Citroen C4 Cactus (2015)

This simplified function comprises a 'Drive, Neutral, Reverse' (D,N,R) selection control on the lower fascia and steering wheel paddles to allow the driver to change gears manually.

The driver and front passenger both gain from this new interior architecture. The wide front seats are designed in the style of a sofa, to create a more comfortable and user-friendly ambience in the cabin.

In the rear, passenger legroom is similar to that of the Citroën C4. With an equivalent wheelbase, new C4 Cactus provides the same amount of space, but with more compact exterior dimensions. At just 4.16m long - for easy driving and handling in the city - the new Citroën C4 Cactus also provides generous boot capacity of 358-litres.

The second way to enhance comfort is through the on-board environment, which should be both relaxed and elegant. The clean design lines of the cabin underpin the interior styling, while the overall effect evokes the theme of travel, with a nod to the world of luggage design, including:

• Door handles that take the form of luggage inspired leather straps
• A storage compartment on the top part of the dashboard, with hinge fittings & a relief pattern
• Seat upholstery, door trim & dashboard in a choice of three colours; Stone Grey, Purple Highlight & Habana Highlight

MORE USEFUL TECHNOLOGY

With a focus on ease of use, connectivity and accessibility, the technologies featured on the new Citroën C4 Cactus focus on the real needs of today's motorists.

A fully digital & intuitive touchscreen interface

Fitted as standard, a 7-inch touchscreen featuring seven main control buttons gives access to a full range of modern vehicle functions, including:

• Automatic air conditioning
• Media (digital radio, audio streaming, connection of mobile devices & functions to store music or display photos)
• Navigation (speed limit display, traffic updates & efficient route options)
• Driving aids (reversing camera, Park Assist, programmable speed limiter & cruise control)
• Telephone (hands-free function via Bluetooth®, phonebook access, display of profile photos & double call management)
• Connected services (Citroën Multicity Connect portal via a 3G connection)
• Parameter settings (including an interactive on-board manual).

All these controls are grouped on a single screen, ensuring they are always easily accessible.

Amongst the useful technologies is the Citroën Multicity Connect application portal. Controlled from the 7-inch touchscreen, this portal offers a range of apps designed to making life easier for all occupants. Applications include:

• 'Fuel' app, allowing motorists to find the nearest and/or cheapest service station
• 'Yellow Pages' & 'Trip Advisor' apps, which help to locate hotels & restaurants
• 'Michelin Traffic' app, providing live traffic information
• 'Coyote' app, providing alerts on high-risk roads

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

100% useful driving aids

For a more relaxed drive, the new Citroën C4 Cactus features a range of driving aids to make life easier:

• Park Assist carries out parking manoeuvres automatically when a suitable space has been identified.
• The driver only needs to operate the accelerator & brake
• A reversing camera makes light work of parking manoeuvres with the image displayed on the touchscreen, providing greater visibility
• Hill-Start Assist keeps the vehicle stationary for two seconds on a slope, allowing the driver to easily proceed on gradients of over 3% without the vehicle dropping back when the brake pedal is released
• Static cornering lights provide an additional beam of light to illuminate the inside of bends, improving visibility & safety at corners & junctions
• The Citroën eTouch service includes a localised emergency & assistance call system, depending on the country. These two 24/7 services are free for the life of the vehicle and feature an integrated SIM card. In the event of an incident or accident, they ensure that the emergency services can locate & reach the vehicle promptly.

Technological Innovations for increased comfort

The new Citroën C4 Cactus boasts a large panoramic sunroof featuring advanced heat protection (the best available on the market), designed to filter light and reflect heat. With protection equivalent to category-4 sunglasses, the sunroof provides effective protection from UV rays, while excellent light, heat and acoustic protection eliminates the need to fit a sunblind. As a result, vehicle weight is reduced by 6kg and weight distribution is also improved - the centre of gravity is lowered for a more balanced ride.

Driving comfort is further enhanced, thanks to 'Smart Wash' - a simple, ingenious innovation, removing visibility issues caused by washing the windscreen. With this technology, windscreen washer nozzles are built into the tips of the wipers and release just a small amount of fluid. This helps to maintain visibility and also halves the amount of fluid required compared to a conventional system.

REDUCED COST OF OWNERSHIP

While delivering more of what really counts for customers, the ownership proposition with the new C4 Cactus needed to be one that remained affordable. A vehicle budget includes not only the purchase price, but also the running costs (fuel, servicing, etc.) and Citroën's objective was to deliver an all-round cost-effective solution.

Supporting customers from purchase through to resale

Adopting an approach similar to mobile phone price plans, Citroën brings new C4 Cactus customers a range of funding options in the form of a monthly flat-rate or mileage-based payment, depending on the country.

This innovative service covers all expenditure, excluding fuel, during the period of the agreement: finance, insurance and servicing. For a fixed monthly payment, customers can select their preferred trim level (equipment, engine, etc.) and the level of service they require (type of cover, all-in or mileage based, etc.) without exceeding their budget.

Cutting fuel consumption

To reduce fuel consumption it is important to increase efficiency and to do away with the superfluous. By making the vehicle lighter, Citroën has been able to adopt smaller latest-generation engines, which reduce fuel consumption whilst maximising driveability.

The new Citroën C4 Cactus weighs just 965kg, 200kg less overall compared with a Citroën C4, a reduction achieved thanks to:

• A compact, lightweight platform
• Small latest-generation engines meeting the future Euro 6 standard (PureTech petrol & BlueHDi diesel with Stop & Start)
• High-performance materials including very high yield-strength steel & aluminium front & rear beams
• Weight-reducing features such as an aluminium bonnet, pop-out rear windows (-11kg) & a single-piece folding rear bench (-6kg)
• As a result, the new Citroën C4 Cactus is available with a petrol version emitting less than 100g/km of CO2 and a diesel version emitting just 82g/km with impressive fuel consumption of 91.1mpg.

Breakthrough reductions in cost of ownership

Looking beyond fuel consumption, Citroën has reduced the overall running costs of the new 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 need to replace wear parts due to normal wear and tear has been significantly reduced. Repair costs are also considerably lower, thanks to Citroën's Airbump® technology.