The new Citroën e-CE is a £23k electric supermini
The e-C3 is a significant launch for Citroën, as it marks the company's entry into the affordable electric car market
Citroën is set to launch its new e-C3 electric car in the UK early next year, with a starting price of under £23,000. It will have a claimed range of 199 miles from its 44kWh battery, with a cheaper 124kWh model to follow.
Performance comes from a front-mounted electric motor that produces 112bhp, enough to accelerate the car from 0 to 62mph in around 11 seconds, before reaching its top speed of 84mph.
In terms of design, the e-C3 has a crossover-like look, with a relatively high ride height, black wheel arch extensions and a chunky upright stance. It also adopts the firm’s newly redesigned and retro-inspired logo which was unveiled earlier this year.
The new interior design of the e-C3 is a significant departure from conventional setups. It features a simple approach, doing away with the traditional instrument binnacle or LCD screens. Instead, it incorporates a compact head-up display, which provides essential information, such as speed and range, and is accompanied by a newly shaped, almost squarish- designed steering wheel.
The top portion of the dashboard meanwhile houses a dedicated 10-inch touchscreen solely for the infotainment system, while Citroen has kept distinct heating and ventilation controls positioned lower down.
UK models will be available in three trim lines: You!Plus, and Max, though all will come with cruise control, air-conditioning, rear parking sensors, LED headlights and automatic autonomous braking as standard.
In addition to the all-electric versions, there will be a petrol-powered variant, though Citroen remains tight-lipped on its specifications for now.
The e-C3 is a significant launch for Citroën, as it marks the company's entry into the affordable electric car market. It is also the first electric car to be built on the company’s new 'smart car' platform, which places the car's LFP (lithium ferro phosphate) battery pack underneath the rear seats.