1998 Citroen C-3 Concept

First shown at the October 1998 Paris Auto Show, the C3 Lumiere concept utilized various "pointed" styling cues, from the wheels to the taillights and mirrors. With an ocean pearl blue paint scheme with light gray accents, the Lumiere was the gateway to the C3 production car of 2002. The interior was mostly unique, with a retractable analog speedometer/tachometer on the top of the dashboard, a dial showing the car's running functions (windshield wipers, lights, etc.) and a manual gear shift lever mounted vertically on the point of the protruding dashboard console. The theme of hexagons inside circles was carried onto the door speakers and ventilation ducts.

Citroën C-3 concept car, 1998 - Opening the door to the 21st century.

The C3 catches the eye with its radically rounded styling and unusual dimensions.

Citroën’s new concept car will be presented at the Mondial Automobile 1998 and illustrates a new architecture and aesthetic for cars in the Segment B class.

With this vehicle, Citroën proposes a new way of imagining the compact vehicle of the near future.

Conceived by Création Citroën, this car marks the renaissance and renewal of the marque’s reputation for creativity.

The design team rose to the challenge to design a new type of "essential car" for the near future.

Designed to be as at home on the motorway as in town and featuring the most sophisticated levels of safety, versatility, economy and functionality, C3 (Centre de Création Citroën)combines style with functionality in a way that few concept cars manage.

A compact four seater saloon, C3 has a generous and attractive personality.

The front end features vertically arrayed headlamps - apparently this will be the principal design motif of Citroën’s range for the new millenium - and also has four symmetrically opening doors and a rear hatch which opens with the lower half sliding under the top. The sunroof comprising glass slats is positively ingenious.

Innumerable seating permutations are possible thanks to four equidistant longitudinal rails and seats which have interchangeable squabs and back rests with built-in seat belts.

The show car even comes with a handbag/pocket book as standard!

The production version is likely to be slightly lower, will probably lack the "suicide" rear doors and the double jointed tailgate and is expected in 2002.

A cabriolet version, the C3-Air has also been proposed.