One of the reasons why this plan is so important is that setting each of PSA’s marques on a different direction should reduce the number of redundant vehicles. Cases like Berlingo and Partner don’t matter too much because their differences are strictly related to badge engineering, but duos like C4 and the old 308, C5 and 508 or 5008 and the old C4 Picasso would be interesting to avoid because there will still have some internal competition with each one’s “counterpart”, like with the first ones, but at cost of the automaker making two separate investments. What PSA has done with the second group is to favor the best-selling car of each case, while the first ones now try much harder to attract two separate kinds of customers.
In other words, if you found Peugeot 108 too conservative for a supermini, your number will certainly be the all-new C1. The whole project is the same once again, and will also spawn the new Toyota Aygo later, but the French options now follow their respective marques’ identity more than ever. While 108 has claw-shaped lights, C1 has splitted its headlights in order to remind of C4 Cactus and Picasso, but gave them a very different shape in order to look better on a smaller car. Having such a tall lower grille combined to vertically-stacked daytime LEDs help to highlight the car’s height, while its brother went for horizontal elements. The sides repeat the basic shapes but painted the A-pillars in back, going for a visual connection between windshield and windows.
The rear follows 108’s more solid look, replacing the outgoing duo’s “hidden” C-pillars for a conventional set. The tailgate is made in glass once again, and if the tail lights have the same shape as the Peugeot’s, they received different internal arrangement, which Citroën claims to have three-dimensional effect. Other style elements are the several color options, with two-tone options, and Airscape: it’s what the company calls the “convertible” C1, with a removable soft top that measures 80 cm x 76 cm and has power controls. You can order it in a contrasting color with the body’s, whether in the three-door or five-door options. Judging by the first official pictures, both color and wheel options will be much more playful and bubbly than 108’s.
Although there aren’t many photos yet, C1’s cabin is a clear echo of what is expressed outside. The instrument cluster uses concentric gauges, while the dashboard takes the attention to the 7” touchscreen. Interesting items are the body-colored inserts, which appear at air vents, dashboard and doors. Being 3.46-m long, 1.45-m tall and 1.62-m wide means it didn’t change much from the outgoing car, but having such short overhangs aids to a 4.8-m turning radius. Besides several storage areas, the 196-L trunk has a parcel shelf and reaches 780 L by folding the rear seats. The equipment list includes automatic climate control, electrically-assisted steering, keyless-entry system and heated seats; the three-door adds memory settings for the front seats.
Another nice item is the infotainment system: besides concentrating the usual media functions, the connectivity was enhanced with Mirror Screen. If you have a compatible smartphone, by installing a data exchange app you’re able to copy its content to the car, in order to operate the phone through the car’s screen, whose bigger size will make the operation much easier. When it comes to the safety, C1 justifies its elevated price (£8,245 to £11,935 in United Kingdom) including electronic systems such as reverse camera and hill-start assist. Citroën also states that both suspension and steering were improved, using lighter parts and achieving more comfortable driving and even better fuel efficiency.
Where C1 shares the most with 108 is under the hood, which is very common in cases like this. The VTi 68 1.0L propeller, which the automaker calls Airdream, reaches the same 68 hp and uses the clutchless ETG gearbox. It also comes as e-VTi 68, which includes start/stop system and a “special aerodynamics pack”, in order to achieve lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. But if you want to go (a little) faster, the VTi 82 unit appears for the first time. This one comes from the PureTech family, uses three cylinders just like the previous one, but reaches 82 hp and accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in 11s, besides of 27.6 kpl of gasoline and 99 g/km of CO2. There will be a diesel option soon.