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Ken Gratton27 Feb 2014
NEWS

Citroen C4 Cactus favoured for Oz

But local distributor says 'non' to C1, and makes no admissions about the C5
The local distributor for Citroen, Sime Darby, is keen to lay its hands on a production version of the C4 Cactus – despite the model name's unfortunate connotations in the Australian vernacular. 
"We're currently in discussions with PSA – and we've had really positive discussions so far," said Manuel Tyras, National Marketing Manager for the brand. 
"There's a good chance that 2015 will see the arrival of this car in Australia. It's a concept based on economical engines, lightweight bodies – this body weighs under a thousand kilos – and innovative features like 'air bumps' on the front/side/back, to help with nudges."
Tyras subsequently told journalists that the C4 Cactus had been officially "confirmed for production."
Asked whether the company would consider changing the name for the Australian market, Tyras succinctly replied "no."
"It will be the 'C4 Cactus'; it's imprinted everywhere on the car; it's moulded into the plastic air bumps – so it is what it is."
Tyras described the C4 Cactus as an "urban SUV" that wouldn't be a four-wheel drive car. 
"And it's not pretending to be, either."
The C4 Cactus is apparently an attempt to capture the same sort of buyer as Nissan has targeted with the Juke. 
"Cactus is our opportunity to get into that younger audience," Tyras acknowledged.
According to the Citroen exec, the diminutive C1has been ruled out for Australia.
"No, the C1 won't be coming to Australia," Tyras confirmed. 
"It's not a category we want to play in. But it does show that globally Citroen and PSA are back on the attack with new model releases and product development."
"I've had a look at the car and it looks great," he admitted to motoring.com.au. "In terms of Europe, the car is right for them. I think if you look at the market here in Australia [the market is] quite small. I don't see a role for C1 in Australia.
"What it does show is that as a group and as a brand we're progressing a lot with new car development. Moving forward... over the next few years it will start getting quite aggressive, in terms of our product development."
Tyras was reticent about a replacement for the C5. 
"C5 is pretty much status quo; there's obviously global release of the C5 Crosstourer [an Audi Allroad-style variant of the C5 wagon]. It's something that's available to us, but it's not something that we will offer... we're really happy with the range of cars that we've got for C5."
The current C5 has been on sale in Australia since late 2008, which mean it's approaching the end of what is usually a standard model lifecycle for other companies. According to Tyras, however, there are no plans in the works for the C5 to be replaced, at the present time.
"At this stage it's going to stay as it is for Australia. There are no planned changes, but as soon as we're aware of a model change we'll let everyone know."
Talk of a replacement may be premature, given PSA has been cash-strapped and new model development has presumably suffered as a consequence, but Tyras denies that has had any bearing on a delayed development project for a new C5.
"No, not at all."
Yet the previous night, during his presentation to journalists for the new Grand C4 Picasso, Tyras specifically said that R&D across the two companies was beginning to ramp up, with finances looking better for both the Peugeot and Citroen brands.
"Sales outside of Europe for the PSA group continue to rise, and now attribute 42 per cent of total sales, with a very strong performance in China," he said.
"This growth helps lower the reliance that we have on the European market, which is only just starting to see signs of recovery."
Just this week, Tyras said, PSA has signed a contract with Chinese auto manufacturer, Dongfeng, which has taken a 14 per cent stake in the French company. 
"That investment has allowed an increase in research and development," Tyras explained.

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Written byKen Gratton
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