SURPRISING NEW CONCEPT COMPLETES CITROËN’S GREEN TEAM FOR FRANKFURT
03 September 2007 - Citroën UK Ltd

Citroën is taking the wraps off the C-Cactus, a radically different concept car, as well as the C4 BioFlex, to complement the exciting new C5 Airscape concept car.

Together, these three models will help to underline the Company’s credentials as a producer of stylish and innovative green vehicles at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (11-23 September 2007).

Making its world debut at Frankfurt, the C-Cactus is an imaginative and ingenious eco-friendly concept car brimming with clever thinking and dramatic design, which demonstrates how an extremely environmentally-sensitive design is feasible for a similar price to a conventional car.

Low on consumption, like the cactus plant, the diesel hybrid model returns over 80mpg on the combined cycle helped by an innovative approach to reducing weight and impact on the environment by drastically cutting the number of components used – including even doing away with a conventional dashboard and bonnet.

Set to be launched on the Continent later this year, the C4 BioFlex, will be the Company’s first European flexfuel vehicle. Running on bioethanol, unleaded petrol or a mix of the two, this model offers a remarkable “field-to-wheel” reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 40 percent.

Completing Citroën’s Green Team of three at Frankfurt will be the recently-announced C5 Airscape concept. This drop-top head-turner, with its sleek sculpted lines, features a fully automatic carbon-fibre folding roof and UrbanHybrid technology designed to minimise its impact on the environment.

Citroën’s C-Cactus – The Green concept with the sharp looks

Citroen has gone back to the drawing board and taken a bold new approach to eco-friendly design with the sensational C-Cactus concept car.

The truly innovative C-Cactus is built on the Citroën C4 platform, yet uses only around half the components of a conventional car and incorporates many recycled components. It offers fuel economy of 83mpg, CO2 emissions of just 78g/km and even a ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) mode whilst maximum speed is deliberately capped at 93mph.

Fitted with an ultra-clean Diesel Particulate Filter System, this ultra-efficient hybrid HDi drivetrain combines a 70bhp HDi diesel engine with an electric motor that provides an additional 30bhp of power. For urban driving, the ZEV mode provides silent, all-electric operation, and for journeys requiring successive acceleration and deceleration, the hybrid system limits fuel consumption by using both types of energy.

A fresh look at design helps to keep production costs down meaning that the diesel hybrid car could be sold for a similar cost as a conventional car. Citroën engineers focused on an original approach that sets the C-Cactus apart from its peers.To do this, they streamlined the number of parts and mechanisms required, incorporated several functions into a single part and removed all features that are non-essential to the running of the car or to the comfort and safety of the occupants.

This is clearly illustrated by the cabin, which consists of just over 200 parts, only around half that of a similarly-sized conventional car. One of the first moves involved the removal of the dashboard, with the original functions and loudspeakers, gearbox controls and navigation system now grouped on the central console and Citroën’s signature fixed centre controls steering wheel. The ignition key is also an MP3 player.

C-Cactus has a unique personality and style yet the focus was very much on simplicity. The front bumper section, which includes the headlamps and trademark Citroën chevrons, also makes up the lower part of the rear tailgate. The design of the car’s front end consists of just two parts: the fixed bonnet comprising the front wings and a flap giving access to the vehicle maintenance functions.

The door panels are made of just two parts, compared to 12 in a conventional car, and because the automatic air conditioning system virtually makes it unnecessary to open the windows, Citroën’s engineers have removed the opening mechanisms and replaced them with simple sliding panes.

The spacious and light cabin, with its panoramic glass sunroof and large windscreen, is optimised by the simplicity and effectiveness of the interior design. The front seats comprise just two parts: a comfortable, moulded, integral-skin foam part for the seat and a solid monoblock frame to hold the former in place and fix it to the floor rails.

Maximising the car’s green credentials, the C-Cactus uses a significant number of recycled or recyclable materials. The windscreen, windows and tyres are all recyclable, as are the steel door panels, that are unpainted but which have been treated for corrosion. The interior materials also reflect the innovative ecological direction of the C-Cactus’ design. Environmentally-friendly cork and felt are used for many parts and the patterned floor uses recycled leather taken from off-cuts.

The 21” wheels are another standout feature of the C-Cactus’ design, adding to the contemporary look of the car. Developed in conjunction with Michelin, the large-diameter and low-profile tyres help to reduce ground friction area, boost fuel efficiency and keep production costs down.

The stylish decor that is featured throughout the cabin, symbolising nature and the environment, has often been created by removing material. For example, the patterns cut out from the door panels show the felt inserted between the panel and the metal. Another ingenious design feature is a clip-on bag replacing the passenger side glovebox, saving space in the cabin.

The C-Cactus also boasts impressive levels of equipment. The touch screen on the central console includes the navigation system and onboard computer, while two high-quality loudspeakers are built into the central console, minimising wiring and installation costs.

With similar dimensions to those of a family car, at 4.2m long and 1.8m wide, Citroën’s C-Cactus has a generous-sized boot, offering up to 1,000 litres of load space. The rear seats can slide up against the front seats while the floor pan, which is integral with the rear bench, slides forward to reveal a sub-floor that provides an almost flat surface for loading bulky objects.

The Citroën C4 BioFlex

The 1.6-litre powered C4 BioFlex is Citroën’s first flexfuel vehicle in Europe, with its ability to run seamlessly on low-carbon E85 bioethanol, regular unleaded or a mixture of both.

Already well established in Brazil, where flexfuel models currently account for 80 percent of Citroën sales, the Company is now introducing the technology to Europe as availability of E85 fuel increases. The car will initially be launched later this year in France and Sweden, where it is set to be priced the same as the equivalent petrol models.

When E85 bioethanol is being used, CO2 emissions on a “field-to-wheel” basis drop by 40 percent compared to standard fuel. Its oxygen-containing, sulphur-free properties also help reduce other harmful pollutants, particularly carbon monoxide (CO). At the same time CO2 emissions fall by 5 percent from 169g/km to 160g/km on the combined cycle.

As an added bonus, when running on E85 bioethanol, performance for the 1.6i engine is boosted by 2.5 percent to give a maximum output of 113bhp (compared to 110bhp on standard unleaded) at 5,800rpm and a 4 percent improvement in torque from 147Nm to 153Nm at 4,000rpm.

In order to accommodate the flexibility afforded to the C4 BioFlex, modifications have been made to the engine, such as the rings and valve seats, as well as the fuel circulation system, including the tank, fuel gauge and pump module, pipes and fuel filter.

The engine’s intelligent ECU software has also been adapted to monitor the alcohol content of the fuel mix, and automatically recalibrate the operating curve to optimise performance. As a result of all this, regardless of the fuel type or mixture, there is no discernible difference in the driving experience.

The scale of investment in the British biofuel industry was underlined earlier this year with the commencement of work on a new £250m bioethanol factory in Teesside*, which will eventually produce 400 million litres of homegrown fuel annually.

CITROËN UNVEILS THE DROP-TOP GORGEOUS C5 AIRSCAPE

Citroën will reveal its head-turning C5 Airscape concept car to the world at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Featuring a carbon-fibre folding roof, striking styling and crammed with innovative technology, much of which is designed to minimise its impact on the environment, this all-new design provides a fresh take on the world of executive cabriolets.

The high waistline, ribbed panels, C6-style concave rear window and sleek, aerodynamic profile help to communicate the Citroën C5 Airscape’s exclusive status, while the distinctive exterior design is further enhanced by the 19-inch alloys, large air-intakes, twin chrome tailpipes and long incisive headlamps.

Without question, one of the 4-seater C5 Airscape’s defining characteristics is the automatically foldingtop. Complete with integrated sunroof and textile lining, this carbon-fibre roof resembles a canvas one, a feature so suggestive of up-market cabriolets.

It opens to reveal a sumptuous interior of dark-brown leather and chrome, reflecting the refined and sophisticated nature of the car. The clean, sculpted lines of the dashboard sit alongside the stylish design of the instrument cluster and air vents, while Citroën’s concept is also equipped with a new-style fixed centred controls steering wheel, incorporating touch-sensitive buttons enveloped in a thin membrane-like covering.

The latest in a line of green Citroën concepts, the C5 Airscape showcases important and innovative technology. Fuel economy is managed by an ‘UrbanHybrid’ system that includes a reversible alternator-starter and super capacitors. This system allows onboard equipment, such as the air conditioning or audio system, to be powered by energy recovered during braking and deceleration, while engine torque can be temporarily boosted when required.

The ‘UrbanHybrid’ system, which helps reduce CO2 emissions by 24g/km on the combined cycle, also switches off the engine when the vehicle is at standstill, before starting it again instantly once the accelerator is pressed. The fitting of a refined, bio-diesel compliant 208bhp 2.7HDi V6 engine, complete with particulate filter, further minimises any impact on the environment.

Helping the C5 Airscape to deliver levels of performance similar to those of a four-wheel drive car, a further technological advancement sees the introduction of a new ‘Snow Motion’ traction control system that provides enhanced driving safety in low-grip conditions.

http://www.citroen.co.uk

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