The New Citroen E-C3 – Affordable EV Motoring

One of the biggest barriers to EV ownership is cost and with that in mind, Citroen has just released more details about its forthcoming e-C3. The big news is the pricing, with the very reasonable sum of just £21,990 being required to put one on your driveway. Orders open in July, should the car appeal.

New C3 is also available with an efficient petrol engine, the PureTech 100 S&S 6-speed manual, available in PLUS trim only. A self-charging hybrid will complete the range by the end of 2024. Price from £17,790.

New C3 displays the brand’s new design identity and logo, with a redesigned front end featuring an elegant new lighting signature with LED headlights as standard, along with 17-inch diamond-cut bi-tone alloy wheels.

Also standard are the black wheel arch extensions, front and rear skid plates and a two-tone roof with roof rails. New C3 will be available in six colours: Polar White, Monte Carlo Blue, Mercury Grey. Perla Nera Black, Bright Blue, and Elixir Red. New C3 also comes with stylish exterior colour clips, available in Infra Red, Yellow Lemon and White.

New ë-C3 is available in two trim levels, PLUS and MAX. PLUS versions feature a new 10-inch central touchscreen to enhance functionality and enable wireless smartphone mirroring compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It offers natural voice recognition, transforming this media system into a helpful personal assistant.

All versions also feature Advanced Comfort front seats and Advanced Comfort suspension to provide drivers and passengers with a supremely comfortable ride and relaxing driving experience. New C3 is available with a one-year free subscription to 'Citroën Connect PLUS' services featuring automatic data connection via 'Citroën Connect Box' emergency and assistance system.

New C3 offers numerous driving aids to provide safe and serene driving. These include advanced safety technologies video-based active safety brake, Active Lane Departure Warning System, speed limit detection and recommendation, driver attention alert, hill start assist, cruise control, and a speed limiter.

On top of the extensive features offered in PLUS versions, New ë-C3 MAX variants offer a rear parking camera, automatic air conditioning, LED rear lights, dark-tinted windows, as well as a heated steering wheel, heated windscreen, and heated front seats. MAX versions offer even more connectivity for drivers with real-time traffic updates and speed camera awareness, through 'Citroën Connect PLUS' services.

New ë-C3 is the first model from Stellantis to feature the new and cost-efficient 'BEV-focused' ‘Smart Car’ platform using a 44kWh LFP (Lithium Ferro Phosphate) battery pack to deliver up to 199 miles of driving range(WLTP combined cycle) providing smooth all-electric performance.

Standard AC fast charging from 20% to 80% takes around four hours and 10 minutes using a 7.4kW charger, or two hours and 50 minutes with the optional 11kW on-board charger. The 100kW DC rapid charging capabilities allow charging from 20% to 80% in as little as 26 minutes.

With its 113hp (83kW) electric motor and automatic transmission accelerating the car from 0-62mph in around 11 seconds, and with a provisional top speed of 84mph, New ë-C3 delivers more than enough performance to deal with everyday driving, particularly in urban and suburban environments.

Owners will also be able to plan journeys, as well as monitor their charging status and battery level in real time, and enjoy a complete navigation experience, thanks to the new e-ROUTES app. This app is specifically for Citroën electric vehicles as part of the brand’s ‘Connect Plus’ connected services subscription.

Using the MyCitroën smartphone app, New ë-C3 drivers will be able to manage charging schedules, check the battery level and location, as well as precondition the cabin of MAX versions.

A first drive report will be coming very soon.