DUB Daily

Designed with the typical European family of four in mind and to sell for the same price as an entry-level Citroën C4, the C-Cactus is a roomy hatchback with a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain. The four-cylinder HDi engine makes 70 horsepower and is mated to a 30-hp electric motor. Around town, the car operates in zero-emissions, all-electric mode, while on the highway the diesel particulate filter helps reduce emissions. Average fuel economy is an impressive 69 mpg. Michelin also got involved by designing low-profile 205/45R21 tires made of recyclable materials. Citroën has capped top speed at 93 mph. (The concept supposedly was dubbed Cactus because it shares its namesake’s reputation for low consumption.)

In keeping with its ecological theme, the C-Cactus contains a significant percentage of recycled or recyclable materials, including cork, felt and recycled leather. The company notes that simplicity in design also helps keep production costs low. Among the car’s features are automatic climate control, a panoramic glass sunroof and a high-quality audio system. The most unusual feature of the C-Cactus is the elimination of the traditional dashboard. Instead, Citroën has mounted most of the functions — climate control, navigation, audio and so on — on the center console and the fixed hub of the steering wheel. The ignition key, which plugs into the steering-wheel hub, is a portable MP3 player with a touchscreen. More.