Citroën unveil the New Ë-C3, an affordable European electric car

Peak Comfort: All-new Citroën ë-C3 comes equipped with latest-generation Advanced Comfort® Seats and highly acclaimed Citroën Advanced Comfort® Suspension – its first appearence in the B-segment. The comfort of the Citroën ë-C3 is further enhanced by lack of any engine noise and vibration, for a stress-free ride.

Long Electric Life: The 44kWh battery pack provides up to 199 miles (320km) of WLTP range, with its 100kW DC rapid charging providing 20% to 80% of capacity in as little as 26 minutes.

Fully Equipped Design: New ë-C3 surprises and delights with an extensive portfolio of equipment, as well as smart solutions including all-new C-ZEN LOUNGE, an innovative approach that seeks to reinvent the dashboard.

Stylish By Design: Conceived from the outset around its BEV-focused Citroën ‘Smart Car’ platform, ë-C3 debuts its new Citroën design language and brand signature.

Citroën is challenging the rulebook for all European-designed and built B-segment cars with the unveiling of the powerful fourth-generation C3. The all-new, all-electric ë-C3 delivers top comfort, a smooth electric experience, an outstanding level of useful equipment, and incredible value for money.

The all-electric ë-C3 is proudly leading the fourth-generation line-up of Citroën’s most popular car, which has sold over 5.6 million vehicles since the launch of its first generation version in 2002. The C3 is, at present, the brand’s most popular model, to the extent that in 2022, C3 captured 11% overall of the European B-segment market.

Significantly, the all-new ë-C3 signals the next storied chapter for Citroën. The popular and daring brand is reinventing itself to meet the challenges faced by making all-electric mobility accessible to all. New ë-C3 is the first European-designed and European-built all-electric B-hatchback created for customers wanting the benefit of zero-emission mobility at a fair and affordable price.

Citroën Global CEO, Thierry Koskas, explains: “Offering affordable vehicles has always been a major part of Citroën’s DNA. However, customer expectations for vehicles in the B-segment have changed, notably with the rise in popularity of SUVs and the increasing desire to drive electric in and around our cities, and it has become more challenging for European vehicle makers to meet those expectations. Uniquely, Citroën is daring to do exactly that with the all-new, all-electric ë-C3 for European buyers: a fresh, sharp, and comfortable B-hatch that is fully-equipped, specifically designed for and made in Europe."

Peak Comfort

All-new Citroën ë-C3 delivers an experience lika a ‘magic carpet ride’ by pairing Citroën Advanced Comfort® Suspension with latest-generation Citroën Advanced Comfort® seats in a historic first for the B-segment.

Taller and more efficient with its space, but within a similar footprint to the previous generation C3, the all-new ë-C3 offers no-compromise in terms of comfort: a higher driving position (+100mm vs. B-hatch average) to make accessing the vehicle easier, higher ground clearance, plus exterior protective elements to reflect customer tastes.

Progressive Hydraulic Cushions®

For the first time in the history of the C3 hatchback, Citroën has utilised its innovative and exclusive Citroën Advanced Comfort® Suspension as coming standard for all versions of the all-new, all-electric ë-C3.

Hidden from the driver and all other occupants, Progressive Hydraulic Cushions® ensure everyone on-board enjoys a special ‘magic carpet ride’ feeling of comfort when on the road, thanks to the use of progressive hydraulic bump stops. The use of hydraulic stops has allowed the engineering team a greater freedom to tune the all-new ë-C3’s suspension to give the impression that the car is gliding along the ground when driving over uneven terrain. Two hydraulic bump stops are used on each corner of the vehicle in tandem with the shock absorbers and springs – one bump stop for compressions and the other for any decompressions.

The greatly acclaimed suspension system works in two stages. For less severe compression and decompression, the compliant springs and shock absorbers control vertical movements together, with no assistance required from the hydraulic stops. For major impacts, the springs and shock absorbers work together with the hydraulic stops to gradually reduce movement, and smooth out jolts at the end of the range. Unlike mechanical stops, which absorb energy and then return part of it as a shock, the hydraulic stop absorbs and dissipates the energy.

Laurence Hansen, Citroën Product and Strategy Director, said: “Comfort is a key part of Citroën’s DNA. It’s very important to us because it’s very important to our customers. That’s why we have gone to extraordinary lengths to make the all-new ë-C3 the most comfortable car in the B-hatch segment with Citroën innovations like new versions of our Citroën Advanced Comfort® Seats and – for the first time on C3 – our Citroën Advanced Comfort® Suspension.”

Class-Leadingly Comfortable Interior

The spacious interior has been crafted to contain simple and refined surfaces, providing occupants with an ambience similar to that of a home living room or lounge. All-new ë-C3’s Citroën Advanced Comfort® Seats are specifically tailored for the car, and utilise additional foam to provide a welcoming and soft feel from first contact. The seats remain supple and support your body no matter the length of your journey.

This comfortable feeling extends further thanks to the all-new vehicle design, which at 1.57m high, providing front seat occupants with 30mm more headroom than before, for a far more commanding driving position that enhances your feeling of control and safety. All the passengers on-board benefit from improved outward visibility, helping to boost a feeling of well-being and serenity. In fact, the all-new ë-C3 has more room inside in almost every dimension than its predecessor, despite being only 19mm longer and 6mm wider. Rear passenger elbowroom is greater by 19mm, and by 21mm in the front, when in comparison to the market average, while rear seat knee clearance is the best in its class, at least 20mm greater than the average.

Carrying items and luggage is simple in the all-new ë-C3. The tall interior is filled with useful and smart stowing areas – on door panels, the centre console, and under the central armrest – while a wireless charging mat is available in the centre console (standard on ‘MAX’ versions). Comfortable 60-40 rear seat modularity (standard on ‘PLUS’ and ‘MAX’ versions), and width between rear wheel arches of 1015mm ensures that the vehicle owner can transport larger objects whenever they need to. The generous 310-litres of luggage volume behind the rear seats should be able to accommodate for most shopping trips.

At 1.57m high (excluding roof bars), the all-new ë-C3 is taller than its predecessor, and benefits from ground clearance similar to that of an SUV to make access easier and to provide a more assured ride over the speed bumps, kerbs, and potholes, which are often found in urban and suburban driving. Ground clearance is an impressive 163mm for the all-electric ë-C3 compared to a ground clearance of 135mm in the previous C3 model.

Long Electric Life

The 83kW/113hp electric motor delivers more than enough power and torque for any journey, be it your daily commute or a longer trip, while the 44kWh battery pack provides up to 199 miles of WLTP driving range, and the 100kW DC fast charging can take you from 20% to 80% of capacity in as little as 26 minutes.

Connected navigation with the new ë-ROUTES app ensures journey times can be optimised, and a reliable ‘live’ charging network is always accessible.

The New ë-C3 is the first vehicle from Stellantis to use the new, cost-efficient, BEV-focused ‘Smart Car’ platform using a 44kWh LFP (Lithium Ferro Phosphate) battery pack that can deliver up to 199 miles of WLTP driving range. Plus, the 100kW DC rapid charging capability allows charging from 20% to 80% in as little as 26 minutes, a great feat for any electric vehicle.

Standard AC charging from 20% to 80% will take approximately 4h10 using 7kW power, or 2h50 if 11kW is available (using the optional 11kW on-board charger). Having access to both home and public AC charging facilities is easy using the standard supplied Mode 3 cable, the ideal choice for regular charging at home using a wall box, as well as your public charging stations.

With an 83kW (113hp) electric motor and fully automatic transmission that can propel the car from 0-62mph in around 11 seconds, and with a provisional top speed of 84mph (135km/h), the all-new ë-C3 delivers more than enough performance to deal with common driving and traffic, especially in urban and suburban environments. Its the perfect electric city car, no matter the city or clean air zone policy.

Owners will also be able to plan journeys, and keep an eye on their charging status and battery level in real-time, allowing them to enjoy a complete navigation experience, all thanks to the new e-ROUTES app. This app is designed specifically for Citroën electric vehicles as part of the brand’s ‘Connect Plus’ connected services subscription. Using the MyCitroën app, ë-C3 drivers will be able to manage its charging schedule, as well as pre-heat or pre-cool the vehicle before you enter it, and check its battery level and location.

Drivers of the all-new, all-electric Citroën ë-C3 who have chosen the ‘Connect Plus’ option, will benefit from a suite of dedicated new tools to make their ownership experience stress-free. These include:

• The Citroën e-ROUTES app has been developed specifically for owners of Citroën electric vehicles and is a driver’s passport to the most efficient route planning, easy battery level monitoring, and live charging network data they can access. With this integrated app, Citroen electric drivers can be assured that journey times will be reduced, the most accurate and reliable ‘live’ charging network data is accessible, they will always be aware of how much battery power will remain on arrival, and when needed re-routing will happen automatically.  
• E-Remote allows owners to use their MyCitroën app to remotely control the temperature of the vehicle before they enter it, manage charging schedules, monitor charge status, and show the location of their car. 

The car is automatically paired with e-ROUTES when the owner enters the vehicle details into their MyCitroën account.

FULLY EQUIPPED

To guarantee class-leading comfort and a serene environment for all the vehicle's passengers required clear priorities for the design and engineering teams of the all-electric ë-C3. However, that was just the beginning of the story, as an equally important element was giving this European-designed and built B-hatchback a surprisingly full range of equipment and smart solutions to suit any customer's needs.

C-ZEN LOUNGE

Raising the standards for interior design was a top priority for the team. All-new ë-C3 features C-Zen lounge, an innovative, spacious, and well-equipped interior, which – as is expected of Citroën – reinvents the traditional idea of what a dashboard can be and provides extremely high levels of comfort and satisfaction.

With the addition of the C-Zen Lounge, those in the front of the car are treated to a clean and uncluttered view of the road ahead, like looking through a wide arch, thanks to the large windscreen and horizontal fascia that stretches across the width of the vehicle, and is flanked by Citroën’s signature vertical air vents. The fascia is split into two distinct levels, with the technical elements stationed above, and a cosy fabric-wrapped ‘Sofa Design style’ section below.

A real departure for the upper level of the fascia, is that a traditional instrument cluster is missing. All-new, fully-electric ë-C3 holds the title of the first use of a new Citroën Head-Up Display that reflects vehicle information onto a glossy black area between the top panel and the bottom of the windscreen. This clever solution ensures there is no duplicate information as there would traditionally be with separate Head-Up Displays and instrument clusters. Drivers have quick and easy access all the key information they need without removing their eyes from the road. 

The compact new multi-function steering wheel is smaller and easier to manage, and is reach and rake-adjustable, which helps to ensure that the Citroën Head-Up Display is no blocked by obstacles when operating.

At the centre of the fascia floats a 10.25-inch colour screen, with a slight angle towards the driver (optional on ‘YOU!’ versions), while ‘My Citroen Play with Smartphone Station’ with a dedicated app is offered as standard equipment for owners of the ‘YOU!’ model to access music, radio, make calls, and navigation via their own mobile device.

The fabric-wrapped and softly curved horizontal ‘Sofa Design style’ section below has been designed to add a warmth and visual character to the cockpit area, while amplifying the feelings of comfort and serenity.

Boris Reinmöller, Programme Director of Design at Citroën, said: “We are very proud of the spacious interior, in particular our new fascia treatment with its juxtaposition between the cleaner, technical upper section and the warmer ‘Sofa Design style’ lower section. It is rare in this segment for the upper part of the fascia to have such an uncluttered feel to the left and right sides, and we have achieved this with the introduction of our new C-Zen Lounge with Citroën Head-Up Display. Floating the central infotainment screen, or smartphone station, in the centre also meant that we didn’t have to integrate these in a bulky or ungainly way.”

SEAMLESS CONNECTIVITY

Despite being a relatively compact car, the fully-electric ë-C3 places a great amount of importance on connected infotainment choices, all of which are focused on ease of use by occupants, and fast access to smart, useful features customers need to travel easily and live their connected lives seamlessly. 

Instinctive steering wheel controls, plus a ‘Home’ button on all versions, ensure a stress-free experience for the driver when behind the wheel. Three levels of infotainment system are available in the UK, dependent on the trim level chosen:

• My Citroën Play with smartphone station is standard on ‘YOU!’ trims and features a built-in smartphone holder that allows drivers to ‘dock’ their device and auto-launch a dedicated new app using NFC (Near Field Communication) wireless technology. Via this app, owners use their device to access shortcuts to phone, radio, navigation, and music app services. The ë-C3’s steering wheel controls ensure the driver can keep their hands on the wheel, and the ‘Home’ button makes navigation to the app's homepage easy.      
• My Citroën Play Plus with 10-inch touchscreen is standard on ‘PLUS’ models and optional on ‘YOU!’ models. It features a central 10.25-inch screen with access to a built-in AM/FM/DAB radio tuner, and offers smartphone mirroring, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, for ease of access to important systems like navigation, apps, and media services.
• My Citroën Drive with 10-inch touchscreen comes as standard on ‘MAX’ and optional on ‘PLUS’ versions. The central and ergonomical 10.25-inch colour screen uses a widget architecture inspired by the setup of a smartphone that provides access - through virtual shortcuts - to key navigation, phone, radio, apps, and media functions. Wireless capability allows for smartphone mirroring, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Customers can either sign up for one or both levels of Connected Services subscriptions to fully capitalise on their system via their MyCitroën account while using the internet or the MyCitroën app. 

‘Connect One’ is free and provides quick and easy access to ‘e-Call’ and ‘Citroën Assistance’ tele-maintenance services, and access to a digital owner handbook. 

For a modest monthly fee, after a free one-year trial, ‘Connect Plus’ will add real-time traffic information to ensure drivers have access to the optimal route for every journey, as alternatives are calculated and suggested based on anticipated traffic flows, and ongoing traffic jams or congestion. The system also presents city information fully rendered in 3-D (free for three years).

All three versions of the new ë-C3 and their respective infotainment systems (My Citroen Play with Smartphone Station, My Citroën Play Plus with 10-inch touchscreen, and My Citroën Drive with 10-inch touchscreen) are compatible with the Citroën e-ROUTES app.

DRIVER ASSISTANCE FEATURES THAT CARE 

The all-new ë-C3’s comprehensive collection of the latest Citroën driver assistance technologies is engineered to care for the minds and bodies of every occupant, particularly the driver, and include:

• Active Safety Brake is an emergency braking system that starts operating when travelling above three miles per hour, and helps reduce injuries to vehicle occupants as well as pedestrians and cyclists.
• Active Lane Departure Warning System helps the driver to maintain a correct position in-between road lane markings through gently correcting the steering as the car drifts out of its lane, or by alerting the driver to drifting at lower speeds. It begins operations when above 37mph and is disabled when turn signals are in use.
• Driver Attention Alert informs the driver if the travelling direction of the vehicle is inappropriate within its lane. This two-step alert first detects any swaying and alerts the driver with a sound and message to ‘Drive Carefully’, then, should the swaying continue 4 times, sounds an additional alert and message advising ‘Dangerous Driving’. Coffee Break Alert advises the driver to take a break should they continuously drive at 40mph or above for two hours, and repeats this message every hour after that if no break is taken.
• Speed Limit Recognition is able to read speed limit signs and displays them on the Citroën Head-Up Display to inform the driver. This smart system accesses speed limit data held in the navigation system and can also read temporary speed limit signs. The Cruise Control with Speed Limiter gives the driver the ability to restrict their maximum speed to ensure compliance.
• The Electric Parking Brake automatically applies when the car is off, and releases automatically when the accelerator is pressed. The driver can operate the Electric Parking Brake manually through a control lever in the centre console. Additionally, Hill Start Assist can hold the vehicle for several seconds on slopes greater than three percent to help the driver prevent unwanted rollback.     
• Intelligent Beam Headlights use a camera on the windscreen to automatically switch between dipped and main beams when it detects an oncoming vehicle to allow it to pass safely.
• Rear Parking Sensors will warn the driver of obstacles when performing reversing manoeuvres. A Rear Camera is activated when reverse gear is engaged, providing a view behind the vehicle and warn the driver of possible obstacles via the 10.25-inch colour screen (where fitted).

Stylish By Design

Citroën's new brand signature debuts for the first time on a production car, with a large new oval logo featuring the newest interpretation of the Citroën ‘chevrons’. Standing taller and bolder, Citroën ë-C3 proudly introduces a new Citroën design language – first seen on the Citroën Oli concept vehicle – where its verticality contrasts with horizontal, technically sculpted surfaces.

At the front, the taller, more vertical face of the Citroën ë-C3 incorporates a large new oval ‘chevron’ logo that sits unashamed in the centre, and reinforced on each side by glossy black horizontal grilles that feature an eye-catching and technical interpretation of the iconic chevrons, inspired by architectural parametric designs.

A major element of the ë-C3 is the distinctive new design of the front and rear lights, which made its first appearence on the Citroën Oli concept vehicle, and which features a unique three-level lighting signature with one vertical and two horizontal lenses that look like blades.

The short, high, and horizontal bonnet incorporates sculpted surfaces, which can catch the light and contrast with the more vertical front profile, feeding into a larger, more upright windscreen, and giving the car a feeling of more volume and accentuating the feeling of protection.

Within the side profile, front and rear technically sculpted undercut lines are visible, which flow through and across the car's beltline into the new signature lighting clusters and subtle creases in the door panels, all of which catch the light and enhance the visual interest.

The signature identity continues over to the rear with sharp technical sculpting in the lower part of the tailgate, above which rests a horizontal gloss black decorative strip that features the same chevron-inspired technical pattern that appears on the vertical front face, and flanks the large, centrally positioned new oval Citroën logo. New signature tail light clusters press into the vehicle's corners and are made up of two horizontal and one vertical lens, both echoing the distinctive look of the front clusters. Below the opening hatch, a strong bumper is squared off at the outer corners to aid aerodynamics and further heighten the tall, assertive stance of the car.  

Steel 16-inch wheels, and 17-inch steel or diamond-cut alloy wheels (the latter are standard on ‘PLUS’ and ‘MAX’ versions), are pushed out to the corners of the car, putting forward an aire of stability and solidity, yet the car retains a compact footprint at just 4.01m long and 1.76m wide.

Pierre Leclercq, Citroën Design Director, said: “We believe the all-new, all-electric Citroën ë-C3 is a game changer for the B-hatchback segment as we have listened to what attributes customers most appreciate in SUVs and incorporated the best benefits of these traits in the car’s taller, more purposeful styling. So, while it has a similar footprint in terms of length and width to its predecessor, we have made it 100mm taller for a greater feeling of strength and presence on the road, with the added bonuses of higher ground clearance and a higher seating position so drivers and passengers feel more comfortable riding over potholes, kerbs, and other obstacles on today’s city streets.”

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