Citroën’s best seller in South Africa, the C3, has landed on local shores in a new guise. For starters, only the entry-level Feel model will be available with the higher grade, more powerful and automatic version joining in later.
What’s new?
Although the underpinning and drivetrain are the same as the outgoing C3, the big change is in the way it looks in what could best be described as a move to be a crossover, rather than the outgoing model’s hatchback approach. The big news is that you can jazz up your C3 with different style packages for the exterior and interior.
Exterior:
The new C3’s body resembles that of other smaller sized crossover/SUV-type of vehicles. The body is a more rugged sculpture in typical SUV fashion, and with the higher ground clearance of 180 mm it looks the part of a proper crossover. This is in contrast to the outgoing models’ sleeker design with smooth lines.
From the front, the new look includes the ‘Y’-form lighting signature and traditional chevrons located at the centre of the grille and a silver plate underneath in the front put the focus on the crossover character.
Interior:
Not only does a newly and more modern dash design draw the attention, but also new tech to make life easier for the driver and passengers.
Up front, there’s a 10-inch (26 cm) touchscreen, the largest in any hatch and the heart of the infotainment system. Bluetooth® for phone calls, enables Mirror Screen technology to duplicate functions of a wirelessly connected smartphone.
The driver also gets a new 7-inch (17.8 cm), colour TFT cluster screen with up to 6 modes for displaying vehicle information, as well as options to monitor trip computer, fuel consumption and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System to aid eco driving. Settings and colour schemes can be configured to the driver’s preferences using toggle controls on the tilt-adjustable steering wheel.
The seating position is higher than before, with increased head- and legroom and a bigger boot.
Engine:
Citroën’s familiar three-pot 1200-petrol engine is used, without the turbo or six speeds automatic gearbox in this model. A five-speed manual is used. The engine delivers 61 kW and 115 Nm of torque.
Price:
The new Citroën C3 costs R229 900, and the price of the other models in the range, which are arriving later, has not yet been finalised.
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Toyota has added the Corolla Cross GR-S to its local line-up, a version that introduces sport-focused styling and adjustments to the driving experience. The Corolla Cross GR-S takes the established strengths of the Corolla Cross and adds styling, interior details, and suspension changes that set it apart from the rest of the line-up.
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