New Citroën C1 gets Geneva debut

Compact new Citroën boasts a range of modern kit, efficient petrol engines and low running costs
by Hilton Holloway
5 March 2014

Citroën's new C1 has made its public debut in Geneva. The C1 is Citroën's version of the new Czech-built city car model it shares with Peugeot and Toyota.

The original version has sold 760,000 examples since 2005 – a total that could be topped as the European market for city cars continues to grow.

Like the Peugeot 108, the C1 comes in three-door and five-door versions as well as an 'Airscape' model with a roll-back fabric roof.

Designed primarily for use in an urban environment, the compact C1 is just 3.46m long, 1.62m wide and has a turning circle of 4.8m.

It also features a much more striking exterior design than the previous model, aided by LED daytime running lights and '3D-effect' tail-lights.

Eight exterior colours will be offered, while a pair of two-tone models will also be available initially. Inside, the C1 features bright colours and body-coloured inserts in the door panels.

Two engines will be available: a 68bhp three-cylinder ‘Airdream’ engine and a 1.2-litre three-pot that's good for 82bhp and rated at 99g/km of CO2. Citroën claims 0-60mph in 11.0sec and average economy returns of 65mpg.

The VTi 68 engine will be offered with a five-speed manual gearbox and a stop-start system. Buyers will also be able to specify a five-speed automated manual gearbox, called the 'Efficient Tronic Gearbox'.

The C1, which weighs just 840kg in base form, will also get a 7in touchscreen in the cabin that can ‘mirror’ the driver’s smartphone. Other equipment options include climate control, heated seats and a reversing camera.

Our Verdict

Citroen C1 2005-2014

Citroën C1

The Citroën C1 is the cheapest of the C1-107-Aygo triplets. The city car is cute, but noisy and basic

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Citroën says that the C1 will aim to combine a low price tag with 'optimised' running costs, thanks to its efficient engines and low servicing prices.

Official pricing has yet to be released, but the C1 currently costs upwards of £6995.

Read more Geneva motor show news.

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Comments
18

n. leone

24 February 2014
Another shameless copy of the Fiat 500. The headlamps are lifted unchanged from it. Isn't there any designer with fresh ideas?

Lanehogger

24 February 2014
Those various front design cues shouldn't work, but IMO Citroen seems to have pulled it off and it looks far more striking and interesting that the Peugeot 108. However, after seeing the 108 with it's Peugeot-esque styling themes elsewhere, I thought the C1 was going to look totally different but you can clearly see that this new C1 is a Peugeot design with a different nose. I suppose cost is the reason, shame really.

sirwiggum

25 February 2014
Lanehogger wrote:

Those various front design cues shouldn't work, but IMO Citroen seems to have pulled it off and it looks far more striking and interesting that the Peugeot 108. However, after seeing the 108 with it's Peugeot-esque styling themes elsewhere, I thought the C1 was going to look totally different but you can clearly see that this new C1 is a Peugeot design with a different nose. I suppose cost is the reason, shame really.

" C1 is a Peugeot design with a different nose"

The C1, 108 and new Aygo are the same car with different noses. That's the point. It saves on development costs for a cheap car.

Jeremy

24 February 2014
... are not exactly new, the Fiat 500 wasn't the first to have them and the C1 won't be the last. To me the headlights are reminiscent of the 2CV!

Flatus senex

24 February 2014
I don't think this is particularly derivative, rather less so than, for example, the Opel/Vauxhall Adam or the new Twingo. However from Citroen, who are one of the few mass producers capable of visual flair from time to time, this does not match up to the standards of, e.g., the DS3 or Cactus.

All of these thoughts may change when Twingo, Cactus and new C1 are spotted in reality!

Nathsky

24 February 2014
Citroen should have instead integrated the front indicators within the round headlights.

Mini2

24 February 2014
It's a platform-sharer. Therefore we can't expect Citroen to go entirely wild with this new C1. I think it looks alright but would probably have expected a slightly more cohesive front end. They've tried to whack in a bit too much DS3 for my liking, considering they're trying to differentiate the two ranges. I think they need to be careful of where they're loading these 3D-effect rear lights, too. That was exclusively DS-range previously.
I agree with a few who have said there's definitely an element of 2CV in those lights. Not necessarily the shape but they're just reminiscent. You could say the same for the 500 lights but at the end of the day, circular headlights aren't patented to Fiat, and they do them better anyway.
I don't think the extended-chevron grille works as well shrunken down (much like the 108) - I think chevrons on a plain bonnet would've worked much better, a la C4 Cactus. I suspect the Aygo is going to be the good-looking one of these triplets once again.


"Work hard and be nice to people"

Flatus senex

24 February 2014
Mini2 wrote:

. I suspect the Aygo is going to be the good-looking one of these triplets once again.

The best looking one will be the example that looks the least Toyota. If you were looking for a Far East manufacturer that was the apotheosis of bland, in the way Skoda /VW is for Europe then Toyota is the one. IMHO the Aygo is the most anonymous of the present trio. There are lots of people out there who like bland though.

BenC30

24 February 2014
The new C1 looks like it is aimed to devalue the DS3 range, with the DS3-style rear lights, similar front LEDs and grille. Yes, I know the platforms are shared and they can only do so much with it, but they need to differentiate between C-models and DS-models far more! This only makes the DS3 feel less special.

rogerhudson

24 February 2014
How can anything devalue a DS3/5 more than Citroens greedy marketeers. To be a DS a Citroen should have a decent suspension, not the DS3 cart setup, it should waft along on hydropneumatics, active hopefully. The Japanese games console look is just wrong.

RogerHudson

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