Wednesday 19th February 2014

C4 Cactus: Citroen back on form?

We like eccentric Citroens of old around here - ready for a new one?

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When the Citroen C4 Cactus takes a bow at the Geneva motor show next month, we predict this innovative yet no-nonsense machine will capture the attention of a lot of folk delighted that Citroen is back to its quirky best. We'll explain why we think the Cactus will be PH-worthy when it goes on sale late summer. For a start this rival to Ford Focus or Nissan Qashqai weighs just 965kg. That's 200kg less than a comparable Citroen C4 hatchback.

Adventure edition for Geneva looks like fun

So far we're told this is down to a lightweight platform with aluminum elements as well as weight saving inside such as a single fold-down bench and pop-up (rather than winding) rear windows, the latter addition saving 11kg. As you've gathered this isn't a complicated car. It's not quite at Dacia Duster level in terms of cost with an expected start price of around £15,000, but this goes beyond merely budget to offer some interesting but still useful quirks.

Chief among those quirks are the Airbumps which are exactly that - air-filled capsules within a plastic skin to absorb light impacts like car park door dings. It also gives the car the appealing look of a old US 'woody' in contrasting colours. The inside is interesting too - the front seat is done as a bench, albeit without the ability to stick a third person in the front. The passenger airbag is in the roof to free space on the dash and there are some nice details, like the luggage-strap inspired door pulls. The boot's not huge but okay at 358 litres.

Standard car even more appealing in reality

The engine line-up so far we're told is frugal, with the diesel managing 91mpg, at least officially, and both the petrol and diesel going under 100g/km of CO2. The petrol engine isn't confirmed but we think it's the same 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo making a peppy 130hp that Citroen has already said is going in the C4. In the much lighter Cactus we reckon it'll be a great fit.

At 1.5 metres high, the Cactus is not quite SUV lofty compared to the Qashqai's 1.6m but it's definitely got that crossover chunkiness. Citroen has emphasized that with a concept it'll have at Geneva called the Aventure that pumps up the looks with some BF Goodrich mud terrains, bull bars and urban camo paint. But the car doesn't really need that and anyway, unlike the Duster it probably won't be offered with four-wheel-drive.

We love the idea of it and reckon the looks of the standard car are pretty much spot on. If it can drive with a nimbleness that its low-weight and zippy little petrol turbo suggest it should, then we might have a PH hit on our hands. Or have we lost our senses?

[Quickmoose]

Citreon shoots and scores...

Fancy DS range at one end, with soemthing to replace the C6 please.
Cactus at the other.

Stop chasing VAG/BMW/Ford etc...do your own thing!

[mikeyr]

Like this wayyyyy too much! Will it be a good steer though?

[LandRoverGod]

Love that quirky French design! Especially the chocolate bars they've bolted to the side.

[anonymous-user]

Brilliant! Can't wait to hear more about this, I hope it sells well, and yes, steers well.

Under a ton is a nice achievement, there's something of the 2CV clarity of purpose and functionality about this that I really like. How refreshing to see something different. Makes an i3 look like an awful choice for me (accepting it will be just perfect for others)- small, economical, low emission and please be good to drive.

[Tuvra]

This:

And I want everything done in black matte paint please

Great vehicle, lets hope they put sufficient engines in!

[anonymous-user]

Wow, looks great, really great. Lets hope this is a new direction for Citroen and cars in general.

[Mercury00]

I don't like it at all, it looks like a bar of soap.

[TurboHatchback]

I like it, the weight sounds excellent as it doesn't look like a small vehicle. The adventure version with the mud terrains looks rather silly particularly if it only comes with FWD but the vehicle as a whole is a good concept.

[McWigglebum4th]

Can you imagine a modern DS with the drivetrain from an ampera

[geeks]

Tuvra said:

This:

And I want everything done in black matte paint please

Great vehicle, lets hope they put sufficient engines in!

Utterly rediculous....

I want one too... Can i have mine in orange with matt black effects please?

[Bluebarge]

Like it. The concept reminds me a bit of the Matra Simca Rancho.

[G0ldfysh]

Drive configuration?
Is it 4wd, or just for looks, the lightweight will help but 90hp with those tyres.

I want to be convinced but don't feel it at the moment.

[Engineer1]

I like that and would be tempted to have one at the right price, could be the perfect family car, the only thing split fold rear seats mean you can be 3 up with a load folding bench seats mean 2 up with a load.

[VeeDub Geezer]

Tuvra said:

This:

And I want everything done in black matte paint please

Great vehicle, lets hope they put sufficient engines in!

I liked the standard Cactus when I saw it announced. I missed this Adventure edition though. That looks fantastic.



Great to have Citroen back to doing what they do best.

Will there not be a four wheel drive option? They've got the technology from Mitsubishi to make it happen.

Edited by VeeDub Geezer on Wednesday 19th February 12:17

[smash]

Ideal promotional vehicle....

[LandRoverGod]

Tuvra said:

This:

And I want everything done in black matte paint please

Great vehicle, lets hope they put sufficient engines in!

That configuration puts me in mind of a smaller, half arsed version of the Toyota FJ Cruiser, don't know why, but it does. At least they had the good sense to put BFGs on steelies.

[Quickmoose]

I don't think they'll be an AWD drive option...why bother? it just adds weight and complexity to a simple idea.
The whole ethos of this car is superb, keep chassis simple and light reduce wheel size, unsprung weight, reduce comlpexity, suspension is cheaper and lighter, the whole mecahincs and physics of controlling the thing get easier...not chasing top end BHP or 0-60... but hopefully chasing some 'fun'??

The only down sides I can see, are the lack of split/fold rear seats, the A pillar, black paint fiasco and the floating roof design that has door shut lines carved through it...messy...

[court]

I like how they're going to be selling a C segment car with the platform of a B segment. Genius.

[CrispyMK]

Tuvra said:

This:

Not helping with the French stereotype though.......they've added a little white flag so you're always ready to surrender.

[menoy]

Loving the direction Citroen are going - styling wise it's a hit chasing a hit. DS3, DS5, this... even the 'normal' cars are good looking, C-Elysee, C4 Picasso (!!) etc. Wonderful. Amazing achievement with sub 1t weight too. Just hope they don't mess this up with the engines.. 4x4 option would be awesome too.