The world is changing and so are consumer expectations, shifting at growing speed. And cars? CITROËN has an answer to the questions of the day, a real alternative to the compact hatchback: the CITROËN C4 CACTUS. In the fiercely competitive C segment with its apparently immutable design cues, the CITROËN C4 CACTUS stands apart with a unique design that is both functional and attractive. An original vehicle that meets a specific challenge: to bring customers more of what really matters.

The CITROËN C4 CACTUS heralds a new order in automotive design:

• more design
• more comfort
• more useful technology

…with optimised cost of ownership!

To solve the equation, CITROËN has adopted an original approach:

Place greater emphasis on what really matters to customers. Adopt technological innovations reflecting decisive choices in design, comfort, convenience and running costs:

• Airbump, an innovation by CITROËN. Useful, attractive and customisable, this graphic feature enhances vehicle design while protecting the bodywork.
• A fully digital, intuitive interface and airy, connected driving position with controls grouped around a 7-inch touch screen, fitted as standard.
• Wide sofa-style seats at the front.
• Front passenger airbag transferred to the roof (Airbag In Roof technology), a world exclusive that creates more room and storage space for the front passenger.
• A panoramic glazed roof with advanced heat protection to let the light in while protecting passengers from the heat.

Cut running costs by doing away with the superfluous. By combining an optimised platform with efficient latest-generation engines, CITROËN has been able to reduce the weight of its new vehicle by 200 kg compared with a CITROËN C4. Result: driveability and low fuel consumption (just 82g of CO2/km or 3.1l/100 km for the diesel version and less than 100g of CO2/km for the petrol version).

MORE DESIGN
More design means reconciling looks and function, identifying the ideal volumes and extending the pursuit of efficiency to the slightest detail.

The CITROËN C4 CACTUS has unique styling that is both memorable and easy to identify, like all the cars that have made their mark on their times. A design that features:

• pure, smooth surfaces,
• flowing lines with no aggressive edges,
• a floating quarter-light and roof,
• a high-tech light signature with daytime-running LED lights and headlights built into the Airbump,
• visual features that each highlight a given function (protection with the Airbumps and wheel arches, transport with the roof bars, and light with the large panoramic glazed roof and advanced heat protection).

Airbump: a CITROËN exclusive
Airbump sum up the fundamental purpose of design: to combine style and function. Fitted on the sides and bumpers of the CITROËN C4 CACTUS, they add graphic structure to the pure, smooth lines. Available in four colours (Black, Grey, Dune and Chocolate), they can be matched with the ten body colours and three choices of interior ambience (Ambiance Stone Grey, Pack Habana Inside and Pack Purple Inside) to offer a wide range of possibilities for customisation.
Above all, they provide real day-to-day protection. The supple TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) skin comprises air capsules to absorb impacts. The Airbump require no specific maintenance and directly contribute to cutting vehicle servicing and repair costs.

This attractive, functional innovation makes city driving a more relaxing experience. The proportions of the CITROËN C4 CACTUS are optimised for styling, space and driving comfort:

• a 2.60m wheelbase (equivalent to a CITROËN C4) placing the emphasis on space,
• the dimensions of a compact hatchback (length: 4.16m, width: 1.73m),
• an ideal profile in terms of styling with 1/3 glazed areas and 2/3 side panels.
• optimised height of just 1.48m for improved aerodynamics,
• shorter overhangs placing the wheels in the four corners.

MORE COMFORT
The first way to increase comfort is to free up space for the driver and passengers. To declutter the cabin for a friendlier, more relaxed ambience.

The low dashboard with its horizontal lines creates more space for the front passenger, with generous, easily accessible storage. This result was obtained by adopting a fully digital interface and optimising the driving position layout:

• passenger airbag transferred to the roof (Airbag In Roof technology) and deployed over the length of the windscreen, rather than in the dashboard as usual,
• control buttons replaced by a 7-inch touch screen grouping all vehicle functions (air conditioning, media, navigation, parameters, telephone, connected services and driving aids),
• conventional instrument cluster replaced by a digital screen,
• on versions with the ETG clutchless gearbox, the conventional gearlever is replaced by the "Easy Push" system. This simplified control function comprises a "D,N,R" selection knob on the lower fascia and steering-wheel paddles for changing gears manually.

The wide front seats also reap the benefits of this new architectural approach, with a sofa-style design for a more comfortable, user-friendly ambience.

At the rear, passenger knee room is similar to that on the CITROËN C4. For an equivalent wheelbase, the CITROËN C4 CACTUS provides the same amount of space for more compact exterior dimensions. It is just 4.16m long, for easy driving and handling in the city. It also provides generous boot capacity of 358 litres.

The second way to enhance comfort is through the ambience, which should be both relaxed and elegant. The clean design lines of the cabin showcase the interior styling. The overall effect suggests the theme of travel, with a nod to the world of luggage design:

• door handles that take the form of leather straps, bringing to mind luggage trunks, and a storage compartment with hinge fittings and a pattern in relief on the top part of the dashboard,
• seat upholstery, door trim and dashboard in a choice of three colours: Ambiance Stone Grey, Pack Purple Inside and Pack Habana Inside.

MORE USEFUL TECHNOLOGY
Easy to use, connected and accessible to all, the technologies featured on the CITROËN C4 CACTUS focus on motorists' real needs: A fully digital, intuitive full touch driving interface Fitted as standard, a 7-inch touch screen with seven sensitive buttons, gives access to a full range of modern vehicle functions (depending on version):

• automatic air conditioning,
• media (including the digital radio, audio streaming, connection of mobile appliances, and functions to store music and display photos),
• navigation (perspective view of maps, speed limit display, taking account of traffic conditions and enabling you to select the most fuel-efficient route),
• driving aids (display of reversing camera, Park Assist, programmable speed limiter-cruise control),
• a telephone (hands-free function via the Bluetooth connection, directory access, display of profile photos and double call management),
• connected services (CITROËN Multicity Connect portal via a 3G connection),
• parameter settings (including an interactive onboard manual).

All these controls are grouped on a single screen in order to be continuously available. The CITROËN C4 CACTUS can also be connected to the CITROËN Multicity Connect application portal, controlled from the 7-inch touch screen with a 3G connection. A range of apps designed for the road make life easier for both driver and passengers:

• use the "Fuel" app to find the nearest and/or cheapest service station;
• look for a hotel or restaurant with the "Yellow Pages" or "Trip Advisor" apps;
• check the "Michelin Traffic" app for traffic information
• or the "Coyote" app for alerts on high-risk zones.

All these applications are fully integrated with the driving interface. They can thus take account of all vehicle-related information (position, speed, route, fuel level, etc.) to provide the right information at the right time and anticipate driver needs in all circumstances.

100% USEFUL DRIVING AIDS
For a more relaxed drive, the CITROËN C4 CACTUS features a range of driving aids selected to make life easier for the driver:

• For easy parking, the Park Assist system helps to find a parking space and carries out parking manoeuvres automatically when a suitable space has been found. The driver need only operate the accelerator and brake.
• The reversing camera makes light work of parking manoeuvres with the image displayed by the touch screen.
• Hill-start assist keeps the vehicle steady for two seconds on a slope. It lets you start up again easily on slopes with a gradient of over 3% without the vehicle slipping back when you release the brake pedal.
• Static cornering lights provide an additional beam of light to light up the inside of bends and improve visibility and safety at corners and junctions.
• The CITROËN eTouch service includes a localised emergency and assistance call system, depending on the country. These two free 24/7 services rely on an integrated SIM card. In the event of an incident or accident, they ensure that the emergency services can locate and reach the vehicle promptly.

Technological innovations for increased comfort
Onboard comfort with a large panoramic sunroof featuring advanced heat protection (the best on the market), designed to filter incoming light and to keep the heat out.

With properties similar to category 4 sunglasses, it provides effective protection from UV rays. Excellent light, heat and acoustic protection make it unnecessary to fit a blind. This reduces vehicle weight by 6kg and also improves weight distribution, lowering the centre of gravity for an improved ride.

Driving comfort with "Smart Wash", a simple, ingenious innovation that does away with problems of visibility when washing the windscreen. The windscreen washer nozzles are built into the tips of the wipers and release just a small quantity of fluid. This maintains visibility during washing while also halving the quantity of fluid required compared with a conventional system.

…WITH OPTIMISED COST OF OWNERSHIP

Deliver more of what is really important for customers while remaining affordable. To solve this equation CITROËN adopted a pragmatic approach. A vehicle budget includes not only the purchasing price but also the running costs (fuel, servicing, etc.). CITROËN's objective is therefore to bring customers a pertinent response to each issue.

Supporting customers from purchase through to resale
Adopting an approach similar to mobile phone call plans, CITROËN brings C4 CACTUS customers a range of purchasing solutions in the form of a monthly flat-rate or mileage-based payment, depending on the country.

This service, which is the first of its kind on the market, covers all expenditure other than fuel during the period of agreement: financing, insurance and servicing. 

For a fixed monthly payment, customers can select vehicle trim (equipment, engines, etc.) and the level of service they require without exceeding their budget (type of coverage, all-in or mileage based, etc.).

Cutting fuel consumption
To reduce fuel consumption without using costly technologies, it is important to increase efficiency and do away with the superfluous. By making the vehicle lighter, CITROËN has been able to adopt smaller latest generation engines. This has the advantage of cutting fuel consumption while maintaining driveability.
The vehicle weighs 965 kg, 200 kg less overall than a CITROËN C4. This reduction was achieved through decisive choices:

• a compact, lightweight platform,
• small latest-generation engines meeting the future Euro6 standard (PureTech petrol and BlueHDi diesel with the Stop & Start system),
• high-performance materials: very high yield-strength steel, aluminium for the bonnet and front and rear beams.
• weight-reducing features: aluminium bonnet, pop-out rear windows (-11 kg), and single-piece folding rear bench. (-6 kg).

As a result, the CITROËN C4 CACTUS is available in a petrol version emitting less than100g of CO2/km and a diesel version emitting a mere 82g of CO2/km for fuel consumption of just 3.1l/100 km.

Bringing breakthrough reductions in the cost of ownership
Looking beyond fuel consumption, CITROËN has reduced the overall running costs of the CITROËN C4 CACTUS by almost 20% compared with the benchmark in the compact hatchback segment. As a result of the efforts made to optimise weight, the consumption of wear parts has been significantly reduced. And thanks to the Airbump, repair costs are also considerably lower.

Citroen Australia has expressed interest in bringing the car to Australia.

``We are still very interested and we want to make this available for Australians,'' says Citroen Automobiles Australia National Marketing Manager, Manuel Tyras.

``We've put a business proposal to PSA in Paris and we are in the initial stages of review now that we know a RHD is available. Things should be a lot clearer in the second half of this year.''

The CITROËN brand
CITROËN was born over 90 years ago at the feet of the Eiffel Tower. A dynamic and creative brand, in 2010 it launched the DS line, a new line of distinctive products that today features the DS3, DS4 and DS5. Building on its "Créative Technologie" positioning, CITROËN markets a range including a full-electric car as well as vehicles equipped with e-HDi micro-hybrid and Hybrid4 full hybrid technology. The brand's technological advance is also on show in the World Rally Championship, where it has amassed seven Constructors' titles. In addition, the Marque is innovating in services with the CITROËN MULTICITY mobility offering.

*submitted to the official results by the FIA