One of the first images of the new Citroën C3 Aircross © Citroën
Citroën has just presented its new electric city car ë-C3, rival of the Dacia Spring, and which, like it, is inspired by SUVs. It sports a fairly cubic and raised style and is adorned with plastic body protections. However, Citroën’s true city SUV, the C3 Aircross launched in 2017, will indeed have descendants.
Thus, some images of its successor were revealed at the end of the presentation of the new ë-C3 by Citroën. We learned on this occasion that it will offer a seven-seater version, as evidenced by the first teasers.
One of the first images of the new Citroën C3 Aircross © Citroën
Like the ë-C3, the next generation of C3 Aircross will in fact be derived from a basic model intended for emerging countries and in particular India; market where seven-seater city vehicles are common.
A low-cost electric SUV for 2024?
This new version of the C3 Aircross was launched earlier this year with petrol engines and measures 4.32 m long. Like the ë-C3, Citroën should carry out in-depth work to adapt it to the European market, both in terms of style, equipment and especially safety.
The emerging markets version of the Citroën C3 Aircross © Citroën
In Europe, this seven-seater offer in the B segment will be without competition, especially if the new C3 Aircross were to be launched here in the ë-C3 Aircross electric version, which could be the case. As with the new ë-C3, thermal versions should also be offered subsequently, all based on the Smart Car platform developed with the help of the Indian Tata Consulting.
Stellantis plans to use this platform for other models, mainly electric, in order to lower production costs. It is notably industrialized in Europe, in Slovakia, which will allow the electric models produced there to be eligible for the 2024 ecological bonus in France.
With its 44 kWh battery, the ë-C3 already reaches the maximum of what is currently possible with this platform, with an LFP battery, explains Renaud Tourte, head of the Smart Car program (source: Automotive News Europe). The city car announces 320 km of autonomy and we should therefore not expect better for the future ë-C3 Aircross, expected in 2024. Its price should however be very accessible, while the ë-C3 starts in France at only €23,300 excluding bonus (soon €19,990 with a smaller battery version).