Citroën is challenging the rules of B-segment city cars with the new e-C3, an electric car with a competitive price and design inspired by the Oli concept car created by the team led by Pierre Leclerq. The fourth generation Citroën C3, destined mainly for the European market, has been completely reinvented with an innovative and bold look that embodies the brand’s new, bold identity. “We have analysed and taken into account the features most valued by customers in SUVs, such as the high driving position, space and robustness, and incorporated them into a tall, bold styling. Although it has a similar footprint, in terms of length and width, to the previous model, we have made it taller, to give a greater feeling of strength and presence on the road, and the raised ride allows the driver and passengers to feel more comfortable,” said Pierre Leclercq, Citroën design chief.
The taller, more upright front incorporates a new large oval logo, placed in the centre and emphasised on each side by glossy black horizontal grids presenting a technical and fun interpretation of the historic logo, inspired by architectural drawings and parameters. Another important element is the distinctive new design of the front and rear headlamps, first seen on the Oli concept, which features a three-tier light signature with a vertical bar and two horizontal, almost blade-like bars. The short, high, horizontal bonnet features sculpted surfaces that catch the light and contrast with the more vertical front profile, which flows into a wide windscreen, giving the car greater volume and visibility and accentuating the feeling of protection.
Ensuring optimal comfort and a serene environment for all occupants were clear priorities for the design team. New is the concept of the ‘C-Zen lounge’, an innovative, spacious and well-equipped cabin that reinvents the traditional dashboard. The driver and front passenger enjoy a very wide, unobstructed view in front, as if looking through a large arch, thanks to the large windscreen and the horizontal dashboard that graphically stretches across the entire vehicle. The dashboard is divided into two distinct levels, with the technical elements at the top and a cosy section covered in a fabric inspired by sofas and called ‘Sofa Design’ at the bottom. A real novelty is the absence of a traditional instrument panel. The ë-C3 adopts for the first time the new Citroën Head-Up Display, which reflects vehicle information on a glossy black section between the upper part of the dashboard and the lower part of the windscreen.
