Cactus sharpens up with Rip Curl edition
CITROEN is expanding its popular Cactus line-up with a new Rip Curl special edition.
The newcomer marks a collaboration between the French car company and the surfing brand – with the emphasis on fun.
It means Cactus fans can opt for a variant that’s more technologically advanced, with a higher level of all-road performance.
Citroen says the C4 Cactus Rip Curl’s major innovation is enhanced traction, and it is the only version to come with the manufacturer’s Grip Control set-up while the car also features special Mud & Snow tyres.
Grip Control provides the benefit of intelligent traction in ‘off-road’ mode using an advanced, anti-skid function built into the ESP computer, which and there is now a high-octane DS 3 performance model for the boyracer brigade.
This car was a little more restrained, powered by the manufacturer’s established 120ps BlueHDi turbo diesel engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission and incorporating an automatic start and stop system.
With claimed average fuel economy of almost 80 miles per gallon and carbon emissions of just 94g/km, this is obviously a sensible option in terms of keeping running costs down and being friendly to the environment.
But that doesn’t mean compromising on the fun, because manages the traction from the front wheels, and has several other modes for different types of terrain.
As for styling the Rip Curl heralds the likes of white door mirrors, white roof-bars and a white vertical strip on the wings – plus the Rip Curl logo.
It also features front and rear aluminium-coloured protection plates and the signature Airbump that protects the Cactus bodywork which is available in a range of optional colours.
Inside, the orange safety belts contrast with the Mica Grey fabric seats while the floor mats feature orange stitching and a label bearing the surfing brand’s logo. with the DS 3’s compact, lightweight chassis, well-balanced setup and sharp throttle response this combination still provides plenty of zip, either in town or on the open road.
Accurate steering and a snappy gearshift offer the driver plenty of engagement and although it falls slightly short of the MINI’s classleading dynamics there’s certainly plenty to smile about here.
Where the DS 3 does trump the MINI is in the space department.
Although rear seat passengers will never be stretching out in any supermini there is sufficient room in the back for a couple of adults to feel comfortable on short trips while the
And the car’s loudspeakers are also finished in orange.
As for trim, the Rip Curl is based on the Flair grade with standard kit boot, at 285 litres, is much bigger than that of its competitor.
The DS 3’s interior has always been of good quality and that is unchanged. The Prestige trim car sits just below the range-topping spec and boasted a gloss-black centre console housing an intuitive seven-inch touchscreen and clear and easy-to-use controls for the aircon and heater.
There were also plenty of softtouch materials and an abundance of leather and chrome trim at this grade – all giving the DS 3 the sort of upmarket feel that its new brand aspires to.
Satnav, front and rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, including rear parking sensors and camera, auto climate control, auto headlamps and front wipers, sat-nav, six-speaker MP3 audio, cruise tinted rear windows, heated, electric-folding wing mirrors, a collision-mitigation braking system and stability control are all included in a generous package of comfort, convenience and safety kit.
Full-leather upholstery, an upgraded infotainment system with mobile phone screen mirroring and a reversing camera were among the optional extras that gave my car a real luxury feel… but also added £2,000 to the purchase price.
Such niceties are the icing on the cake, though, and even without them the DS 3 still boasts enough character and style to ensure it will remain a popular choice with its new DS-only identity. control/speed limiter and tinted windows.
There’s also a panoramic glass roof with thermal protection.