Citroën’s Oddly-Shaped C3L Is A Crossover-Derived Sedan Exclusive For China

A handful of leaked images showcasing China’s Citroën C3L have been published by CarNewsChina.

The new C3L is the sedan variant of the Citroen C3-XR crossover which has been available in the country since 2014. It is built through the Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën Automobile joint venture and these photos show the C3L shares much of its styling with its crossover sibling.

Viewed from the front, it’s actually very hard to tell the difference between the C3L and the C3-XR. The headlights are the same, as are the vertical LED daytime running lights incorporated into angular air intakes and the rounded grille of the crossover. From the back, however, the C3L clearly stands out from the C3-XR.

Likely in an attempt to retain as much interior space as possible, Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën have created an upright roofline that’s relatively flat until it dramatically tapers down an upright rear window to an elongated deck lid. There’s also a very bulky C-pillar. It’s a bit of an odd look compared to many of the four-door ‘coupe’ sedans we’ve become familiar in recent years. At the rear, the C3L appears to feature the same taillights and bumper as the crossover.

The new Citroën C3L is 4,505-mm (177.3-inches) long, 1,748-mm (68.8-inches) wide, 1,513-mm (59.5-inches) tall and has a 2,655-mm (104.5-inch) long wheelbase. It will be sold exclusively with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine producing 114 hp and 140 lb-ft (190 Nm) of torque and mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The car will launch in China this quarter with prices starting at around 110,000 yuan ($15,575).