CONCEPT CAR / Citroën C-CACTUS

CONCEPT CAR / Citroën C-CACTUS

Lego Citroën

The French car maker vows to build a car that uses less fuel, emit less, and sell for less

Ah, not another crazy French concept car?!?

Oui, this is a French concept car from Citroën called the C-Cactus but, non, the idea behind it isn't as crazy as it looks. You see, it's a compact hatchback with a clean diesel-electric hybrid powertrain and composed of ecologically friendly materials.

- I see, so it's the future of Eco-car?

It's Citroën's showcase of feasible future eco-car features. The underlying platform is borrowed from the existing C4 compact hatch with a 70hp HDi diesel engine with particulate filter and five-speed auto coupled to a 30hp electric motor. It's combined cycle fuel consumption is rated at frugal 34.5kpl and CO2 emission of just 78g/km. It can also be driven in electric only mode as well.

- Why is it named after the thorny desert tree?

A Cactus is a natural wonder that can adapt itself so well to extreme environment by consuming resources efficiently - so does this car.

- It looks huge,doesn't it? The big 21-inch wheels exaggerate the proportions somewhat but it's only 4,200mm long, 1,800mm wide and 1,490mm high. The 2,800mm long wheelbase allow plenty of interior space. With extensive composite body and interior materials, the kerb weight is a relatively light 1,180kg.

- Why does the front and rear look so similar?

That's the beauty of simplification you see, the integral front grille, bumper and headlights uses the same mould as the bottom half of the tailgate ingenious, right?

- 'Cos it's gonna be a cheap car, right?

Not exactly cheap, but affordable - Citroën hopes to sell the hybrid at the same price as an entry level C4.

- What? Will it use Lego pieces for parts?

Uh, no. The key to cutting costs is to design a car that comprise as few parts as possible. For example, the interior is made up of only half the number of parts as a conventional car and the steel door panel has only two parts instead of 12 and unpainted for easier recycling.

The front seat comprises only two parts: a moulded composite seat base and the a one-piece glued on cushion. The front seats share the same lengthwise railings as the rear bench. And no window rolling mechanism.

- So, how do you open the window, then?

You don't! You slide them, quite like in a prototype race car, you see.

- And how else, apart from being fuel economical, is it an ecologically friendly car?

By requiring less parts, less energy would be needed to produce them. Also most of the parts are recyclable. And many of these recyclable parts are organically sourced - such as floor mats made of recycled leather bits and felt fabric made of pure natural non-chemically treated biodegradable wool.

Plus the car runs on advanced Michelin tyres to save as much energy as possible.

- What, no dashboard? Is this a cart !?!

Ah no, it's very civilised and futuristic, actually. All the car information is displayed on a touchscreen in the middle of the fixed wheel hub the steering wheel rotates around it, Citroën style. All the conventional stalks and levers usually on the steering wheel column have been converted to buttons on the hub instead.

- I don't see a keyhole...

There isn't one, because there's no key to use. To start the car, you touch this cute little MP3 player on the hub's touch screen and the car comes to life!

- Cool... but no air-con and stereo?

See that bright LCD screen on the centre console - touch it and you can control the air-con, stereo and sat-nav.

- So, what stuff here can we expect to see in future production car?

Of course, you would never get to buy such an ugly looking car as this, but since most of the innovative design ideas are based on cost-cutting simplification principles, they stand a good chance of making it into production.

And with the PSA (the Peugeot-Citroën group) declaring commitment to develop diesel-electric hybrid by 2010 and to become Europe's most cost-efficient car maker right afterwards, we know the resulting products will be very interesting.