2023-10-17 11:14:00
Presentation of the new ë-C3 in Paris, a new model of the car will soon be available. ©cameriere ennio ©cameriere ennio ©cameriere ennio ©cameriere ennio
“We have big ambitions with this vehicle because we think that we will bring a lot of people to the electric car, these people who do not think about buying an electric car because the prices are too expensive and not affordable,” explains Thierry Koskas, general director of Citroën, at the head of the brand since last February, at La Libre. “I won’t give any figures on our sales ambitions. All I can say is that this car will be one of the best sellers in the electric segment in Europe, maybe not the first, but not very far from first place. That’s our ambition.”
Flagship model
The C3 is undoubtedly the flagship model of the Citroën brand: some 5.6 million vehicles have been sold since 2002, when the car made its first rounds. “It’s our best-seller. It represented 30% of our sales in Europe last year,” explains Guillaume Noël, Brand Project Manager, during a small group presentation at the beginning of October in Paris. It was also once again the favorite car of Belgians in 2022, as in previous years.
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For Citroën, the electric car must not remain a small niche market.
This means that Citroën cannot miss out on the new generation of this model, which will be available in electric but also in gasoline. The price of the ë-C3 will be 23,300 euros for the You version, with a range of 320 kilometers. “Offering a range of more than 300 kilometers was an obligation for us.” The price of the Max version has not yet been communicated.
“The challenge was to offer an electric vehicle in a price range where we currently find thermal cars. Our desire, as a popular brand, was to offer a vehicle at an accessible price, which will make it possible to generalize electrification . For Citroën, the electric car must not remain a small niche market.”
Flanders will offer a bonus of 5,000 euros to individuals who buy an electric car in 2024
New platform
How did they achieve the feat of offering a B-segment city car at a price below the market price? A platform specially designed for electric vehicles allows cost savings, as does the LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery. “This has made the electric part of the vehicle more affordable.”
“We also had to think even more than usual,” smiles Sylvain Henry, Exterior Designer. “There are no free parts on the ë-C3, as was the case on the old C3.” Thus, the parts whose usefulness was to support the aesthetics have gone by the wayside, like on the doors. “I reinterpreted them visually with the bodywork.” Likewise, “there are no added parts”. No more chrome for the headlights, but a set of bodywork which allows the headlights to be divided in two.
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We’re putting the money where it belongs.”
“By reducing the number of parts, this allows us to improve the perceived quality while saving on price. Fewer parts also means less time in the factory. We put the money where it should be” , continues Sylvain Henry. The roof racks have also been redesigned. “Everything has been studied so that this is not harmful to aerodynamics.”
All this while being embellished with a style that catches the eye. “It’s the intelligent way to build a car and it’s still the art of offering it at this price,” adds Boris Reinmoller, Design Project Manager.
The ë-C3 is not, however, a discount car. “Everything has been thought of so that the vehicle is functional and can reach the objective of 300 kilometers of autonomy without having a car that is tinkered with or poorly balanced,” continues Sylvain Henry.
A real Citroën
The result no longer has much to do, ultimately, with the C3 of the previous generation, even if the length, more or less, and width have remained identical. However, the ground clearance – the height of the vehicle – has been increased. “This allows easier entry and exit for the driver and passengers. It also gives a feeling of dominating the road,” underlines Guillaume Noël.
The cabin is spacious and comfortable, or how to give the impression of having more space while remaining within the same volumes. In fact, it’s still more knee room for everyone, even if the visual also plays its role, like these curved headrests which give the impression of more space. It’s still the comfort of the seats. Everything must give an impression of “zenitude”, remarks Boris Reinmoller. On the doors, there are also small messages, “Be happy” or “Feel good”.
On the road, this comfort is reflected by the arrival in this B segment of Advanced Comfort suspension technology, until now reserved for more high-end models. This is the famous “flying carpet” effect, which takes advantage of road damage.
“We made a real Citroën,” summarizes Guillaume Noël. A Citroën produced in Europe, in the Slovak Trnava factory, which is the most recent of the Stellantis group’s European factories. And with an engine made in Metz, France. Something to tickle Dacia, and its electric Spring made in China.
For Citroën, the ë-C3 marks a new departure, as proclaimed by its new logo proudly placed at the front and rear of the vehicle.
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