Citroen Infuses High Tech Into C3 Supermini Hatch

PARIS – A standard dashboard camera is the standout gadget feature of the new Citroen C3 supermini from the French automaker with a leftfield reputation.

The B-segment 5-door, 5-seat hatchback features a forward-facing high-definition camera, dubbed ConnectedCAM Citroen, to share images and video footage on social media as well as gather evidence in accidents and other contentious incidents.

Housed behind the rearview mirror, the connected 2 million-pixel camera offers a 120-degree wide angle with GPS and a 16-gigabyte internal memory. The driver can click a button to take photos, while pressing longer captures video for up to 20 seconds. Stored content is directly accessible via the free ConnectedCAM Citroen app.

In the event of a crash, the video system works automatically and video can run for up to 90 seconds, recording 30 seconds before and 60 after the accident.

The car owner also can use the system to locate the vehicle and store its position in unfamiliar or busy locations.

Citroen claims the new C3 offers a wealth of customization with bodywork boasting a 2-tone paint option, with a choice of three roof colors and matching touches of color around the car including fog lights, door mirrors, rear quarter panels and on the Airbump panels first seen on the Cactus CUV.

Inside, there’s a choice of four interiors aimed at delivering “a spacious, yet intimate feel, thanks to the shape of the seats and an uncluttered dashboard” plus a 183-cu.-in. (300-L) trunk capacity.

The advanced driver-assistance system features include voice-controlled 3-D navigation with a 7-in. (17.8-cm) color touchscreen, a reverse-view camera, lane-departure warning and blindspot monitoring.

Powertrains include a choice of three PureTech 3-cyl. gasoline engines with manual transmissions and stop/start rated at 68 hp, 82 hp and 110 hp and the two manual diesel powertrains making 75 or 100 hp, also with stop/start. There’s also the option of the brand’s fully automatic 6-speed gearbox.

The C3 claims urban agility with a 3.3-ft. (10.7-m) turning circle, measures just 15.7 ins. (400 mm) long, 68.9 ins. (1,750-mm) wide, 59 ins. (1,500 m) high with a wheelbase of 98 ins. (2,500 mm).

“The New C3 has all the Citroen values and all the qualities to give the brand new impetus, which is especially important as the previous model accounted for almost one in five sales in Europe,” Citroen CEO Linda Jackson says in a statement: “A comfortable car with real personality, it is set to appeal to new customers looking for a modern car with character.”