September 13, 2002 - Citroën brings a radical new alternative to the small car market with the world debut of the C3 Pluriel at the 2002 Paris Motor Show.

Originally unveiled at Frankfurt Show in 1999 as a concept model, the Pluriel is notable for its multi-variable fabric roof concept. Many concept cars have proposed this type of affordable cabrio-into-pick-up format but none have actually made it to production until now.

Effectively five cars in one, the C3 Pluriel is totally unique in offering buyers a vehicle that comprehensively caters for day to day and leisure activities alike. With remarkably few changes from concept car upon which it is based, the C3 Pluriel introduces a new dimension to the small car sector, with its ability to morph from a four-seater saloon into 4 other configurations.

The five configurations are:
- C3 Pluriel Saloon: fully closed pillarless 2 door saloon

- C3 Pluriel Panoramic: at the touch of a button the full length, full width sunroof can be opened to eight set positions, whilst the absence of centre pillars means that the four electric windows can be lowered to create an open sided vehicle with no B-pillar intrusion

- C3 Pluriel Cabriolet: The folded fabric sunroof and rear window together can then be neatly retracted under the boot floor to create an open top vehicle closed by a flush rear tonneau panel

- C3 Pluriel Spider: for unadulterated ‘wind-in-the-hair’ motoring, the C3 Pluriel’s side cant rail arches can be simply removed in a matter of seconds, transforming it into a fully open 4-seat

- C3 Pluriel Spider Pick-up: In its final guise, the boot lid of the C3 Pluriel is opened downwards and the rear seats folded flat to create the 2-seat Pick-up format, with a useful and flat space for loading and carrying long and awkward shaped objects. Up to 100kg can be carried on the lowered bootlid

Although the C3 Pluriel was developed at the same time as the hatchback C3 and retains its essentially rounded and cute look, it shares no exterior body panels. The bonnet and front screen are more curved, with new ‘wavy line’ headlamps mounted higher in the fender and the large C3 grille deleted. The longer doors are new, with a simple rounded section and side protector mounted lower down at the base, while at the rear the white-look rear taillamps pick up the line of the curved roof arches. These are painted anthracite or silver, depending on body colour. Front and rear bumpers are also unique to the C3 Pluriel.

In contrast, the interior is basically carried over from the C3 hatchback. Added touches see body colour-coded trim on the doors and seatbacks, looped headrests and seat-integrated belts on the rear seats. Thanks to the use of multiplex electrics, the C3 Pluriel offers automatic operation of the headlamps and wipers, whilst new specific functions such as management of the air conditioning and airflow, and deactivation of the rear window heater have been introduced.

C3 Pluriel will feature a single trim level and a choice of two petrol engines, a 75bhp 1.4i unit and a 110bhp 1.6i 16V version, the latter equipped with Citroën’s acclaimed Formula 1 style paddle change ‘SensoDrive’® gearbox.

Buoyed by the success of the sister Peugeot 206CC model, Citroen is planning to produce 75,000 C3 Pluriel’s per year from the Villaverde plant in Spain.