2012 CITROEN C1 5 doors 1.0L 5AT FWD (68 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Introduced in 2005, the supermini Citroen C1 was a badge-engineered Toyota Aygo or Peugeot 107, all three of them being built in the Czech Republic on the same assembly lines, and they had to be refreshed along the road. Thus, Citroen released the C1’s facelifted version in 2012 and hoped to keep it longer on the market.

Europe was an appropriate market for this kind of supermini vehicle due to the crowded cities, narrow streets, and tiny parking spaces. But the French carmakers were experienced in that area, and that’s why they formed a joint-venture with Toyota to build a tiny vehicle able to move four people inside a city and still have enough trunk for two backpacks.

When it refreshed the C1, Citroen chose the same biodesign styling at its foundation. That meant that the headlights were swept toward the A-pillars, and all the front fascia elements were rounded or curved. Even the otherwise edgy Citroen badge, dubbed “Double-chevron,” was not as sharp as before. Moreover, the lower grille looked like an open mouth for the 2012 model and was flanked by more obvious air intakes, which also comprised the fog lights. A set of LED daytime running lights was also included in the lower bumper area.

Inside, there were a few important upgrades, such as the paddle-shifters behind the steering wheel, only available with the optional EGS (Electronic Gearbox System). Moreover, in terms of technologies, the 2012 C1 sported a new infotainment unit that was able to read and play MP3 files, CDs, and, on top of that, featured a USB port for music and a 3.5 mm jack.

Under the hood, the carmaker relied on the inline-three gasoline engines, and the turbo-diesel version was axed.