2022 Citroen C3 to be a premium B-segment offering
Ahead of its launch in the coming few months, Citroen India has shed some light on the positioning of the upcoming 2022 Citroen C3 crossover. Citroen seems to be following the template set by its Stellantis sibling Jeep and will look to be a premium player in the segment it operates in. In the case of the C3, this is the B-SUV segment currently occupied by the Renault Kiger, Nissan Magnite and Tata Punch.
2022 Citroen C3 positioning
Stellantis India has stated that this premium-positioning strategy has worked for it in India, despite fewer volumes than rivals. The Jeep brand is a profitable business which seems to have led the firm to follow a similar strategy with Citroen. The French brand still isn't fully established in the country yet and with most of the large-volume carmakers already present in and around this segment, finding the initial volumes for the C3 to function at the same economies of scale as its rivals may be a difficult strategy to implement.
Further, the Citroen dealership network is still being developed, although a significant expansion is planned to go with the C3 launch. The brand is currently largely present in the major Tier-1 urban centres in India which limited its reach among a large section of prospective buyers. Instead, the focus will likely be on providing a high-quality, easy sales and service experience through its premium showrooms and its many after-sales facilities like the car home-delivery plan and the many financing and service initiatives.
2022 Citroen C3 specifications, features
In keeping with this placement, the Citroen C3 should come with a turbo-petrol engine option, the Puretech 1.2-litre three-cylinder with 110PS and 205 Nm. This could be paired with a six-speed manual or a six-speed torque-converter, unlike the AMT option usually provided by rivals.
Similarly, the customisation program that Citroen is expected to debut with the C3 should also tie in with this strategy. Much of the car's look could possibly be altered with numerous paint themes and accessories for the outside while on the inside buyers should be able to pick features as well as an interior theme. Expect prices of the Citroen C3 to start from Rs 7 to 8 lakh when it launches by next month.
Also read,
Made-in-India Citroen C3 compact SUV makes global debut, launch in 2022
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Image gallery: 2022 Citroen C3
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