CITROËN C3 AIRCROSS MARINE NATIONALE: A UNIQUE SHOW CAR CELEBRATING 400 YEARS OF COMMITMENT AND INNOVATION

• Citroën has teamed up with the Marine nationale to celebrate its 400th anniversary and, to mark the occasion, has unveiled a brand-new show car: the C3 Aircross Marine nationale.

• The teams at Citroën Design and the Marine nationale have devised a rugged and adventurous version of the C3 Aircross, designed for operations in extreme conditions in the service of the public.

• Its design is inspired by the naval world: the bodywork features the Marine nationale’s colour scheme, complemented by graphic elements symbolising this anniversary.

• This show car features styling elements that give it an adventurous look whilst also serving a practical purpose, such as its redesigned bumpers, specific fog lights, and a roof rack designed to carry diving equipment.

• The highly stylish interior offers an immersive and sensory experience, with direct references to life on board submarines.

• The C3 Aircross, an ultra-spacious SUV with a distinctive style, available with a multi-energy offer and suited to all active lifestyles, is the ideal platform to showcase this partnership.

Poissy, 24 June 2026 – As part of its partnership with the Marine nationale to mark the institution’s 400th anniversary, Citroën is unveiling a brand-new show car: the C3 Aircross Marine nationale. Conceived as a true bridge between land and sea, this unique concept was born from the convergence of two worlds which, although distinct in their missions, share a common set of values deeply rooted in French history: team spirit, protection, and a commitment to serving the public.

It was at Citroën’s Design Centre that this distinctive project took shape, driven by a clear intention: to give a tangible and characterful face to this institutional partnership. Drawing on the history and distinctive marks of the Marine nationale, the designers have reinterpreted the C3 Aircross to make it much more than just a commemorative concept car. The result is a vehicle with a bold style, both robust and symbolic.

With this show car, Citroën remains true to its DNA: devising bold, meaningful concepts that are firmly rooted in real-world use. The C3 Aircross Marine nationale does more than simply display striking visual features; it tells a story – that of two French institutions which, for over a century in one case and four hundred years in the other, have made innovation and service their raison d’être.

The choice of the C3 Aircross is no coincidence. It highlights the qualities of this compact, robust and very spacious SUV, which can accommodate up to seven people in a length of 4.40m, is available with a range of powertrain options and is affordable, designed to support as many people as possible in all aspects of their active lives.

AN EXTERIOR DESIGN CENTRED ON PROTECTION AND THE MISSION

From the very first glance, the C3 Aircross Marine Nationale makes a statement that leaves no doubt as to its intentions. The bumpers have been completely redesigned and convey an impression of absolute solidity and reliability, as if the vehicle were built to tackle the most demanding conditions. Its vertical and horizontal lines convey robustness, pride, protection and stability on the road.

References to the naval world permeate every detail of the bodywork. The slatted fog lights, for example, are a direct nod to the lamps used by sailors to communicate in Morse code between ships. The widened wheel arches, meanwhile, accentuate the vehicle’s muscular stance and reinforce this impression of contained power, ready to be unleashed whenever the mission demands it.

The show car’s operational purpose is also evident in its equipment. The 17-inch wheels, fitted with 275 mm knobbly tyres, are sized to tackle any terrain, providing the traction needed to reach an incident site quickly.

The roof rack mounted on the roof bars is specially designed to carry the bags and equipment of the Navy’s divers. Its herringbone pattern, reminiscent of the rank insignia worn by second masters or quartermasters, has been treated with an ultra-impact-resistant paint to withstand the rigours of the terrain.

This functional approach extends even to the accessories: the tow hooks have been redesigned to mimic the shape of boat mooring cleats, whilst the straps – which here replace the usual Colour Clips – feature a distinctive Infra Red colour, signalling their functional role with immediate visual clarity. Every element, however discreet, contributes to the overall coherence of this show car.

A VISUAL IDENTITY TRUE TO THE MARINE NATIONALE’S STYLE FEATURES

The use of colours, materials and finishes reflects a total immersion in the maritime world. The bodywork is painted in a deep storm blue, chosen for its ability to evoke the ocean, and the grey roof to recall the colour of ship hulls. This contrasts with the roof, finished in glossy light grey – a reference to the white foam in a ship’s wake and cloudy seaside skies – to give the car as a whole a silhouette that is both bold and consistent with the Marine nationale’s signature colour scheme.

Graphic customisation completes this strong visual identity. A black sticker bearing the message ‘400 years of the Marine nationale’ is positioned in the door sills, whilst a tricolour cockade adorned with an anchor decorates the rear pillar – two elements that clearly emphasise the show car’s commemorative and institutional character without ever compromising the overall clarity or elegance of the design.

AN IMMERSIVE INTERIOR INSPIRED BY LIFE ON BOARD

The interior of the C3 Aircross Marine nationale powerfully extends the world conveyed by its exterior design. The signature InfraRed, Citroën’s signature colour, features on the brand logo on the exterior as well as on the logo in the centre of the steering wheel.

But it is at night that the experience truly comes into its own: the cabin is then illuminated in a deep red, a direct reference to the lighting used on board submarines to help the crew maintain their sense of the day/night cycle. It is a subtle and poetic way of bringing the underwater world into the cabin, and of giving a tangible meaning to the concept of ‘crew’.

The care taken with the materials reinforces this narrative coherence. The light grey fabric used on the upper part of the seats has been specially designed to reflect the red night-time light, creating a striking visual effect that immerses passengers in a uniform, hushed atmosphere.

The seat cushions are embossed with a pattern that evokes comfort, whilst ‘400 years’ logos in PVC – a nod to the world of sportswear – personalise the front seats. Finally, a tricolour blue-white-red trim borders the dashboard, adding a subtle institutional touch that ties the entire interior design together.

Design Team:

• Alicia Kate Mouilleron, Design Project Manager

• Antoine Gaillot, Head of Advanced Design

• Armand Hervé, Exterior Designer

• Alix Bovy, CMF Designer (Colour, Material & Finishes)

Pictures :

Pictures C3 Aircross Marine Nationale

Peccato non parlino delle modifiche meccaniche, immagino ci sia della sostanza, no? Sicuramente le sospensioni sono rialzate, sarebbe interessante se avesse anche il motore posteriore della Grande Panda 4x4.

(chissà se i fendinebbia sono quelli del concept Fiat, ma con la griglia di protezione)

Tutto fumo e niente arrosto come la Opel Frontera Gravel