Citroën is renewing its best-selling C3 model, which has already sold more than 3.6 million examples since it was originally launched in 2002.  There’s also a world premiere for ConnectedCAM Citroën, an on-board HD camera that allows drivers to share their road-trip photos and videos.

The exterior has a two-tone paint option, with a choice of three roof colours and complimentary touches of colour around the car (fog lights, door mirrors, rear quarter panels and on the Airbump panels). Inside, customers have a choice of four different interior designs.

The Citroën Advanced Comfort programme has influenced the creation of the new C3. According to Citroën, comfortable seats, a panoramic glass sunroof that fills the cabin with light, colours and fabrics inspired by travel and home interior design, a 7-inch touchscreen that groups together all of the key vehicle functions and a keyless entry and start system, all combine to emphasise a feeling of reassurance, comfort and calm.

ConnectedCAM Citroën uses a fully integrated camera, located behind the rear view mirror, to capture images and video that can instantly be shared on social media channels, or saved as evidence in the event of an accident. The new Citroën C3 also offers optionally an advanced driver assistance system including voice controlled 3D navigation, a reversing camera, lane departure warning and blind-spot monitoring. Finally, the PureTech petrol and BlueHDi Diesel engines and the latest generation EAT6 fully automatic gearbox available are as part of the range.

Citroën CEO, Linda Jackson, said; “The New C3 has all the Citroën values and all the qualities to give the brand new impetus, which is especially important as the previous model accounted for almost one in five sales in Europe. A comfortable car with real personality, it is set to appeal to new customers looking for a modern car with character.”

Xavier Peugeot, Citroën Product Director, added; “With its unique body style, personalised features and connectivity, New C3 is a bold, fresh, modern car. It illustrates the ongoing Citroën product offensive.”

The new C3 features the two-tier front light signature synonymous with Citroën. Double chrome strips extend from the chevrons and go all the way across to the LED daytime running lights. The protective front bumper blends into the rest of the bodywork to enhance the sense of height and width at the front for what Citroën calls a ‘go-anywhere’ look and feel.

The Airbump panels (air-filled bumps with a scratch-proof surface, as seen on C4 Cactus) are a Citroën signature feature. The thermoplastic polyurethane material used in the Airbump panels resists everyday degradation, protecting them from sunlight, water, scratches etc. Each panel positions a line of air-filled bumps at the bottom of the doors to protect the most vulnerable areas of the car in the urban environment. The Airbump® panels also have a white or red graphic motif, depending on the version.

Citroën says its designers drew inspiration from travel and home interior design to create an interior that aims to feel like an extension of the driver’s home and the C3’s interior design principles focus on delivering uncluttered space. The perception of space is heightened by the horizontal dashboard, which runs across the whole width of the vehicle.

The customer has a choice of finishes inside the cabin. Some elements can be painted, wrapped with textile or TEP lining and finished with chrome or coloured touches.

According to Citroën, the new C3 is the first model of its type to offer such an extensive and coherent range of personalisation options and two-tone exterior colour schemes. With a total of nine body colours (Polar White, Perla Nera Black, Shark Grey, Arctic Steel, Ruby Red, Almond Green, Cobalt Blue, Power Orange and Soft Sand) and three roof colours (Opal White, Onyx Black and Sport Red), there are a total of 36 possible combinations.

The exterior offers a range of two-tone paint options, with the three roof colours accompanied by matching touches around the car (fog lights, door mirrors, rear quarter panels and on the Airbump panels).

The Citroën Advanced Comfort programme was influential in the design of the new C3, to offer drivers and passengers a feeling of well-being. The emphasis  starts with the comfortable seats, the panoramic sunroof and the generous space and storage compartments throughout the cabin. For physical comfort, there is 2cm more shoulder width than in the previous model and the shape and position of the front seats is designed to provide visibility for the rear passengers.

The ConnectedCAM Citroën is making its first appearance in the new C3. It is a connected camera  with GPS and a 16GB internal memory. Positioned just behind the rear-view mirror, it records what the driver sees for two main purposes;

1.     The driver can click a button to safely take photos as keepsakes or for instant sharing on social media. A longer press of the button captures video for up to 20 seconds, which can then be shared once the car is stationary.

2.     In the event of a vehicle collision, the video system switches on automatically. The video can run for up to 1½ minutes (30 seconds before and 60 after the incident).

There are two manual Diesel powertrains: BlueHDi 75 (Stop & Start) and 100 (Stop & Start).