The unconventional C4 Cactus was already on the agenda: air cushions (airbumps) on the doors, thick armchairs in the interior and a visual appearance that sets itself apart from the rest of the class. That fits in with the tradition of Citroenthat would almost have degenerated to the boring volume mark, someone would not have timely turned the lever.
Now the French want to show that the difference can also work in the segment below, so in the four-meter subcompact class. Biedere optics one leaves confidently competitors. The new C3 shows profile, even looks a bit like a crossover with tendency to SUV. In the highest trim line "Shine" he carries similar crash barriers as the Cactus. The black fender surrounds (from "Feel" equipment) and the largest wheels in the segment are supposed to bring a bit of outdoor and adventure feeling. And with the two-tone color (series "Shine") between the roof and the rest of the body you want to put the C3 in the lifestyle corner. Addressed are the hip city dwellers who enjoy personalizing their car. 36 variants should be possible. And all this at a reasonably affordable price starting at 13.690 Euro. For the basic model (from 11.990 Euro) the color scheme is not available.
Compared to its predecessor, the new C3 has not only made a huge jump on the outside. The developers also set other standards in the interior, from the good space (front and rear) on the differently designed furniture (wide, soft seats) to a new kind of connectivity. The latter is intended to show how strongly the C3 focuses on young and modern-thinking buyers. World premiere celebrates a feature called ConnectedCAM, a wide-angle camera that sits behind the rearview mirror and can be used to take pictures and videos while driving. These can then be sent via social networks. what the car needs to stand for. The inboard camera has a second benefit. In case of an impact, the recording function will be activated automatically. It then saves a video of 90 seconds (30 seconds before / a minute after). It remains to be seen in how far something like this will be recognized in court.
The new C3 also comes with a whole range of infotainment extras. The navigation offers networked services in real time such as the search for gas stations, fuel prices, parking garages and displays the weather report. The voice control works for Navi, Phone and Multimedia. And the smartphone can be paired with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (beginning 2017) and Mirrorlink.
With so much digital technology, analogue mechanical engineering plays almost only a subordinate role. But at least he drives the C3, and even quite fast and comfortable. Gasoline is available in the power levels 68, 82 and 110 PS. All are three-cylinder. On the diesel Citroen did not want to give up, after all, you need its low CO2 values to reduce the fleet output. The BlueHDi has 1,6 liter displacement and either 75 or 99 PS. The standard consumption is only 3,2 and 3,7 l / 100 km. Nevertheless, it should not be forgotten that the diesel detonator costs extra at 2.500 Euro and it takes a very long time to recoup the more expensive purchase via the consumption advantage. The C3 is a city, not a long-distance vehicle.
The more convincing overall picture therefore delivers the 110-PS-turbo gasoline engine, with 4,7 l / 100 km even a bit more economical than its naturally aspirated colleagues with 68 and 82 PS. The reason: its almost twice as high torque, which is still at much lower speed (1.500 compared to 2.750 / min) is applied. Both together make the C3 to a lively guy, which also can be easily but slightly indirectly steer, soft springs and drives very quiet overall. Hustle is alien to this car. The biggest drawback: The engine hangs on the highest equipment line "Shine", which makes the C3 a small luxury mini, but also costs 17.990 Euro, 50 percent more than the basic model.
Less effort, the developers have unfortunately given the package for the rear seats. For a particular variability, the brand was famous earlier. Now you can only fold down the backrests and do not even form a flat cargo bed. There is also a step, but no variable loading floor. Also, the hoisting of crates on an almost 20 centimeter high edge should meet with little joy.
For Citroen the new C3 is enormously important. He makes up well over 20 percent of the total sales and is the best seller of the brand. Since the first generation (2002) over 3,5 million copies of the tapes ran. This success story should and must be continued with the new C3. (Michael Specht / SP-X)
