Citroën C3 Pluriel

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Citroën
Citroën C3 Pluriel (2003-2008)
C3 Pluriel
Production period:	2003-2010
Class :	Small car
Body versions :	Cabriolet
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.4–1.6 liters (54–80 kW) Diesel engines : 1.4 liters (50 kW)
Length:	3934 mm
Width:	1700 mm
Height:	1559 mm
Wheelbase :	2460 mm
Empty weight :	1211-1280 kg
Previous model	Citroën 2CV , Citroën Dyane
successor	Citroën DS3 convertible

The Citroën C3 Pluriel is a car model from the French manufacturer Citroën . The vehicle, a modification and extension of the first generation Citroën C3 , appeared as a prototype for the first time at the IAA 1999 in Frankfurt (Main) . With little change, it went into series production in mid-2003 and was voted “ Convertible of the Year ” at the Geneva Motor Show that same year .

On July 31, 2010, production of the C3 Pluriel was stopped.

In March 2013 the successor model of the C3 Pluriel appeared with the DS3 Cabrio .

body

Rear view with the convertible top closed

Citroën C3 Pluriel (2008-2010); here as "Spider"

Stars in the Euro NCAP - Crash Test (2003)

The vehicle was only offered in a two-door variant. In contrast to its conventional brother, it is equipped with frameless windows at the front and rear, which clearly promotes the convertible effect.

Although the Pluriel is technically almost identical to the C3, there are significant differences in design . The reinforced and less filigree side line is underlined by the larger doors due to the design. At first glance, differences in detail can be found everywhere, for example the headlights are designed independently. No sheet metal part of the body is identical to the C3 sedan. The interior, however, is largely comparable to that of the C3. However, the C3 Pluriel has independently designed seats with frame headrests. The head restraints on the rear seat bench are permanently installed and, in the event of a rollover, serve as rollover protection together with the reinforced windshield frame. When it was presented, the Pluriel was considered a particularly safe convertible. The Pluriel was made in Spain and France . A total of 109,672 pieces rolled off the line, around 20,000 of which were officially sold in Germany.

When it was launched on the market in 2003, the list price in Germany was 15,990 euros for the basic model with a 1.4-liter gasoline engine . In the same year, Citroën launched the special “Gold” model for only 14,490 euros. In 2009 the most expensive Pluriel model with a 1.4 liter diesel engine (HDI) cost from 22,790 euros. The standard equipment always included ABS, electric windows, central locking with radio remote control and an adjustable steering wheel. In addition, all vehicles were delivered with a three-part cover that could be used to cover the trunk and rear body corners when the car was driven open. In the higher trim levels Style and Exclusive, extras such as automatic air conditioning and cruise control were added. The Pluriel-specific accessories included a stand for storing the roof bars in the garage and a wind deflector for mounting behind the front seats.

At the beginning of 2008, the C3 Pluriel received a slight facelift , recognizable by the larger brand emblems on the front and rear as well as on the slightly revised front headlights and modified taillights. The dashboard has also been redesigned.

particularities

As Citroën noted in its advertising , this vehicle is "five cars in one": a sedan (visually similar to the Citroën 2CV and also equipped with a roll-top-like construction), a convertible sedan in which the roof can be opened in several stages . When fully open, the convertible top lies over the rear window and covers it. In this position, the entire roof cassette, consisting of the roof, the electric roof drive, the rear window and the rear window frame, can be swiveled into the trunk by hand. The trunk has a removable intermediate floor, under which the roof cassette then disappears. A “spider” (the longitudinal bars are removed) and a pick-up (the folded back seat creates a largely flat loading area in the rear area, which can be extended with the tailgate that opens downwards). Unusually for convertibles, the Pluriel can also be equipped with a roof rack specially developed for the car . This roof rack, which you could buy from Citroën as an accessory, was screwed into the existing mountings in the roof arches.

restrictions

Since the roof bars cannot be stowed in the vehicle, the Pluriel cannot be closed in the Spider configuration because they are needed to close the convertible top . However, a tarpaulin and various roadworthy emergency canopies are available as accessories , which can also be installed in the Spider configuration. Due to the concealed license plate , the Pluriel may not be operated on public roads in Germany with the tailgate open - i.e. as an extended pick-up  .

Opening the vehicle, especially folding away the roof cassette, requires a bit of care and skill compared to other convertibles. This also applies to the reconversion of a "spider" into a "limousine". Since the handles are not immediately self-explanatory, the delivery scope of the car included a leaflet which - in addition to the operating instructions - explains the conversion steps. A holder for this leaflet is located under the trunk cover, which is connected to the rear window.

When it was launched on the market in 2003, the roof construction suffered from teething problems such as leaks and faults in the electric drive. Several model maintenance measures by the manufacturer ensured that the function of the roof improved significantly from 2004 onwards. Nevertheless, the roof should be treated with the utmost care, as a new roof unit with workshop costs of around 4000 euros exceeds the current value of many C3 Pluriels. The precautionary measures also include the advice not to operate the electric roof drive at speeds over 80 km / h.

Motorization

The Pluriel was delivered with two petrol and one diesel engine : a 1.4 liter engine with 54 kW (73 hp) at 5400 rpm and 116 Nm at 3300 rpm (an engine that is already used in many PSA models found) as well as the well-known 1.6-liter with 80 kW (109 PS) at 5800 rpm and 147 Nm at 4000 rpm. The latter is only available in conjunction with the Sensodrive, an automated manual transmission . In 2004, the 1.4-liter diesel engine was submitted by Citroën. This engine, which is also used in the Citroën C2 , develops 50 kW (68 hp) at 4000 rpm and has a max. Torque of 160 Nm at 2000 rpm.

• 1.4 Bivalent, 1360 cm³ in petrol operation 54 kW (73 PS), in natural gas operation 49 kW (67 PS), from February 2006–
• 1.4, 1360 cm³ with 54 kW (73 PS)
• 1.6, 1587 cm³ with 80 kW (109 PS)
• 1.4 HDi , 1398 cm³ with 50 kW (68 PS)

Security and equipment

With four stars in Euro-NCAP - Crash test the C3 Pluriel of the safest convertibles in this class belonged. It was available in two equipment variants: The “Exclusive” variant differs from the basic “Style” version in that it has aluminum-colored roof bars, side strips and door handles as well as leather seats.

Colours:

Uni ivory-white	Parthenon beige special paint	Metallic fulminator gray	Metallic Aérien Orange	Metallic Lenz Green	Metallic Lucia blue
Metallic sand-beige	Metallic aluminum gray	Metallic obsidian black	Uni Ardent red	Metallic hurricane green	Metallic royal blue	Metallic Panama blue

Citroën C3 Pluriel "Charleston"

From autumn 2009 the C3 Pluriel was only available on the German market in the “Charleston” version and in two petrol engine variants (1.4 with 54 kW (73 PS) and 1.6 with 80 kW (109 PS)). This equipment variant, which is already used on the 2CV , is characterized by the two-tone paintwork, with the black part running in a curve over the fenders and doors to the upper end of the bumpers.

Web links

Commons : Citroën C3 Pluriel  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Adieu means à bientôt: story of Pluriel at the end of production

Individual evidence

1. ↑ AutoNews.fr at the end of Pluriel ( Memento of the original from August 6, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (French)  
2. ↑ Results of the Citroën C3 Pluriel in the Euro NCAP crash test