India-bound Citroen C3 Production Commences In Brazil

• Citroen C3 production has commenced in Brazil.
• It will be Citroen’s first mass market car in India.
• Gets features like a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, manual air-con, and steering mounted audio control.
• Expected to get 1.2-litre NA and turbo-petrol engine options.
• Prices are likely to start from Rs 5.5 lakh when it goes on sale.

Citroen has commenced production of the soon-to-be-launched C3 hatchback in Porto Real, Brazil. The C3 is Citroen’s entry-level offering and competes with hotcakes like the Tata Punch, Maruti Suzuki Swift, and Nissan Magnite to name a few. In fact, during its unveiling, Citroen said it will boast impressive space and practicality, but that is something we can confirm once we get our hands on the car. 

What we can comment on though is its styling, which is funky and catchy. Elements like the sleek grille, split-LED headlights, and colour coordinated bits scream Citroen. Body cladding all around the body adds a dash of ruggedness. That said, the rear-end is simple, in contrast, with square-shaped LED tail lights and a not-so-flashy tailgate. 

Improving the overall appeal of the SUV though is the ability to mix and match different roof and body colour options. 

Inside, the C3 gets a dashboard with all the controls that seem to be positioned at the right places. But elements like the quirky-looking AC vents and colour-coordinated bits give it a dash of funkiness to the overall theme. Ooh, and about practicality, the C3 gets a 315-litre boot, a 1-litre glove box, two 2-litre door pockets up front, a 1-litre door pocket at the rear, a storage compartment in the centre console, and cup holders. 

Notable features in the C3 include a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, steering-mounted controls, three USB sockets, a 12V socket, and a smartphone clamp. Passenger safety should include dual airbags, ABS with EBD, and rear parking sensors.  

In India, the C3 is expected to get 1.2-litre naturally aspirated and turbo-petrol engine options, paired with manual and automatic transmission.  

Citroen will locally manufacture the C3 at its Thiruvallur plant in Chennai. And once it goes on sale by mid-2022, we expect it to be priced from Rs 5.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom).