TESTED 20.5.24, BURGENLAND, AUSTRIA ON SALE NOVEMBER PRICE £21,990 (EST)
For a car that is now entering its fourth generation and has racked up 5.6 million sales over the past 22 years, the Citroën C3 is remarkably short of a noteworthy model in its history. Try Googling the Mk2, in particular, to see if it rings any bells.
The C3 is a bit like the Nissan Micra in that regard: a notable name that has achieved real longevity yet has never been associated with a particularly memorable model.
Perhaps no more, because the C3 badge is at last being used on a car with a real story attached: an EV called the ë-C3 that has a meaningful range of 200 miles and, at less than £22,000, is considerably cheaper than its electric supermini rivals. Could this be a watershed moment in the evolution of the EV?
Key to that cost parity is the fact that the new C3 is underpinned by Stellantis's new Smart Car platform (no, not that one), which is built according to the same philosophy as one used to underpin ultra-low-cost Citroën models sold in emerging markets such as India and Latin America.
It was created using what is unsympathetically called 'destructive cost engineering' essentially, building an entry level version of a car that can be scaled up and enhanced, rather than optimising the platform for a more expensive car that can then be stripped back.
It's built differently, its parts are sourced differently (meaning relationships with suppliers are then different) and it results in a far less complicated car. Indeed, in the case of the C3, there are 30% fewer parts than before.
The Smart Car platform was conceived primarily as one for front-wheel-drive EVs, yet it can also be fitted with combustion engines (like Stellantis's new STLA family of platforms for larger models).
Esta historia es de la edición May 29, 2024 de Autocar UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 29, 2024 de Autocar UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
MG 4
An EV changes your driving style - but not to the detriment of pleasure
PEUGEOT E-208
Time with our French hatch is up. Is it good riddance or au revoir?
In the hot seat
Is the best automotive job in the world actually in miniature scale? Hot Wheels' design boss assures STEPHEN DOBIE it is
Correcting the record
Autocar invented the road test back in 1928 - or did we? KEITH JONES trawls the past to find the true starting point
Road test rebooted
As the Autocar road test forges into its second century, its brief is expanding and it's returning to a familiar place. MATT SAUNDERS explains
Cyber attack
MG is back on the international stage and now trying to return to its sports car roots. MATT SAUNDERS sees if the Cyberster EV can match up to a rival from the present and a relation from the past
KIA PICANTO
As rivals fall by the wayside, Kia's popular city car gets a makeover
MASERATI GRANTURISMO
Latest coupé in a long line of Maserati GT cars hits the UK with V6 power
PORSCHE CAYENNE GTS COUPE
New V8 model gets all the goodies
TOYOTA PRIUS
Back by popular demand with a cool new look and greater driver appeal