The new Citroën C3 officially goes on sale in the UK on Tuesday 3 January 2017, although order books are already open and cars are now on display in Citroën showrooms.

A TV advertising campaign begins on Boxing Day. Citroën says its updated supermini brings new levels of advanced comfort, the latest technologies and an array of personalisation options to its sector. Diesel prices start at £13,295 for the 92g/km BlueHDi 75 S&S manual in base Touch trim.

With three roof colours to choose from, and a total of nine body colours, the new C3 provides a total of 36 exterior colour combinations. The deliberately high bonnet line and purposeful wheel arch extensions are designed to give the new C3 a crossover character.

The new Citroën C3’s signature Airbump panels guard against everyday dents and scrapes. The Airbump panels themselves, which are optional, can be specified with a white or red motif, depending on customer preference.

Citroën says the C3 takes inspiration from the worlds of travel and interior design. The customer has a choice of three interior finishes, including two optional upgrades – ‘Urban’ Red and ‘Hype’ Colorado. Each ambiance is designed to deliver a sense of harmony, expressed through the soft and welcoming textiles used throughout the cabin.

The Citroën Advanced Comfort programme has directly influenced the creation of the new C3, embracing the design of the seats and the panoramic glass sunroof that fills the car with natural light. The new C3 has one of the most spacious cabins in the supermini sector and provides 22mm more rear legroom than the previous model, as well as a 300-litre boot. The door pockets are finished with a light colour, designed to make it easier to find items like keys or a mobile phone in poor light.

The ConnectedCAM Citroën technology makes its first appearance in new C3. Featuring a wide-angle HD camera (positioned just behind the rear-view mirror), GPS technology and a 128GB memory, it has two main functions. ConnectedCAM Citroën can be used to safely take photos or videos that can be instantly shared via social media using a free app. It also operates as a conventional dashcam in the event of an on-road incident.

With GPS as part of ConnectedCAM Citroën, the driver can also locate the vehicle when it has been parked in an unfamiliar location.

The new Citroën C3 also features a 7-inch colour touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard that provides access to all of the main vehicle controls, including CitroënConnect Nav. This latest-generation navigation system is both touch and voice activated. Not only does it access connected services such as TomTom Traffic to provide live traffic updates, but it can also highlight known accident blackspots, enhancing safety as well as convenience.

The new car also features MirrorLink and Apple CarPlay, a reversing camera and hill-start assist. Technologies for safety include a lane departure warning system, blind-spot monitoring and a driver attention alert.

The new C3 comes with a choice of PureTech petrol and BlueHDi Diesel engines. There are two diesel powertrains: BlueHDi 75 (Stop & Start) and 100 (Stop & Start).

More than 3.6 million examples have been sold globally since the first-generation C3 was launched in 2002, including 200,000 in the UK alone.