Citroën Australia  is  unveiling its New Citroën C3 in October 2017, the latest take on a best-seller that has sold more than 3.5 million units globally since 2002. With its distinctive design and colourful personality, New C3 is brimming over with exuberance, freshness and optimism that will rock the market while its unique form and original graphic features express energy and confidence. Audacious by design and extensively customisable, it leaves full scope for individual expression. The interior has been carefully planned to make driver and passengers feel comfortable, making each journey a pleasurable experience. The car is fitted-out with the very latest technologies, too, including a world première appearance for Citroën ConnectedCam™, an onboard HD camera that means road-trip photos and videos can be shared directly on social media.
 
With the arrival of New C3 there's a wind of change blowing through the motoring scene. The versatile little hatchback sets a style of its own, standing out from the crowd with its perky, colourful, appealing personality. New Citroën C3 offers a delightfully offbeat take on in-car living.

"The new C3 has all the Citroën brand markers and all the qualities to give the brand new impetus.

A comfortable car with real personality, it is set to appeal to new customers looking for a modern car of character." Linda Jackson, Citroën Brand CEO

• «OPTIMISM»  New Citroen C3 is audacious by design with its strikingly unique design features such as the high-standing, charismatic front end and generous curves, all combining to produce a powerful, energetic posture. The slick, smooth outline, graphic signature and cool colours make New Citroen C3 an undeniable trendsetter. That strong personality readily accommodates extensive customisation capabilities, making New Citroen C3 an affordable mid-range model with appeal to a wide range of buyers courtesy of a single car that can match individual tastes and aspirations. There is a choice of three roof colours for the two-tone exterior, for example, plus colour choices for the fog lamp surrounds, wing mirror shells, C-pillar graphic and Airbumps®. Inside, customers can choose between four different mood packs addressing three different motoring outlooks. As well, a remarkable sensation of spaciousness is enhanced by the upholstery colour and texture and uncluttered horizontal dashboard.

• «HUMAN»New Citroen C3 exudes an unmistakable impression of wellbeing. The design is strongly influenced by the Citroën Advanced Comfort® programme which charts an up-to-the-minute approach to Citroën's time-honoured leadership in driving comfort. That level of superlative comfort starts with the seats and moves to the panoramic sunroof that floods the passenger compartment with light, the ingenious stowage features and the generous space allocations. These first impressions are confirmed by colours and materials which draw inspiration from the worlds of furniture and travel and are consistent with New C3's aim to make people feel completely at home in this car. The deliberately designed cocoon effect filters disturbances from the outside world and offers ergonomic usage with hands-free ignition and all major functions accessible from the 7" touchscreen. A 5-door hatchback, the new C3 is practical and compact with its length contained to just 3.99m.

• «SMART» New C3 brings up-to-the-minute technologies starting with the world première of Citroën ConnectedCam™, a fully-integrated and connected HD camera system that films on-the-road experiences for immediate sharing on social networks or for subsequent viewing or even as evidence in the event of an incident.  Advanced driver assistance systems include 3D-connected navigation with speech recognition, reversing camera, lane departure alert and blind spot monitoring. New C3's efficiency also extends to its high-performance, high-efficiency PureTech petrol engine  and latest-generation EAT6 automatic transmission.

"With its unique body style, personalised features and connectivity, the new C3 is a bold, fresh, modern car. It illustrates the ongoing Citroën product offensive!"
Xavier Peugeot, Citroën Brand Product Director

01 «OPTIMISTIC»: AUDACIOUS BY DESIGN

1. Distinctly offbeat

There's nothing like the New C3 on the road today in terms of audacious design and charisma. Its offbeat attitude bristles with freshness and energy backed by rugged strength. It shuns the usual stereotypes of its segment with its own highly individual and instantly recognisable outline which lends a distinctively dynamic slant to the stylishly practical curves that endeared its predecessor to such a wide audience.

In true Citroen style, New C3's volume and proportions give it unique form.  The tall front end is strong and compelling, giving the car a powerful impression of robustness, the look balanced by its noticeable waistline which gives the car a natural and well-balanced stance. The fluid curves and muscular flanks lend vigour and power while strong graphic features highlight New Citroen C3's clean, wholesome and pleasing appearance. New Citroen C3 is different, energetic and modern yet at the same time calm and reassuring.

Citroën's characteristic two-tier front light signature gives the car an upward-looking appearance, enhancing the impression of bonnet height. The horizontal double chrome bars underlining Citroen's trademark chevrons run out to the LED daytime running lamps, enhancing the impression of width while the round headlamps add a strong technical content. Body-coloured bumpers enhance the sense of height and lend a "go anywhere" spirit while the fog lamps feature coloured surrounds for an extra touch of sparkle.

Viewed in profile, New C3's most noticeable feature is the floating roofline. Held at the front by the black windscreen pillars, the roof is accentuated by the dynamic outline of its taut curves. Styling elegance is also highlighted by the balanced proportions of the body panels and glazed surfaces, underscored by the horizontal belt line which accentuates the deliberately high bonnet line to produce a steady, stable, reassuring posture. There are no hard external lines. Instead, soft, fluid body contours that extend downwards over 17" wheels, the largest diameter of any car in this segment, giving New C3 yet  another strong character feature. The large wheels also contribute to ride comfort, making for a high flank and filling the wheel arches.   New Citroen C3 can also be fitted with wheel arch extensions for an enhanced crossover appearance. At the rear, the generously-sized, muscular wings give the car a dynamic appearance, an impression accentuated by the car's impressively short overhangs.

The Airbump® panels (air-filled bumps with a scratch-proof surface, as seen on Citroen C4 Cactus) are a Citroën signature feature, giving personality and style as well as protection. The aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane material used in the Airbump® panels gives excellent resistance to everyday aggression from ultra-violet light, water, ageing and scratching. Each panel comprises six air-filled bumps at the base of each door, an especially vulnerable area of the car in the urban environment. The Airbump® panels have a white or red graphic, depending on the version.

The rear of the vehicle emphasises width, with smooth surfaces providing an ideal backdrop for the 3D rear lamps which lend a unique, high-tech identity to New C3. The lower section also affords good, everyday protection. New C3's badge is also different to that sported by the previous model with the figure '3' now appearing in black with a chrome surround, recalling the gloss black chevrons with chrome surround used by Citroën models since C4 Cactus.

In tune with its times, all-round attention has been given to New C3's aerodynamics. The roof is 40mm lower than that of the previous model and all surfaces are optimised for a clean, controlled air flow.

2. Spacious interior designed as a living area

The New C3's interior has been designed to feel like an extension of the driver's home - welcoming, safe, comfortable, familiar, contemporary, intuitive and peaceful. Citroën's designers drew inspiration from non-automotive influences such as architecture, furniture and decoration to define its volumes and decide its materials. It is also an incitement for adventure, the frivolity expressed through detailed features such as the trunk straps on the doors, another little offbeat signature of the Citroën range.

The basic interior design principles taken up in New C3 are uncluttered space, consistency and shapes that are full and soft. The perception of space is immediately suggested by a design layout highlighted by the horizontal dashboard running across the full width of the interior. This uncluttered, single-piece design immediately clarifies the simple approach taken to the passenger compartment as a whole without deleting the contemporary. Technological content is prominent in the form of a 7" touchscreen that appears suspended at the dashboard's centre. The chrome surrounds of the air vents at either side also enhance the overall impression of width.

The dashboard design features a broad, crossways trim that matches the seat material and lends a sense of both width and character. Buyers have a choice of finishes for the dashboard which can be painted, wrapped in fabric or finished with a TEP lining - available with or without over-stitching - and a chrome or coloured surround.

The seats, key items in onboard wellbeing, are wide and generous with a unique design, their prominence amplifying the impression of space and expressing overall comfort. The impression of comfort is further enhanced by the choice of bright, warm materials featuring a deliberately non-automotive look and feel. There is a very strong sense of stylistic coherence throughout.

3. New C3's extensive customisation capability is unique for a mid-range model

Customisation is an increasingly widespread social phenomenon in response to a desire to express personal style choices. New Citroen C3 is the first mid-range model to offer an extensive and coherent customisation capability. It goes further than simple add-on colour choices, ensuring a quality, harmonious end result consistent with both personality and value. Customisation covers both the exterior and interior, the external appearance choices ranging from pop to classic, from sports-like to trendy while the internal mood can emphasise either warmth and cosiness or dynamism and technology.

Freedom of expression to create a car matched to the driver's personality starts with the two-tone exterior colour scheme. A choice of nine body colours (Banquise White, Perla Nera Black, Shark Grey, Aluminium Grey, Ruby Red, Almond Green, Cobalt Blue, Power Orange and Sand) and three roof colours (Opal White, Onyx Black, Aden Red) combining to make 36 possible colour combinations. Buyers can brighten-up a classic body colour with a colourful roof or moderate a perky body colour with a more subdued roof hue. Breadth of choice is an important factor, contributing to the fresh, modern stance taken by New Citroen C3.

Colour choice goes beyond the body alone with various features such as the front fog lamp surrounds, the Airbump surrounds, the external mirror shells and the C-pillar graphic sharing the roof colour to produce both character and good overall consistency.

Interior customisation gives a choice of four possible moods, each expressed in upholstery material which is matched to the dashboard trim and various colour and harmony features. There really is something for everybody.

• The Standard mood is uncluttered and neutral, with yellow overstitched upholstery.
• The Metropolitan Grey mood puts the emphasis on warmth and brightness, with soft colours and textiles on the dashboard trim as well as the seat upholstery.
• The Urban Red mood combines dark and bright colours to produce a dynamic feel. The lined dashboard trim features red overstitching and has a red surround over its entire width.
• The Hype Colorado mood uses soft, upmarket materials and special upholstery with a colour contrast effect and width-wise signature harmonising with a two-tone, leather-covered steering wheel.
  

«HUMAN»: ON-BOARD WELLBEING

New C3's design was driven throughout by the Citroën Advanced Comfort® programme - global, contemporary, coherent comfort. This innovative programme seeks to offer driver and passengers the unique experience of feeling genuinely at home in their cars.

1. An overriding design emphasis on driver and passenger wellbeing

The sensation of wellbeing starts with the comfortable seats, the panoramic sunroof that floods the passenger compartment with light, the large stowage features and the generous spaces. These first impressions are confirmed by the colours and materials which draw overt inspiration from the worlds of furniture and travel.

The emphasis on wellbeing pervades the interior courtesy of meticulous attention to colours, volumes, materials and light.  Shapes are full and soft, there is no clutter and there's a strong width-wise design orientation which enhances the impression of space. Overall harmony is also expressed in the stylistic coherence between doors, seats and dashboard with the same soft, bright textile affording visual continuity and sense of quality. The harmonious interior is eminently cheerful and optimistic, practical yet offbeat and anything but dull. New C3 innovates by inviting driver and passengers to feel genuinely at home.

. The visual impression of space highlighted by the dashboard and seat design is confirmed by reality, the 1379mm shoulder width an impressive 20mm more than that of the previous model. Rear seat legroom is also top-level and the line of the front seats and the shape of the seat back uppers give optimum visibility, bringing the rear seat passengers nearer the front for a friendlier in-car atmosphere made bright and homely by the panoramic sunroof.

Great attention was given to the New C3's seats which have been styled for generous width and maximum comfort. Seat bottom and backrest dimensions give an immediate impression of space and the line of the seats is engaging, inspired by furniture design to suggest relaxing and comfortable travel.

The seats use quality trim materials and supple interior foams to give excellent lumbar support and overall comfort. That comfort involves a two-stage process: soft and welcoming when the passenger takes the seat but firm and reassuring thereafter. The supple seat foams have another purpose, namely to filter out road surface irregularities, another important factor contributing to the overall sense of in-car comfort.

Particularly agile thanks to its 10.7m turning circle, the new C3 measures just 3.99 metres overall to maximise its urban driving capabilities, its five doors and five seats also making it practical in all circumstances

2. Advanced ergonomics for a smooth driving experience

New Citroen C3 also brings a hassle-free user experience for true homely comfort with fluid, intuitive access to major vehicle functions. Under the Citroën Advanced Comfort® programme, New C3 was designed with ergonomics uppermost in mind. As seen in the numerous ingenious stowage features, the clearly staged presentation of driver information and a wealth of intuitive technologies are there to make life easier.

New C3 promises great everyday practicality. Its designers paid special attention to storage facilities, creating optimum functionality without compromising interior harmony. There's an ingenious central cubby to maximise free space up front and the glovebox is the biggest in class. The front doors have spacious and ingenious cubbies finished in a light colour to contrast with their contents, making things easier to find. New C3's boot volume is almost 300 litres, cutting down on the often difficult task of deciding what to take and what to leave behind.

A smooth driving experience also calls for an intuitive, interactive and responsive interface, which New C3 offers through its 7" touchscreen tablet. Mounted in the centre of the dashboard, it is effectively the car's control centre, providing modern, intuitive access to almost all vehicle operating functions and making for an impressively uncluttered dashboard. The tablet uses capacitive screen technology for optimum response and the groove at its base acts as a hand rest, maximising comfort and usability.

Convenience continues with the car's handsfree access and ignition system, which allows it to be locked, unlocked and started without the need to remove a key from pocket or purse, the car simply "recognising" its approaching driver.

03 «SMART»: UP-TO-THE-MINUTE TECHNOLOGIES

1. Citroën ConnectedCam™

The Citroën ConnectedCam™ system is a practical, convenient and user-friendly Citroën-made technology which is making its global debut on New C3. It's a connected camera (120° wide angle lens, full HD, 2 mega-pixel) with GPS and a 16GB internal memory. Fitted just behind the rear-view mirror, it records what the driver sees through the windscreen, logging the driving experience for two main purposes:

• The driver can click to safely take photos (scenery or sunsets, for example) for keeping or immediately sharing on social networks. Keeping the button depressed means shooting films up to 20 seconds long for sharing once the car is stationary. Stored content is directly accessible for keeping or sharing via the free Citroën ConnectedCamTM app.
• In the event of a vehicle impact, the system switches on automatically to record and save information. The video can run for up to 1½ minutes (30 seconds before the incident and 60 seconds after) and the footage used as evidence.

The Citroën ConnectedCam™ app also lets drivers geolocate the vehicle, storing the position so it can be easily found.

2. A wealth of useful technologies

The PSA Group A platform was optimised for this new model, giving it an excellent footprint/space ratio, an appealing morphology and superb comfort and efficiency. For comfort, an advanced suspension system based on a proven design (pseudo-Macpherson Strut with a deformable strut) is used,  effectively filtering-out road surface irregularities and letting the body "breathe" through minor vertical motion, a typically Citroën suspension signature. Soundproofing is as good as it gets, as is safety, with features such as the new "H" crossbar under the passenger safety cell for the best possible impact absorption.

New C3 comes with the latest-generation, highly efficient 110 PureTech turbocharged, three-cylinder petrol engine featuring Stop&Start technology and direct-injection.  It is mated to the impressive six-speed EAT6 automatic transmission.

New C3 comes with a vast array of useful assistance, safety and comfort technologies to make life on the road easier and enhance the driving experience:

Technologies for assistance: 

• CITROËN Connect Nav on 7" Touch Drive interface is a new-generation connected touch-operated satnav system controlled by voice or from the 7" touchscreen tablet. It ties-in with connected services such as TomTom Traffic for real-time traffic information, has geolocation and can even give price details for service stations and carparks, weather forecasts and information on local points of interest. There's also an optional "danger zones" service that provides visual and audible real-time warnings of accident black spots and dangers. Car-driver interaction is enhanced by speech recognition for navigation, phone and media functions

• Mirror Screen technology duplicates the driver's smartphone screen on the central screen, letting the driver access multimedia content and monitor the smartphone directly from the digital screen. Available with Apple CarPlayTM, Android Auto and MirrorLink®.

• The reversing camera, with parking aids, switches on automatically when reverse gear is selected, providing valuable extended-vision assistance in the form of a main-screen display showing the area behind the car along with colour markers indicating distances to any obstacles.

• Hill-Start Assist helps with standing start acceleration on gradients steeper than three per cent, preventing roll back when the brake pedal is released by stabilising the car for two seconds.

Technologies for safety:

• Lane Departure Warning System helps guard against driver drowsiness and momentary inattention at speeds above 65km/h. If the car crosses a lane marker line without the indicator being activated the system issues a visual and audible warning.

• Blind-Spot Monitoring System detects vehicles in the rear blind spot and shows them as a pictogram in the appropriate external mirror. This system, which uses the same principle as reversing radar, provides a valuable safety boost on roads such as urban motorways.

• Driver Attention Alert warns the driver when it is time to take a break. A first warning is given. after two hours' uninterrupted driving at speeds above 70 km/h, then every hour after that.