CITROËN C-Cactus

A new, ecological and attractive take on the essential car - upgraded from Concept to Project

Citroën continues to innovate and lead the way forward in the automotive world with C-Cactus, a concept car combining environmental respect, vivacious styling and a judicious price-equipment ratio. In a major event at this year’s Paris Motor Show, the Marque is presenting an electric-powered version of C-Cactus, illustrating the breadth of its environmental research and development.

The originality and creativity of C-Cactus brought it immediate acclaim. Citroën has thus decided to launch a project based directly on the concept car.

C-Cactus explores new vehicle design processes. The emphasis during development was on environmental technology and styling, with designers abandoning equipment that was not vital to passenger comfort. By carefully considering materials and simplifying the design, they were able to reduce the number of parts, using just over 200 for the cabin. This is almost half the number used by a regular same-size hatchback.

A range of engines could be envisaged for this new project:
- an optimised petrol version using the 1-litre unit developed by PSA Peugeot Citroën,
- a HYmotion2 hybrid featuring a combustion engine and an electric motor,
- a 100% electric model, for use in the city and suburbs, perfect for the increasing number of short journeys people are making, especially businesses and town government.

Citroën is unveiling the electric version at the Paris Motor Show. With zero emissions (0 g/km of CO2), the all-electric C-Cactus is a bona fide environmental performer. And needs less fuel than a cactus does water!

C-Cactus is a vehicle for the future that takes the process one step further: pragmatism without sacrificing pleasure. This concept car explores new forms of design based on clear choices. It places the emphasis on ecological technology and styling, keeping only the equipment that is essential to the comfort of the occupants and that is both valued and useful.

A car of its times, relaxed and confident, C-Cactus is taking advantage of the 2009 Geneva Motor Show to place the emphasis on multiple forms of expression. On one side, green shapes with precisely drawn lines express an ecological approach, illustrated by the electric drive train of the concept car.

On the other side, the dominant colour is red. Bright swathes of colour and curving lines make a colourful and optimistic statement, expressing an alternative view of ecology, represented here by the thinking behind C-Cactus.