Like most other mainstream car makers, Citroen too initiates a downsizing program by launching a new series of three-cylinder engines under the PureTech slogan. Available initially on C3, DS3 and C-Elysée, they come in two 1.0 liter and 1.2 liter versions, with outputs of 68hp to 82hp (50 to 60 kW).

So the power is shabby. But that doesn’t matter when you choose a three-cylinder engine. You know you won’t get power. What you are after is fuel economy, and these PureTech petrol engines deliver the goods, averaging between 65.7mpg and 61.4mpg (4.3 and 4.6 l/100 km) with CO₂ emissions ranging from 99 to 107g/km.

Apart from being small, light and compact, PureTech engines also feature the latest technologies to be as efficient as possible, while remaining reasonably satisfactory to live with.

They have  with two overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder controlled with mechanical push rods for fill-up, and variable hydraulic timing for the intake and exhaust camshafts. That’s an efficient system which also results in better performance at low and medium engine speeds. They also have a bespoke engine electronic management system that optimise battery charge, with freewheel alternator operation used to a maximum when it requires no energy expenditure.