Next Citroën C4 Will Retain Concept's Air Bumps and Bench Seat

The CitroënCitroënFrance, 1919 > present94 models
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Cactus concept'sCitroën CactusFrance, 2014 > 2014 designers says that the air bumps and pseudo-bench front seat from the concept will be carried over to the production version of the next generation C4Citroën C4 Gen.2France, 2010 > present87 versions
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that will go on sale in mid-2014. It is planned as the first model is Citroën’s revitalized C line of cars.

Citroën’s future plans for the C models is to have them be high-style, affordable cars that appeal to young people. PeugeotPeugeotFrance, 1882 > present120 models
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will go after more mainstream buyers with its cars.

For the Cactus concept exterior designer Frederic Duvernier gave the car a feature be calls Airbumps along the doors. They are plastic, scratch resistant pieces filled with air that are meant to protect the body panels from small impacts. At launch, they will be offered in black or white, but later Citroën plans to add different colors of Airbumps.

"The material used for the Airbumps is very resistant and durable. It is similar to what you find in the sole of a Nike Air shoe. The Airbumps will protect the bodywork from small impacts, such as a shopping trolley hitting it in a supermarket parking lot," said Duvernier.

The Cactus’ interior designer, Mark Lloyd, reinterpreted the bench seat for modern cars. The lack of side protection have made bench seats absent from cars for years. Lloyd crafted two individual seats with a shared panel between them to bring back the bench seat in a modern, safe way.

"Putting in a sofa instead of two standard front seats is more expensive but it will create a feeling of comfort," said Lloyd.

He says that his idea for the interior was to keep things simple.

"We have taken out anything unnecessary to concentrate on comfort and well-being," he said.

In the coming years, Citroën plans to add new generations of the C1Citroën C1France, 2005 > 201436 versions
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, C3Citroën C3 Gen.2France, 2009 > 2016111 versions
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and C5Citroën C5 Gen.2France, 2007 > present117 versions
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with similar styling and concepts as the Cactus concept.

"Every car will have its own design, but the philosophy of simplicity will be common to all the line," said Lloyd.

Source: Automotive News Europe