After receiving a facelift last year, the Citroen C4
Cactus is now in for a significant makeover, with a new generation believed to
arrive in 2020. The compact crossover will transition from the PF1 architecture of
the current iteration to the new CMP (Compact Modular Platform), reports
Autocar, which will be shared with other PSA products.
This will allow the new C4 Cactus to benefit from
electrification. And it seems that the French automaker will go all-in with a
battery-electric version of the car. Thus, the next-gen will become the brand’s
second zero-emissions vehicle after the Mitsubishi i-MiEV-based C-Zero.
Electrifying the C4 Cactus is part of PSA’s strategy
of offering either a plug-in hybrid or a fully electric version of all new
Citroen, DS, Peugeot and Opel/Vauxhall vehicles starting next year. Details about the compact
crossoverremain unknown at the time. However, it will also be available with
internal combustion engines from the Puretech petrol and BlueHDI diesel
families.
Before presenting the new C4 Cactus, Citroen will
allegedly lift the curtain of two concept cars next year, at the Geneva Motor
Show and Shanghai Auto Show, respectively. The first one is described as
being “as important to Citroen as the 2CV” by Arnaud Belloni, Citroen Senior VP
of Global Marketing and Communications, who said that “it will be for city
dwellers”.
Offering a glimpse into Citroen’s autonomous
ambitions will be a second show car. It’s still too early to tell whether it’s
based on a production model, and if it uses an electric powertrain, but we
should find out all the details next April, when it will be unveiled in
Shanghai.
