Citroen C-Zero (2010) first picture

Published: 10 November 2009 Updated: 26 January 2015

Citroen has revealed the C-Zero, an electric city car based on Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV, and a sibling to Peugeot’s iOn.

So now we’ve got the Citroen C-Zero, who doesn’t have a version of Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV?

Well, Citroen and Peugeot are both now taken care of – Citroen’s PSA partner Peugeot unveiled the iOn earlier this year – but the rebadged i-MiEV is an easy way for Citroen to add a zero-emissions vehicle to its range.

The C-Zero is powered by a 47kW (64bhp) motor that also produces 133lb ft and sends the drive to the rear wheels. Power for the motor comes from a 330-volt lithium-ion battery (with a 16kWh capacity) mounted in the middle of the C-Zero. Top speed is 80mph – the same as the claimed range – and 62mph is reached in 15 seconds.

And when the charge runs out you can rejuvenate the C-Zero through a conventional three-point plug (which takes around six hours to fully charge the car) or use a ‘quick-charge’ facility with a higher voltage to give you an 80% charge in 30 minutes.

The C-Zero will be launched in the last quarter of 2010, but prices have yet to be announced.

>> Click ‘Add your comment’ below and let us know what you think of Citroen’s new C-Zero. Is it a welcome zero-emissions vehicle, or an unfortunate addition now that Citroen’s design is on a roll.

By Ben Pulman

Ex-CAR editor-at-large

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