08 Oct 08 12:59
Citroen is thinking about building an ultra-environmentally friendly vehicle based on the C-Cactus concept car.
The C-Cactus features a simplified design that reduces the number of components - even doing away with the dashboard - which leads to a reduction in weight, cost and impact on the environment.
The project will look at a range of powerplants, including a 1.0 litre, sub-100g/km CO2 petrol engine; a HyMotion2 diesel-electric hybrid returning near 100mpg and CO2 emissions of just 78g/km; and a 100% electric model that offers zero emissions together with a 70mph top speed and a range of almost 100 miles.
Reinforcing its environmental credentials, the company has also announced a second generation of its Stop & Start technology, promising improved fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Previewed on the C3 Picasso at the Paris Motor Show, the new system recovers energy during braking and deceleration to recharge the vehicle's battery without consuming fuel.
The new micro-hybrid system will be introduced in 2010 and will be available on a range of petrol and diesel models.
