Skip advert
Advertisement

Citroen Cactus M concept driven

Cool Citroen Cactus convertible concept car has a 3cyl 1.2-litre engine and 6-speed auto gearbox

The C4 Cactus is quickly becoming the face of Citroen. It’s proven more popular in the UK than the company predicted, and the crossover’s success will shape the future of the Citroen product range. The Aircross concept, unveiled at April’s Shanghai Motor Show, previews a larger and more practical SUV on the horizon, but the versatility of the Cactus has allowed the brand to delve into its heritage as well.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Cactus M concept is a tribute to the classic Citroen Mehari from the sixties, and Auto Express was lucky enough to be handed the keys. Only one, priceless example was built, so the car you see here on the coast just outside Lisbon in Portugal is the same one that appeared under the lights at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

Even though this is a valuable one-off, Citroen still let us mix it with real traffic on real roads in the Cactus M. It’s powered by a 110bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol turbo, hooked up to a new-six speed automatic gearbox not currently available in the Cactus – but this indicates that it soon could be.

For a concept that reportedly took only four months to produce, the car feels pretty well screwed together. Admittedly, there are some more delicate parts such as the headrests and door pulls, but on the whole it doesn’t seem as brittle as most motor show one-offs.

The tall, skinny tyres and 19-inch alloy wheels give the Cactus M a slightly more elevated ride, while the soft and squeaky concept car suspension makes it ride like a Citroen of old. Yet the engine pulls willingly and the gearbox proves surprisingly smooth with its changes.

So the Cactus M feels and certainly looks like a feasible real-world prospect, building on the quirky nature of the standard Cactus. Let’s hope Citroen sees that as clearly as we do and gives the car the go-ahead for production.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars can expect to be paying roughly £10 more per year, a although the biggest gas guzzlers will fare the worst
26 Mar 2024