most cars have reasonably high seats so I always have to bend my neck to look at the stoplights when I'm close to them.
Also, I like light, who doesn't. It makes the car a less sombre place to be in (which it sometimes can be). Once you've been in a car with a sunroof, you'll understand what I'm talking about. It's quite a 'sensation' really, so much space inside the car....
I don't know, I would want my car to have something like that if available on the model I would want.
Oluseyi 1:57AM (7/01/2009)
letstakeawalk is 6 ft, and EU_reader is 6'4". I'm 6'6".
Bloody great idea.
What's that? "It might get hot"? "There'll be sunshine over my sunglasses"? That's why we call it "engineering," so somebody figures out a solution to problems.
Bloke 8:54AM (7/01/2009)
LS2LS7 - how interesting it is when the shoe's on the other foot. You argue the toss over cars by making judgements from simply looking at pictures (e.g. Ford Fiesta) against people with day-to-day, real-life experience of those cars.
Who cares if you've been to Malta or not? The comment "they must not have strong sunlight in Europe" is simply ridiculous and typical of someone - American or otherwise - who opens their gob before their brain's in gear.
P.V. 3:10PM (6/30/2009)
It actually looks quite nice even with the oversized windshield and it looks quite large for its class.
I wish the US could have one too.
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