Citroen C3 gets awarded with prestigious 2023 World Urban Car award

The Citroen C3, a made-in-India hatchback owned by Stellantis-owned French automaker Citroen, has been awarded the coveted “2023 World Urban Car” title at the 19th World Car Awards. Following a vote by over 100 worldwide journalists from 32 different countries, the company announced the achievement of this momentous award on the sidelines of the inauguration of the New York Auto Show. The C3 received the prestigious award in the Urban Car category, which was accessible to all vehicles under 4.25 meters in length that are offered for sale in at least two significant markets (China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America, and the United States), as well as on at least two different continents.

This award holds even more significance as the model has become the first-ever vehicle produced in India to win this exclusive award. So far, the French automaker has received a total of three World Car Awards. The Citroen C4 Cactus won the 2015 World Car Design of the Year award, and Carlos Tavares, CEO of PSA Group, was named the 2020 World Car Person of the Year. In 2006, the Citroen C4 also won the award for design. In the World Urban Car category, the Citroen C3 finished in the “Top Three in the World” in 2017.

Commenting on the achievement of the World Urban Car, Thierry Koskas, Citroën’s CEO, said, “We are particularly honored to receive this ‘2023 WORLD URBAN CAR’ award for C3. In addition to the commercial success of this model, it recognizes the relevance of our growth strategy in India, Asia, and South America. As the first model in a family of three cars, the Citroën C3 combines strong, modern styling with a high level of comfort, not to mention the connectivity and technology that customers in these regions expect.”

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The Citroen C3 is the first vehicle from the French automaker designed and integrated locally in India. Since its premiere in the summer of 2022, about 7000 units have been sold, contributing to an almost 880% rise in sales for the brand compared to the previous year. This accomplishment is also demonstrated by the positive feedback provided for the e-C3, the electric variant of the C3 made in India, for which the initial orders are looking extremely good, according to the company.

Regarding the e-C3, the company recently launched the all-electric model with a starting price of Rs. 11.5 lakh for the Live variant and up to Rs. 12.43 lakh for the Feel variant with dual-tone paint option and Vibe Pack. The eC3 has a 29.2 kWh battery pack and front-axle mounted electric motor, which produces 57 hp and 143 Nm of peak torque. The eC3 can accelerate from 0-60 kph in 6.8 seconds and achieve a top speed of 107 kph. The eC3 has an ARAI-claimed range of 320 km and two charging options. The first is a DC fast charger that can charge the battery pack from 10-80% in 57 minutes, and the second is a 3.3 kW onboard AC charger that is also capable of CCS2 fast charging. The eC3 can also be charged at home and requires 10.5 hours to fully charge from 10-100%.

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