Despite all its shortcomings, the small Citroën C4 Cactus has almost exactly hit the taste of European customers, so its innovative elements will probably be gradually adopted by other models of the brand. At least that's what the latest Aircross concept suggests , heralding the arrival of a mid-size SUV.
The 4580 mm long Aircross with a width of 2100 mm and a height of 1730 mm further develops the idea of Airbump air capsules, the latest interpretation of which is the Alloy Bump panels. These are made of aluminum foam in combination with hard rubber, visually taking on the form of a honeycomb. Aerodynamics are improved by chrome Air Sign frames around the rear windows, respectively Air Curtains air intakes at the front, extractors added to the front and rear wheel arches and a very elongated shape of the rear-view mirrors. In addition to the air capsules, the Aircross from Cactus also takes two-stage front lights and an overall attractive rendering of the body with 22-inch wheels, red-orange paint and solid chrome details. The rear LED lights use a three-dimensional effect.
The cabin, which is entered through oppositely opening doors, is intended to evoke the feeling of a living room, similar to its smaller sibling. For this reason, each of the four passengers has their own seat of truly generous dimensions, which also includes private speakers and a microphone. The upper part of the seat is made of a new material in 3D processing, the visual and processing of which should resemble classic fabric. The dashboard is mainly focused on modern technologies, as it consists of two 12-inch displays with HD resolution. The one on the center console is mounted on a rail, so it can be used by both the driver and the passenger. There is also a head up display above the dashboard, while there are web cameras in the door frames on each side, recording road footage. The practical aspect was also thought of – there are several ingenious storage compartments in the trunk and the interior itself.
The engine is powered by plug-in hybrid technology consisting of a turbocharged 16-litre petrol engine with a capacity of 218 hp and a torque of 270 Nm and an electric motor above the rear axle with a capacity of 95 hp and a torque of 200 Nm. Thanks to the lithium-ion batteries, which take 3.5 hours to charge from a standard socket (16 A), the Aircross can travel up to 50 emission-free kilometers. In combined mode, 313 horsepower is available to the driver, which is enough for acceleration in 4.5 seconds and consumption of 1.7 l/100 km.
Source: Citroën
