Stellantis has fully presented the Citroen e-C3 electric crossover hatch – a pure European and a potential B-class bestseller.
The expansion of BYD, Nio, and other Chinese electric vehicle brands into Europe is making Volkswagen and other local automakers nervous, and is pushing EU governments toward a potential trade war with China. But sanctions are not the only thing – the Stellantis automaker expects to beat Chinese manufacturers on their own turf by offering more competitive models “not for all the money in the world.”
Citroen e-C3 is Stellantis’ new hope in the mass segment
Stellantis, which was formed in 2021 after the merger of the Italian-American Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the French PSA Group, has been actively investing in the electrification of its model range in previous years and is now preparing for an important event. This week, the French brand Citroen is launching pre-orders for the brand new e-C3 electric crossover hatchback starting at €23,300, which is currently one of the most affordable modern European electric cars, competing with the upcoming Renault 5, VW ID.2, and the $25,000 Tesla Model 2, which Musk has been promising for 10 years and is supposedly due out in 2024 (but let the Cybertruck come out first).
CEO Thierry Koskas called the Citroen e-C3 “the answer to Chinese expansion.” The company has high hopes for this model, hoping that in the current environment of high inflationary pressure, it will allow the brand to effectively compete not only with affordable Chinese electric vehicles, but also with other European brands (read: Volkswagen and Renault).
In response to the threatening competition from Chinese electric vehicle brands, the European Commission has opened an investigation into Beijing’s anti-competitive subsidies, which could eventually have far-reaching consequences and result in a trade war between the EU and China, similar to the confrontation between the US and China.
As for Citroen’s competition with Volkswagen and Renault, the former last week announced the forced layoffs of temporary workers and reduced shifts at its German plants as orders in the third quarter fell short of expectations.
Meanwhile, Renault plans to reduce costs by 40% in the next generation of cars through its Ampere electric vehicle brand, although this plan has been postponed until 2024 amid insufficient demand for the Megane E-Tech crossover due to aggressive price cuts by Tesla and unfavorable market conditions in general.
What is special about the Citroen e-C3 and why has its time come long ago?
For several years now, Renault has been selling its Dacia Spring as the most affordable electric car in Europe, with prices starting at €20,800 in France. Unlike the Renault Dacia Spring, which is manufactured in China’s Hubei province, the new Citroen e-C3 will be produced at the Stellantis plant in Trnava, Slovakia, and is currently the most affordable electric vehicle produced in the region. And the fourth generation of the popular model undoubtedly has a good chance of success, given its 11% share of the European B-class market in 2022.
In terms of design, the Citroen e-C3 definitely borrows some elements from the Citroen Oli concept car and overall features much more sharp angles and clean lines than previous Citroen models with more voluminous and smoothed out shapes. These changes were initiated by Citroen’s chief designer Pierre Leclerc last year, with the updated C5 Aircross being the first to receive a more expressive exterior.
In addition, the new e-C3 is the first to feature the new old Citroen logo (the return to the oval emblem with a double chevron inside it follows and echoes Citroen branding over many decades of the brand’s 100+ year history). Earlier, Leclerc said that although the new logo looks like the original one from 1919, the designers had to work hard on proportions and polishing the details.
The Citroen e-C3 is based on the new Smart electric platform (not to be confused with the Mercedes-Benz Group and Geely brand), with which Stellantis is targeting primarily emerging markets such as India and South America.
In fact, the new e-C3 shares many components with the C3 “CC21” (it is much more boxy and crossover than the previous European-spec C3) available in these markets. But despite some of the characteristic features of crossovers, such as increased ground clearance (163 mm – the level of compact crossovers), the Citroen e-C3 is a five-door hatchback and not a replacement for the C3 Aircross – the popular crossover is next in line for an update.
Specifications and features
- Electric motor + transmission + dynamics: a single motor (front-wheel drive) with a capacity of 113 hp (83 kW) provides decent acceleration dynamics in this class: 0 to 100 km/h in 11 seconds and 135 km/h max.
- Battery + charging: lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) battery with a capacity of 44 kWh. On a single charge, the baby can cover about 320 km (according to the milder WLTP measurement cycle). Charging with a capacity of up to 100 kW is supported – in this case, the battery is charged from 20% to 80% in 26 minutes.
- Overall dimensions: length – 4010 mm, width – 1760 mm, height – 1570 mm. Ground clearance is 163 mm. Trunk volume – 310 liters. Weight – 1316 kg.
The interior features ascetic minimalism combined with modern technology. Currently, the manufacturer has announced three e-C3 trim levels: basic You, mid-range Plus, and maximum Max. The base model has a suspension reinforced with hydraulic stops (Progressive Hydraulic Cushions), like the C5 Aircross, a new projection display instead of a traditional instrument cluster, six airbags, adaptive headlights, air conditioning, rear parking sensors, a built-in smartphone holder, and a package of safety and driver assistance features, including the Active Safety Brake emergency braking system.
The mid-range Plus trim adds new Advance Comfort seats, 17-inch alloy wheels (instead of 16-inch), a 10.25-inch touchscreen multimedia system in the center console with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic windshield wipers, split-folding rear seats, and a two-tone body paint option. Finally, the maximum equipment includes LED headlights, tinted rear windows, cruise control, power rear windows, a wireless charging pad, and a rearview camera that transmits images to the center screen.
Availability and a version cheaper than €20 thousand.
Citroen plans to ship the first e-C3 to customers in the second quarter of 2024.
In France, the Citroen e-C3 is covered by a new electric vehicle leasing subsidy program initiated by current President Emmanuel Macron – “only €100 per month”. At the same time, Citroen plans to release a more affordable version in 2025, with a range of 200 km and a price of €19,990.
