The Citroën C1 ends production, and the Ami and C3 will take its place

The arrival of electric mobility has been a real revolution in the automotive world, especially when we look at how vehicles focused on urban mobility have changed: many have grown in size to fit other segments, or have simply swapped their combustion engine for an electric one, while others, unfortunately, have disappeared from their brand’s range to make way for new models.

This last case is the one that concerns us today, since, sadly, we have to say a definitive goodbye to one of the urban vehicles par excellence, the Citroën C1. This little city car was born back in 2005 and has since managed to win over no fewer than 1.2 million drivers who chose this model. Now, due to new mobility solutions, the C1 is saying farewell for good after the last unit rolled off the production line at the Kolin plant in the Czech Republic of the French brand.

The Citroën C1 concept was simple and straightforward from the moment it reached the market, with a length of 3,460 mm that made it perfect for moving like a fish in water through the busiest cities. Initially it was sold as a three-door, but with the restyle it received in 2014 came five doors and the Airscape version, which included a retractable electric roof. With the arrival of new technologies in this type of vehicle, it also gained features such as a 7-inch touchscreen and Mirror Screen functionality, as well as new and multiple customisation options to make it even more attractive and, as could not be otherwise, it also welcomed a few special editions such as the Jean Charles de Castelbajac or ELLE.

The Citroën Ami and the C3 will be its successors

It might seem that the Citroën C1 leaves a gap with its departure, but nothing could be further from the truth: on one hand, that gap will be covered by the Citroën Ami, a vehicle that has managed to take the lead of its segment in just over eight months of life. Let us remember that the Citroën Ami comes in a version for carrying people and, later, the Ami Cargo joined it, aimed at home-delivery professionals. In both cases it uses a 6 kW electric motor limited to 45 km/h and a 5.5 kWh battery, which gives it a range of 70 km and can be fully recharged from a conventional socket in three hours.

But this gap will not be covered by the Ami alone, since the C3 will also fill it with a concept and idea that are closer to the Citroën C1. Larger in size, the C3 follows the same philosophy that the C1 began with: offering a vehicle for getting around especially in urban environments, and, in addition, a high level of customisation to make it even more attractive, not forgetting the C3 Aircross version, renewed last year for those who want a look closer to an SUV. For now the C3 is only offered with combustion engines, but give it time, as we will not be long in seeing its range electrified too.