Next Citroën C3: ë-C3 electric promised under 25,000 euros

The next Citroën C3 will gain a fully electric variant called the ë-C3, with the manufacturer promising a price tag below 25,000 euros.

The news was shared by Thierry Koskas, Citroën’s Chief Executive Officer, in an interview with several specialist outlets.

"Citroën wants to make electric mobility accessible to everyone," Thierry Koskas said, as quoted by the French publication L’argus.

With that pricing target in view, Citroën is clear about who it expects to face. Renault and Volkswagen have already stated that the R5 (2024) and the ID.2 (2025), respectively, will also start at around 25,000 euros.

It is also worth remembering that Dacia already sells a more affordable all-electric model: the Spring. In Portugal, prices start at 20,400 euros.

Even so, the Citroën ë-C3 will sit a class above. It will be larger - at roughly 4.0 m long, while the Spring measures 3.73 m - and it is expected to arrive with more equipment. "It will have absolutely all the equipment required for a B-segment car," Thierry Koskas assured.

More than 300 km of range

Citroën has not yet released the technical specifications for the new ë-C3, but in this interview the French brand’s boss confirmed that the electric model will deliver a range of more than 300 km. That again separates it from Dacia’s offering, which claims 230 km of range in the 45 cv version.

Although it has not been officially confirmed, it is safe to say the Citroën ë-C3 will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. These are cheaper than traditional lithium-ion packs (NMC, or nickel, manganese and cobalt), although they are known for having a lower energy density.

Closely related to the C3 that Citroën unveiled last year for India and South America, the new ë-C3 is expected to be based on an updated version of Stellantis’ CMF-B platform.

It will be built in Slovakia, at the Trnava plant, where the future C3 Aircross and Opel Crossland will also be produced in 2024.

Styling inspired by the Oli

The new ë-C3 is set to kick off a shift within Citroën, putting the French brand firmly on the path towards mass-market, affordable all-electric models.

However, it will not stand out on price alone. It should also draw on many of the styling ideas showcased by the Oli - a prototype we even drove on Portuguese roads. You can watch or rewatch that video here:

As a result, you can expect a youthful, fun look, in keeping with what the Citroën C3 has long delivered. The surfaces should be straighter than on the current model, and it should feature elements more commonly associated with crossovers and SUVs, particularly around the bumpers and the wheel arches.

When will it arrive?

The new Citroën ë-C3 will be unveiled to the world later this year, in October, but the first cars will only reach the roads in early 2024.

Source: L’argus

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