WITH more than 80,000 cars sold in Britain since its launch almost seven years ago, the Citroen C1 has proved a huge hit with supermini fans.
And the popular model is set to raise the stakes this month when the latest version of the French brand’s entry-level city car makes its bow in Brussels.
The new C1 heralds fresh styling, enhanced levels of equipment plus a more frugal engine, and will be available in the UK from April.
New features include CO2 emissions from 99g/km, LED daytime running lights, a CD audio system with Citroen’s integrated Connecting Box - Bluetooth with USB socket - and an electronic gearbox system with steering-mounted paddles.
At 3.44 metres long, the C1 remains the most compact model in the Citroen range and will come in both three and five-door guise from launch.
It is powered by a three-cylinder petrol engine developing 68bhp and equipped with a manual gearbox, and the 1.0i boasts improved fuel economy of up to 65.7mpg over the combined cycle.
Emissions are also improved, to 99g/km of CO2, while models with the electronic gearbox system deliver 62.8mpg and emit 104g/km of CO2.
As for style, the new C1 boasts a fresh front end and shorter bonnet, the headlights keep their rounded shape, while the front bumper has been entirely redesigned to house fog lights and LED daytime running lights.
The vertical design LED light signature - which is specific to Citroen and can also be seen on DS3 and C4 AIRCROSS - strengthens the new model’s character, and at the rear the C1 retains its glass tailgate and features the brand’s new chevrons and badging.
A special launch colour is Boticelli blue, already on the C3 and DS3, and there are also new ‘Notus’ design 14-inch wheels.
Final UK specifications and pricing details have still to be confirmed.