C3 to target wide range of Irish car owners

21 May 2002: Gallic Distributors, the Citroen franchisees in Ireland, expect to sell 3,000 units of the new C3 in a full year, according to James Wyse, the company’s managing director.

Speaking at the Irish launch of the car yesterday he also said 1,000 copies of the new car should be sold by the end of the year, and with a high specification he expects it to draw sales from all types of drivers.

Prices for the new car range from 14,800 euros, and the C3 will target the upcoming new Ford Fiesta, the new VW Polo, the Peugeot 206, Opel’s Corsa, Toyota’s Yaris, Renault’s Clio and Fiat’s Punto.

All C3s come with electric power steering, central ‘plip’ locking, electric front windows, four airbags, CD-player and remote audio controls.

In a price/value comparison, Gallic’s Paul Cregan suggested that a Polo similarly equipped to the basic C3 would cost 1,114 euros more than the Citroen, while the Corsa, 206 and Yaris would also be more expensive, though not to the same degree.

Only the Clio, Micra and Punto would have lower equivalent price points.

The C3 comes to market immediately with 1.1-, 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol engines. A pair of 1.4-litre diesels will be available from late autumn.

The C3 is only available in 5-door models. The new C2, which will replace the 3-door Saxo, will debut later this year.

May 2002