Citroen is showing the Cactus M at the IAA (until September 27) in Frankfurt, a friendly convertible in a brightly colored surfer look with details such as waterproof seat covers. Although this doesn't go into series production, according to design director Alexandre Malval it shows where the journey is headed.
A Cactus convertible! Is that something we can hope for in the series?
As a designer, I would love it and it would also fit the brand well. The Cactus M precisely reflects the positioning of Citroen: relaxed, friendly, free-spirited, colorful, joyful, informal. The auto industry has become very conservative in the past few decades. But there are now many people who expect something different. We try to fill this gap, we want to be different. The Cactus M is not a production car - we currently have other priorities - but the spirit of this study will be reflected in our new cars.
DS is now an independent brand, making it all the more important that the Citroens stand out. How should it look like?
If you compare the Cactus with the DS5, for example, you will see: The Cactus is very soft, the proportions are relatively balanced, it is not aggressive at all, it is cool. The overall impression is more likeable, at the same time the design has a high recognition value. When it comes to the interior, it's not about how much more equipment I can put in the car, but what really counts for the customer. DS offers more equipment, the design is an expression of sportiness, masculinity, strength - and with that it is also more traditional. We are the ones who are inspired by cars like 2CV, Mehari, GS or CX. DS continues other aspects of the brand history.
So what will the future Citroens look like?
We do not want - like others - to make vehicle design that works like these Russian dolls (matryoshka, ed.) So that people cannot tell the individual vehicles from a distance. We believe that there is something like common blood, but every car should have its own personality. It is important to keep the balance. The mainstream design that everyone is currently doing, for example with an aggressive front and large exhaust pipe, is like a chef putting the same sauce on every plate. I'm not saying it's bad design, it goes very well with other brands, but we want to be a contrast.
Author: Hanne Lübbehüsen / SP-X