Its official presentation is scheduled for October 17 of this year, but we will have to wait a little longer because it will go on sale at the beginning of next year in 2024. The model we are talking about is a new electric car that is directly focused on becoming the cheapest on the market, at least, within its category. A subcompact with a crossover appearance, somewhat inferior to a conventional SUV, which will reach 400 km of range and which promises to convince the ‘general public’, especially due to its low price.
We are talking about the new Citroën ë-C3, which will have little to do with the Citroën C3 that is sold today. Among other things, it will have an SUV appearance, with a body length of just over 4 meters, and a very different aesthetic than the current model. To give us an idea, its line will be very similar to the one shown in the renders that accompany this article, which is based on the Oli, a ‘concept car’ that Citroën recently showed. It will have at least two fully electric versions, but be careful because following Stellantis’ multi-energy strategy it will also be sold with a gasoline engine. and this configuration will be the cheapest of the Citroën C3 2024.
The cheapest electric car in its segment for less than €25,000 and a range of up to 400 km
The information available so far, which by the way comes directly from France, indicates that the Citroën ë-C3 will offer a fast charging system of up to 160 kW of direct current power. A very notable figure, especially since the cheapest version of the model is expected to have an electric motor with 82 HP of maximum power powered by a battery with 42 kWh of energy storage capacity. Already in this version, which will cost less than 25,000 euros according to the brand itself, it will offer about 300 km of range over the WLTP homologation cycle. Something more than what a city car needs, of course.
But there will also be another configuration with a 109 HP electric motor, which will be associated with a 50 kWh capacity battery. In this case, the range will go up to 400 km, although obviously at a higher price. And for those who want to have the cheapest version of the new Citroën C3 2024, in parallel to the electric versions sold as Citroën ë-C3, a version with the 1.2 PureTech engine with mild hybrid technology will also be marketed. That is a gasoline variant with an ECO label from the DGT that, of course, can make things difficult for the Dacia Sandero and other low-cost models already available.
The Citroën ë-C3 is expected to be positioned as a much better option than the Dacia Spring due to its larger body, more powerful engine, and greater range. In addition, whether those 160 kW maximum power are met, or not, it will certainly mount a faster charging system. With the help of the MOVES III Plan, the Citroën ë-C3 should be available for less than 20,000 euros here in Spain and, of course, it can become the most interesting electric car among the cheapest options sold today. Of course, it will also have to compete with the MG 4, which is around these prices and starts at 350 km of range with a larger body and a more powerful engine.
This new Citroën ë-C3, by the way, will have an Italian brother which will be the new FIAT Panda 2025. We already know that one model and the other will share technology, and the FIAT Panda could be even cheaper than the Citroën model. We will have to wait about one more year for the arrival of the new generation of the FIAT Panda, but it is expected to use the same electric motors and also the same batteries. Where they will surely differ is in their design, in the use of their cabin, and in the equipment included in them.
