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Citroen C3 Pluriel 1.6

Twist the key, fire the 1.6-litre engine, grab the gearlever and select first... Auto Express is the first magazine to drive the Citroen C3 Pluriel - the £14,000 drop-top that looks set to shake the cabriolet market to its foundations.

By Dan Strong

January 2003

Twist the key, fire the 1.6-litre engine, grab the gearlever and select first... Auto Express is the first magazine to drive the Citroen C3 Pluriel - the ΂£14,000 drop-top that looks set to shake the cabriolet market to its foundations.

This exclusive UK photoshoot gave us our initial opportunity to get up close to the newcomer. With its electric looks, practical four-seat interior and competitive price tag, the Citroen is likely to be one of the most exciting new cars you'll see on the roads this summer.

A spiritual successor to the legendary 2CV, the Pluriel is aimed at such models as the Ford Streetka and Nissan Micra C+C. Rather than pursue outright performance, though, Citroen's cleverly designed machine intends to win buyers' hearts and minds with a unique and practical approach to this rapidly growing sector of the market.

Central to its appeal is the versatile roof and seating layout. With the roof fully closed, the car is as snug as a coupί¿½; drop it back, wind down the windows and it's a cabriolet; remove the sturdy roof rails and it's a spyder. As there are seats for four, you'll have few problems cramming in a young family. Yet flip the rears flat and you'll have a functional pick-up, complete with hard-wearing load area. The double tailgate increases the appeal by offering easy access, as well as providing additional length for the boot. With so much versatility, though, it's no wonder you'll need an instruction manual to work your way through the roof.

The full conversion from coupί¿½ to spyder requires you to follow a complicated drill to the letter. Any deviation will leave the roof immobilised and you retracing your steps to find out exactly where you went wrong...

Still, it's worth mentioning that, with practice, one person would be able to operate the system. And while you will need to find somewhere secure to store the roof rails - they don't fit into the car - they are surprisingly light. On the move, however, the curving windscreen offers the driver shelter and a good view of the road ahead. And even if those in the rear are likely to get buffeted, that doesn't mean your personal possessions will be blown about, as the Pluriel is not short on storage, with two gloveboxes, door pockets and centre console cubbies. Equipment is generous, too, and includes a decent stereo as well as air-conditioning.

Although only one trim level will be available, the Pluriel will come with a choice of two petrol engines: a 75bhp 1.4-litre or 110bhp 1.6. A diesel is expected, but has yet to be confirmed.

The 1.6 model seen here uses Citroen's robotised manual transmission as standard. The shifts are made either with the central gearlever or by pressing paddles mounted on the steering wheel. We've already tested this system in the C3 SensoDrive and found it smooth and easy to use, even though the fully automatic mode proved a little rough in the hatchback.

While we're not allowed to bring you complete driving impressions just yet (that will have to wait until the car's launch in the spring), with Citroen's reputation for building sharp-handling hot hatches, it's easy to see why we're so excited about this sensational new car. Not only is it cuter than a basketful of kittens, the Pluriel can also adjust quickly to suit your mood - and the weather. We're confident it will be a big hit - and Citroen isn't holding back, either, with plans to build 75,000 a year.

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For an alternative review of the latest Citroen C3 visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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FIRST OPINION

    You don't need to be a genius to see that Citroen has a hit on its hands with the new Pluriel. Versatile, affordable, stylish - rarely do cars offer so much. We suspect driving enthusiasts won't be disappointed, either, particularly when you consider how well we rate the new C3 SensoDrive.
 

AT A GLANCE

    New C3 Pluriel on sale in spring priced from £14,000 (est)
    Two petrol engines at launch
    Versatile roof and interior
     
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