Citroen C3 launch date revealed; Booking open

Citroen has pulled off the wraps from its next big launch in the Indian car market, the C3. Unlike its debut offering in India, the C5 Aircross SUV, the new Citroen C3 is a mass-market-oriented, SUV-styled compact hatchback. It will rival the Maruti Suzuki Ignis, Tata Punch and lower variants of Renault Kiger and Nissan Magnite.

The new Citroen C3 made its global debut in September 2021 and was under trial runs in India since then. It will be officially launched in India on 20th July, while bookings for it will commence from 1st July. The production of this new compact hatchback will take place along its elder sibling, the C5 Aircross SUV, at Citroen’s production facility in Thiruvallur, near Chennai. Based on the Common Modular Platform (CMP), the Citroen C3 claims a 90 per cent localization level in India.

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Based on the version which recently got unveiled, the new Citroen C3 is a compact-sized hatchback which gets SUV-squee design highlights, such as muscular front and rear bumpers with silver skid plates, body cladding on wheel arches and door sills, roof rails and high 180mm ground clearance. The car measures 3981mm long, 1733mm wide and 1586mm tall, while having a wheelbase of 2540mm.

Citroen C3 will be an entry-level car

The Citroen C3 gets unique design highlights like dual V-shaped daytime running LEDs, which merge with chrome accents across the front grille. The split headlamps on offer are simple halogen units. The other design elements of the Citroen C3 include contrast surrounds and cladding around the fog lamps, 15-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels and wraparound LED tail lamps.

The cabin of the Citroen C3 looks basic and minimalist with a tilt-adjustable steering wheel with audio and Bluetooth controls, a fully-digital instrument console and a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

To keep costs in check, the C3 misses out on modern essentials like automatic climate control, push start-stop button, rear wiper and electrical adjustments for the outside rear view mirrors. It gets basic safety essentials like dual front airbags, ABS with EBD and reverse parking sensors. Citroen is claiming class-leading shoulder room for the C3, which along with segment-leading wheelbase, should translate into a spacious cabin for three adults at the rear.

The new Citroen C3 will be sold with two 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine options. First is the naturally-aspirated 82 PS version of this engine, which will be offered with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Then there is a turbocharged 110 PS version of this engine, which is paired to a 6-speed manual transmission. No automatic transmission-equipped variants will be offered at the time of its launch, though they might join at a later stage.

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