CITROEN could be about to start a price war in the electric vehicle market with the launch of its new e-C3 that will cost less than £23,000.

With a claimed range of up to 199 miles on a full charge, the e-C3 is powered by a 44kWh battery and can be recharged to 80 per cent capacity from a fast charger in 26 minutes.

The car is part of Citroen's plans to make electric mobility accessible to all and a cheaper version costing less than £20,000 and with a range of around 125 miles is on the cards by 2025.

The e-C3 is the first member of a new C3 range that will also include petrol models although details of those are still to be revealed.

The electric model develops 112bhp and has a 0 to 62mph acceleration time of 11 seconds, topping out at 84mph.

It is the first small car from Citroen to use the brand's Advanced Comfort system in the suspension and seats to create a smooth ‘magic carpet' ride.

The car is slightly longer and wider than the previous generation C3 but is 70mm taller at 1.57 metres to give a more comfortable driving position with improved visibility. Boot space is 310 litres with all seats in use.

Three trim levels - You!, Plus and Max - will be available in the UK when the fourth generation model arrives early in 2024.

The interior is a sea change for the C3 and features a new compact steering wheel with a head-up display replacing a traditional instrument panel.

At the centre of the facia is a 10.25-inch colour infotainment screen, angled slightly towards the driver which allows access to music, phone and navigation systems via a smartphone.

Plus and Max models have an inbuilt set-up for entertainment and navigation which is optional on You! specification cars.

A full range of driver aids are fitted including lane departure warning, driver attention alerts, speed limit recognition and fully automatic headlights.

An electronic parking brake, parking sensors and a rear camera are also fitted with the touchscreen.

Citroen chief executive Thierry Koskas, said: "Offering affordable vehicles has always been a major part of Citroën's DNA. However, customer expectations for vehicles in the B-segment have changed, notably with the rise in popularity of SUVs and the increasing desire to drive electric in and around our cities, and it has become more challenging for European vehicle makers to meet those expectations.

"Uniquely, Citroen is daring to do exactly that with the all-new, all-electric e-C3 for European buyers: a fresh, sharp, and comfortable B-hatch that is fully-equipped, specifically designed for and made in Europe, and extremely affordable with on-the-road prices starting from under £23,000 in the UK."

The fourth generation C3 is the first production Citroen to feature the brand's new logo which is larger and sits within an oval design. The logo was previewed on the Oli concept EV in 2022.