Citroen makes Airdream a reality in new C3

CITROEN has a dream. It's of a cleaner, greener future with birds singing in the trees, fresh breathable air swirling through our city centres and polar regions overflowing with newly frozen ice.

It's a similar dream to the one most car manufacturers have been having of late and, whether it's born of a genuine desire to save the planet or a genuine desire to sell cars, it is moving the market in an environmentally friendly direction.

Citroen's C3 Airdream+ sets new standards for the brand in terms of low carbon dioxide emissions and there are low running costs to attract buyers who couldn't care less about the ice caps.

The Citroen C-Airdream concept car was unveiled at the 2003 Geneva Motorshow. This graceful, powerful V6-engined coupe was to become one of the stars of the event with its advanced aerodynamics and sleek profile. It was also the subject of speculation as to whether the French manufacturer would dare put anything so adventurous into production. It didn't, and the Airdream name has since been re-appropriated to apply not to striking Citroen sports cars but to ordinary hatchbacks with low emissions.

Power for the Airdream+ C3 comes from Citroen's 1.6-litre HDi engine. In this instance it's in the less muscular 90bhp guise, but performance shouldn't prove to be too disappointing. The 0-60mph performance is measured at 11.5 seconds and there's a 113mph top speed. Torque of 230Nm is generated at 2,000rpm, so lack of grunt in the middle of the rev range won't be an issue.

On the open road, the C3 is something of a mixed bag. The car feels stable and comfortable at motorway cruising speeds where engine refinement holds up well but the wind rustles around the A pillars, breaching the peace. Through corners, the C3's soft set-up contributes to more body lean than the best-handling superminis. It's not too bad, though, and the car changes direction sweetly, so it's perfectly possible to have some fun driving it.

Being based on the relatively salubrious VTR+ model from the normal C3 range, the Airdream+ gets body-coloured door handles and mirrors, chrome trims for its windows and front fog lights, so it doesn't look like a stripped-down economy model.

The car also features the C3's Zenith windscreen that extends in an unbroken sweep right back over the driver's head, allowing loads of light into the car. It gives the C3 cabin an unusual feel but on sunny days, most owners will have to pull the shade forward as the tinted top section lets too much light through. Unusually, the C3 is barely any bigger than the car it replaced. And it also boasts one of the biggest boots of any supermini at 300 litres – and there's room for four adults.

Six-footers will struggle for headroom in the back but legroom behind the front seats is good for a supermini. The specification of the Airdream+ C3 is generous by the standards of most eco-special models offered by other manufacturers.

There are steel wheels in place of the alloy items found on the VTR+ but airconditioning, cruise control, electric front windows and a trip computer are standard. The Airdream+ also includes rear parking sensors, Bluetooth compati- bility and a USB connector for the stereo, features that are not included on the VTR+.

Price-wise, the Airdream+ comes in at just 600 more than the VTR+ model with the less powerful 1.4-litre HDi engine. With its 1.6-litre HDi unit bringing a 20bhp horsepower advantage, it looks like money well spent.

The 90bhp 1.6 HDi engine in range-topping Exclusive trim is 700 more expensive but that car can't match the economy of the Airdream+. The key numbers where the Airdream+ C3 is concerned are the 99g/km emissions and the 74.3mpg economy.

The car features Citroen's Diesel Particulate Filter System to clean up its act further and is fully-compliant with the Euro5 emissions regulations. Like the majority of C3 models, the Airdream+ has an efficiency gearshift indicator which prompts drivers to change up at the optimum moment to get the best economy.

Whether your motives are purely environmental or tinged with a desire to cut your motoring costs, the Citroen C3 Airdream+ could fit the bill.

With its practical design and high levels of comfort, Citroen's C3 supermini is a strong contender in its latest guise and the Airdream+ special edition showcases the car at its cleanest and most affordable to run.