Fans of the Citroën C4 Cactus has something to be excited about when the doors open at the Geneva Auto Show.->ke228 Citroën has created a special edition C4 Cactus, dubbed the Rip Curl, that brings some interesting design cues and new technology to the C4 line – some of which aren’t available on any other C4->ke2052 model.

This new, special-edition model is built out of a collaboration between Citroën->ke22 and the surfing brand, Rip Curl. The idea behind the special edition->ke2041 is to boost the outdoor spirit already offered by the C4 Cactus and take it to another level. As Citroën put it, “The C4 Cactus Rip Curl encourages drivers to hit the road anytime, anywhere” and is “ideal for lifestyles focused on leisure and well-being.”

The biggest highlight of the C4 Cactus Rip Curl is the new Grip Control system that was designed specifically for this model, and promises enhanced traction and drivability over most terrain. Surely this model will spawn a lot of interest for fans of the C4 Cactus when it official debuts in Geneva, so let’s take a closer look at the C4 Cactus Rip Curl and what makes it so special.

Continue reading to learn more about the Citroën C4 Cactus Rip Curl Special Edition.

What makes the Citroën C4 Cactus Rip Curl Special Edition special

The new Grip Control system offers several selectable driving modes including Standard, Sand, Off-Road, Snow, and ESP Off. Standard mode is of course meant to be used on normal road conditions with ESP kicking in only when needed. The C4 Cactus Rip Curl is front-wheel drive, but in Sand mode, the transmission acts similar to that of a 4WD Low setting, preventing the vehicle from bogging down when traveling across loose ground or sand. In Off-Road mode, the vehicle acts as if it has a limited-slip differential by transferring the majority of torque to the wheel that has the most grip. Snow mode alternates the torque to each driven wheel as needed to prevent wheel slip, and ESP turns the system off to imitate that of a conventional front-wheel drive system.

All modes but the Standard setting have a pre-set speed limit. Once that limit is exceeded, the system automatically jumps back into Standard mode. In other words, don’t try to race down the beach in Sand mode or you might get stuck. The Rip Curl is offered with either the PureTech 110 S&S or a BlueHDi 100, both of which mate to a manual transmission. To aid the new Grip Control system, the Rip Curl is equipped with Goodyear Vector, 205/50-series tires on 17-inch wheels.

Of course, a special-edition model wouldn’t be special unless it had some uniqueness inside and out, and Citroën made sure to do just that. On the outside, the Rip Curl is fitted with white roof bars, side view mirrors, and a vertical white stripe on the wings, as well as the Rip Curl logo. The rear lights feature the same design with the Rip Curl signature in white lettering – clearly aiming the vehicle at fans of surfing. There are also aluminum-colored skid plates in the front and rear. Black Airbump panels come as standard, but can be customized in three optional colors: Dune, Chocolate, and Grey. The Rip Curl will be available five different body colors: Obsidian Black, like you see in the images here, Tapenade Grey, Sport Red, Arctic Steel, and Pearl White. By 2017, Citroën plans to offer a new blue body color not available on any other Cactus model.

On the inside, Citroën has gone with a rather bright orange accenting. The biggest detail on the inside is the orange seatbelts that add a bit of livery to the cabin. Other orange accents include the stitching on the floor mats and orange flourish on the entertainment system’s loudspeakers. The seats are finished in a Mica Grey fabric as standard, or a black part-leather upholstery is also available, both of which are contrasted well by the subtle orange accents.

The Rip Curl is based on the C4 Cactus Flair, which means it comes standard with tinted windows, cruise control, and navigation, along with automatic functioning headlights, windshield wipers, and climate control. In addition, there are rear parking sensors, a rear parking camera, and a six-speaker audio system. Rounding out the feeling of nature, the Rip Curl is equipped with a panoramic glass roof that has thermal protection. The whole package itself comes together quite well, and this may be one of the best C4 Cactus models we’ve seen yet.

Citroën C4 Cactus

The C4 Cactus is a compact crossover built on the same platform as the Citroën C3 and DS3. The C4 Cactus originally debuted in concept form in 2007 at the Frankfurt Auto show, but we didn’t see an official production version until the 2015 model year. The production version was based largely on the concept, and even included the Airbump panels that are designed to protect it from minor scrapes and bruises. The Cactus has been a big hit so far and was awarded World Car Design of the Year at the 2015 New York Auto Show.

Read our full review on the Citroën C4 Cactus here.