New Citroen C4 Cactus
Exclusive image shows dramatic rethink for Cactus
CITROEN is preparing a ‘bold’ new version of the C4 Cactus that will see the car morph from a crossover into a more conventional hatchback, Auto Express understands. And our exclusive image (above) shows how it could look.
With the C3 Aircross, revealed last week, and the C5 Aircross seen at the Shanghai Motor Show in April, the current C4 Cactus will be squeezed out of its position in the range, as the new cars fulfil the maker’s need for superminisized and mid-sized SUVS respectively.
Citroen CEO Linda Jackson told Auto Express: “The C4 Cactus is about ready for its mid-life change, and it will evolve slightly. The way that we will change it will mean that it will fit even better into the core model strategy. You know at Citroen we never do anything conventional.”
It’s likely that the Cactus will sit alongside the ageing C4 hatchback, which in its current generation, has been on sale since 2011. Product planning boss Xavier Peugeot added: “We want to give a successor, but we want to show it in coherence with the current strategy, to be bold, to be efficient in terms of comfort. We will reveal it in less than a year.
“We want to keep the spirit of Cactus alive. The main ingredients were a kickoff to develop the core model strategy of Citroen. We want to be different and to put a clear emphasis on comfort.”
As our exclusive image shows, the car won’t step away from its bold styling – but will be lower and less Suv-like than the model it replaces. The unique Airbumps on the sides of the current car are a distinctive feature, but it’s likely that the new Cactus will do without them.
Xavier Peugeot added: “We need to avoid being prisoners of certain items such as the Airbumps, so we will play them like cards differently according to the models, the segments and the regions.
“This is why we will be revealing new cars in the coming months with different ways of keeping the Airbumps alive.”
The updated Cactus will also be the first car to feature Citroen’s new ‘Progressive Hydraulic Cushion’ suspension system.
“It’s likely that the new Cactus will sit alongside the ageing C4 hatch”