(Mon 29 Jun 09)

A thoroughly redesigned Citroen C3 will arrive in the UK early next year with a completely new look and some impressively low CO2 figures.

Compared with the current version, the new C3 looks far less like a trilobite and far more like the DS Inside concept which was revealed at Geneva earlier this year. In typical modern Citroen fashion, it has a huge windscreen which extends over the heads of the front passengers, and although it's roomier than the old car (luggage capacity has increased from 282 litres to 300 litres with the rear seats in place) it is reportedly no heavier.

Right from the start, Citroen will be offering an HDi 90 turbo diesel version emitting 99g/km of CO2 on the official cycle. That's the lowest figure of any production Citroen, and it makes the C3 exempt from annual road tax. New diesel engines and Stop % Start technology will arrive in 2011, bringing CO2 levels down to 90g/km, and even more impressively there will also be a three-cylinder petrol engine with a double-figure CO2 rating.

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