Citroen's Cactus concept to come to Frankfurt

Citroen has unveiled its Cactus Concept. The concept car is aimed at efficiency with a focus on aerodynamics and being light in weight. The C-segment crossover concept will make it to the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show.

The Airbump has air capsules which absorb low speed impacts and protect the car's body from damage

Featuring flowing contours and a 'floating' roof, the Cactus Concept previews future models from Citroen's C-line of cars. The Cactus has a front end which looks rather uptight and is interestingly surrounded by what Citroen calls "Airbumps". The Airbump has air capsules which absorb low speed impacts and protect the car's body from damage. They also get lamps built into them. The headlamps of the Cactus Concept, although fairly unconventional, share slight similarities with the ones on the C4 Picasso. The signature styling also get the LED daytime running lights. The Airbump at the rear, that protects the boot, gets Citron's 3D-effect LEDs for illumination.

Other aesthetics include blackened wheel arches, glossy black roof rack and a large panoramic sunroof.

Other aesthetics include blackened wheel arches, glossy black roof rack and a large panoramic sunroof

On the inside, the driver gets all the controls in complete digital format. The front seats are sofa-style to increase the comfort quotient and give an upmarket feel. The instrument cluster is replaced with a 7" screen and all other vehicular controls are on an 8" touchpad. The passenger airbag comes down from the ceiling and the gear system incorporates push-button controls combined with steering-wheel paddles. Natural materials such as cotton fabric and 'camel' leather are used generously in the cabin, including on the steering wheel trim, seats and door handles.

On the inside, the driver gets all the controls in complete digital format

Nothing specific has been revealed about what powers the vehicle, but a "Hybrid Air drivetrain" has been spoken of. It is a full-hybrid, compressed air and hydraulics system, which is in sync with a PureTech engine to deliver high fuel economy. It is a clear effort to control running costs and reduce environmental footprint. The vehicle will also have access to the CITROËN Multicity Connect portal. This technology is a portal of web-connected applications that use vehicle data like mileage, speed, range and GPS position, to provide information related to traffic delays, service stations or tourist destinations.

While a few features maybe dropped out of the production models, the concept does ignite some fresh ideas.