Citroen C3 2004 News

Citroen’s third-generation C3 five-door hatch has been officially revealed a day after images of the car were leaked online.

Get the sunscreen out because Citroen has the answer for all those sun-worshippers. A panoramic windscreen will be standard on the new C3 when it lobs in Australia in 12 months. The French carmaker has borrowed the panorama windscreen idea from its C4 Picasso people mover, called the Zenith, and given the new C3 an expansive view of the world. Combined with slimmer A-pillars, the exceptionally long windscreen expands the front occupants’ field of vision by up to 80 per cent. But those worried about excessive glare need not worry. The glass has a progressive tint that smooths the transition from the clear frontal view to providing sun protection from above. Like the Picasso, large visors can be flipped forward to block out the sun. A five-door will arrive first in Europe with a coupe and Pluriel convertibles planned. Ateco Automotive Pty Ltd spokesman, Edward Rowe, says it is too early to talk specifications or pricing for the new five-door hatch but he expects it to be competitive. Pricing and drivetrains Pricing is tipped to be close to the current car, around $23,990. Australia is expected to get a range of four-cylinder petrol and HDi diesel units but is unlikely to get the newer frugal three-cylinder engines planned for Europe that emit less than 100g/km of CO2. "These cars are designed for tax regimes that do not exist in Australia," Rowe says. Appearance and fit-out On the outside, the C3 adopts an evolutionary approach to its design but borrows some cues from the DS Concept hatch. It gets a flatter roofline, more pronounced grille and headlight treatment. Inside the trim moves up a notch in quality, with new materials like a thermo-coated colour dash, highlighted with grey or gloss brushed aluminium and chrome detailing. In Europe, the C3 five-door hatch is one of the most compact vehicles in its segment. At 3940mm long, the new car is 90mm longer while width has grown 43mm while luggage space remains around 300 litres. Citroen has managed to keep the C3's weight the same as the outgoing model while its turning circle has been reduced from 10.7m to 10.2m. Equipment Other fuel-saving features are second-generation stop-start systems, plus new five and six-speed electronic gearboxes. In-car features include USB connectivity, iPod compatibility, Bluetooth and satellite navigation on high-end European versions. Citroen has sold more than 2 million C3s globally but apart from Citroen fans here, the car has not sold in strong numbers locally. Last year, just 423 were sold, against a 2007 figure of 696. The current 1.6-litre HDi turbo diesel has hybrid busting fuel economy of 4.4 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of just 120g/km.  

Mini people movers are expected to be the ‘next big thing’ in Europe but don't expect the trend to cross continents. Citroen's C3 Picasso has won major awards in Europe and is set to outsell a host of rivals including the Fiat Idea, Opel/Vauxhall Meriva, Ford Fusion and Nissan Note. But Australian importers Ateco Automotive has gone quiet on a local launch for the baby Picasso. The main problem, says Ateco spokesman Edward Rowe, is the lack of a self-shifting gearbox. Australians increasingly demand automatics and at the moment, Citroen can't supply one. But, says Rowe, there could be hope when Citroen starts its next generation C3, expected late next year. If the new C3 comes with an automatic gearbox, Mr Rowe believes the Picasso variant will make a sensible addition to the marque's Australian lineup. "The mini people mover market is big in Europe, and expected to get bigger, not only because of traffic congestion issues but because they attract a lower tax. "Australia doesn't have that incentive so people ill buy it for different reasons. There is also no rival for the C3 Picasso in Australia so we would be creating our own segment, if you like." The only thing close to the C3 Picasso would be the recently-released Kia Soul. Based on global needs for a space-efficient, frugal and affordable family car, the C3 Picasso looks good on paper. Citroen says it "unites the parallels of cubes and curves" to combine the character of an MPV and hatchback. At 500-litres, its boot is one of the biggest in the business. The split rear seats can fold flat and independently slide forwards. Drop the seats down and luggage space grows to 1506 litres to carry loads up to 2.4m long. Europe sells three trim levels — the entry-level VT; the more upmarket VTR+ that adds airconditioning and alloy wheels; and the Exclusive that gets more luxurious trim plus practical features including a flat-folding front passenger seat and a removable boot light torch. The C3 Picasso, which went on sale in the UK last week, is available with a choice of two petrol engines — co-developed with BMW — the VTi 95 and VTi 120 and two HDi diesels — the HDi 90 and HDi 110 DPFS. Safety starts with ABS brakes with EBD and brakes assist, up to six airbags, Isofix anchor points and a seatbelt monitor system. Electronic stability control with a traction control system is optional.  

The C2 is largely overlooked as smaller-car buyers desiring the chevron badge grab the C3 model instead. The C2 sells only a fraction of the number of the C3 in Australia. After all, each starts at the same $19,990 price and it takes further study to discover the C2 is the better equipped of the two at this entry price. The C2 in the $19,990 VTR trim, for example, includes alloy wheels, climate-control airconditioning, fog lamps, sequential shift automatic transmission and leather-trim steering wheel, which the standard C3 does not. The face-lifted C2 has been revealed in Europe, where nearly 500,000 have been sold in five years. It's picked by a new radiator grille and surround and new front bumper. At present the C2 is sold in Australia only with 1.6-litre petrol engines of 83kW and 90kW power, making them slightly higher tuned than the 80kW base C3. Any diesel engine for the C2 has not been confirmed for Australia but in Europe it offers a 1.6 diesel delivering fuel economy of 4.4 litres/100km. The C2 shares the same platform as the C3 but is 18cm shorter at 3666mm, 6cm lower at 1461mm and on a 14cm tighter wheelbase at 2315mm. It is designed for only two rear passengers but each gets an individual seat that slides forward and back depending on whether priority is for rear legroom or luggage space. Citroen Australia says the updated C2 is due here early next year.  

The baby-car world was dominated by a single star through the 1990s.The Hyundai Excel was the benchmark for every rival – on price, style and sales – until the death of the Korean king led to a fundamental shift in the noughties.Now the lightweight division is split down the middle and there are two separate contests: one powered by price, the other by class. In the price group are people buying their first new car, usually on a tight budget with less emphasis on features, and the class group wants a compact car for city work or as a second vehicle in the family garage.The bargain-basement contenders are battling in the sub-$15,000 range, just as they did when the Excel was the pacemaker, while the starting price for seriously good babies is close to $17,000 and can run to well beyond $20,000.Toyota changed the game last year when it decided to lob its baby Echo with a sub-$15,000 bottom line including power steering and airconditioning.Although the price has crept up to $14,790, it is still the sales leader. In the first quarter of this year Echo grabbed more than 20 per cent of light-car sales, reflecting the strength of the Toyota brand...despite the design being five years old.Hyundai is still playing the price game with the boxy little Getz. It's second to the Echo in the price fight and leading the Korean contenders against a line-up which includes a broad range of imports, including the Holden-badged but Opel-designed Barina.At the top end of the business, the Japanese really are on top. The classy Mazda2 and Honda Jazz set the standard for shoppers with plenty of cash to splash, even if Ford has arrived – far too late after the loss of its top-selling Korean-made Festiva – with a European Fiesta which is the light star of 2004.The $14,490 starting price for the Fiesta is going to create plenty of action in Ford showrooms, because the blue-oval baby is a good drive and well designed. But buyers will still have to add $2000 for airconditioning – a crippling extra in such a price-sensitive arena.But that's typical of the light-car class.There is always something new, always a price leader and a class champion, and they're all elbowing for space in a bargain basement that introduces many people to their first new car.This is how the Cars Guide team rates them:1. MAZDA2Lowdown: Five-door hatch with 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 82kW and priced from $17,490.Verdict: Another direct hit by MazdaPlus: Quality and comfortMinus: Pricey for the sizeRating: 18/20The baby Mazda is one of the stars of the Japanese company's product-driven comeback.Mazda battled through the 1990s with outdated and cost-down cars that were a poor reflection of the brand's traditional strengths, but when it got serious – with Ford funding – it cranked out the classy Mazda6, RX-8 and Mazda3.The smallest of the crop is the Mazda2, but it has the condensed strengths from the same design team and gene pool.That means it looks good, drives well and is built to class-leader quality.2. HONDA JAZZLowdown: Five-door hatch with 1.3-litre (61kW) or 1.5-litre (81kW) four-cylinder engine, priced from $15,990Verdict: Stylish and practical but harsh ridePlus: Good looks, versatile cabinMinus: Bouncy rideRating: 17/20The Jazz outsold the Mazda2 by 1280 in the first four months of 2004, and that comes down to price and funky looks.It's really a 21st-century Civic, as compact as the original and just as trendy for young buyers.Honda was smart to start with a 1.3-litre motor below $16,000, but doesn't scrimp on the cabin. It's comfortable for four and the seats fold to carry almost any load.People who want the best go straight to the punchy VTi-S with all the fruit for $22,490.3. FORD FIESTALowdown: Three-door and five-door hatch powered by a 74kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, from $14,490Verdict: Perky and enjoyablePlus: Goes well, roomy insideMinus: Cheap-ish plastics, finishRating: 16/20Ford went backwards with the Ka, which didn't have the space or automatic to compete, but it now has the right sales ingredients.The Fiesta is a star in Europe and way better than the long-dead Festiva, a Korean version of the previous Mazda 121.It drives well, has plenty of space and is good value, thanks partly to the strength of the Australian dollar.The Fiesta just edges the Toyota Echo and the Hyundai Getz out of the final medal spot in the light-car class.HYUNDAI GETZ 16/20Price: From $13,490Engines: 1.3-litre (60kW) and 1.5-litre (74kW)Body styles: Three-door hatch and five-door hatchNot an Excel, but still packed with Hyundai strengths.TOYOTA ECHO 16/20Price: From $14,740Engines: 1.3-litre (63kW) and 1.5-litre (80kW)Body styles: Three-door hatch and five-door sedan.Shows age inside, but Toyota has done well to keep the price sharp.HOLDEN BARINA 16/20Price: From $15,990Engines: 1.4-litre (66kW) and 1.8-litre (92kW)Body styles: Three-door and five-doorLooks good and drives well, with bonus deal adding appeal. CITROEN C3 14/20Price: From $19,990Engines: 1.4-litre (57kW) and 1.6-litre (83kW)Body styles: Five-door hatchOne of the funkiest babies on sale in Australia. The engine is dozy and there are some quality niggles.RENAULT CLIO 14/20Price: From $19,990Engines: 1.4-litre (72kW), 1.6-litre (79kW) and 2.0-litre (124kW)Body styles: sedan and hatchNot as trendy as the bigger Megane with the J.Lo rump, but still a solid effort from the French brand.VOLKSWAGEN POLO 14/20Price: From $19,990Engines: 1.4-litre (55kW)Body styles: hatchToo costly by far. The Polo is a nice car but smaller than many rivals, and Volkswagen doesn't do enough in Australia to compensate.PEUGEOT 206 13/20Price: From $19,990Engines: 1.4-litre, 1.6-litre (80kW) and 1.8-litre (100kW and 130kW)Body styles: hatchLIKE the C3, the Peugeot is too much and too little. The price is too high and the cabin too cramped.SMART FORTWO 13/20Price: From $21,900Engines: 0.7-litre (45kW)Body styles: Two-door coupeThe smallest and trendiest of the light cars is a phonebox-on-wheels that will only be bought by the trendiest shoppers.DAEWOO KALOS 12/20Price: From $14,990Engines: 1.5-litre (62kW)Body styles: Three-door hatch, five-door sedanA good Korean effort – compact and good-looking but trails in refinement and design.MITSUBISHI MIRAGE 12/20Price: From $15,990Engines: 1.5-litre (69kW)Body styles: Three-door hatchMitsubishi has kept the price competitive, the body is still stylish, and there is potential to add some Evo-style body bits.DAIHATSU SIRION 10/20Price: From $13,250Engines: 1.0-litre (40kW)Body styles: Five-door hatchbackThe Sirion is the best of the Daihatsu contenders, with a roomy cabin and passable power, but it is let down by the driving experience.DAIHATSU YRV 10/20Price: From $15,990Engines: 1.5-litre (40kW)Body styles: Five-door hatchThe funk leader in the D-brand line-up shows what's missing from the mix, with clunky controls and sub-standard driving dynamics.KIA RIO 9/20Price: From $14,990Engines: 1.5-litre (71kW)Body styles: Four-door sedan or five-door wagonThe wagon option gives it a unique selling point, but the sedan was one of the worst cars we drove last year.PROTON SATRIA 9/20Price: From $14,990Engines: 1.5-litre (64kW) and 1.8-litre (99kW)Body styles: Three-door hatch, five-door hatchAnother oldie that struggles to do anything but fill showroom space.SUZUKI IGNIS 9/20Price: From $14,990Engines: 1.3-litre (61kW) and 1.5-litre (83kW)Body styles: HatchThe baby box doesn't have enough of anything. Suzuki hasn't had enough cash to continue.DAIHATSU CHARADE 8/20Price: From $11,950Engines: 1.0-litre (40kW)Body styles: Five-door hatchThe great name is all that remains from one of the earliest bargain-basement stars. Today's Charade is cheap and unimpressive.