Citroën Cactus concept revealed

One of the more significant concepts unveiled at this year’s Frankfurt motor show was the Cactus, as it previews the future design direction for Citroën’s C-line range.

In an attempt to further differentiate them from the more upmarket DS models, the C-line cars are to focus on functionality and efficiency while retaining more than a modicum of style. Reflecting that ethos, the look of the Cactus is described by Citroën as being non-aggressive and pure.

Notable elements include the ‘floating’ roof, substantial black wheel arches, high ground clearance and a large cabin volume. One unique feature is the Airbump, a soft-skinned air capsule which is attached to vulnerable areas of the bodywork to protect against everyday scrapes.

On the inside, the main objective has been to provide maximum passenger space and comfort, something that’s helped by the Cactus’ long wheelbase. Sofa-style seat benches upholstered in cotton and leather are used front and rear, while the minimalist dashboard incorporates a 7” screen for the instruments and an 8” touchscreen to control most of the other functions.

Whether every aspect of the concept makes it into production remains to be seen, though. That includes the powertrain, which uses a compressed air-based hybrid system to achieve a claimed fuel economy figure of over 94 mpg (around 3.0 l/100km).

Related posts:
2014 Citroën Grand C4 Picasso
2014 Citroën C4 Picasso
Citroën Numéro 9 concept