Citroen first introduced the C4 Cactus as a concept vehicle two years ago at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. Since then, the Cactus has morphed into not only a production crossover, but a variety of separate prototypes as well, including the 2015 Aircross. It also gave the French automaker the 2015 World Car Design of the Year accolade at the New York International Auto Show back in April. Unsurprisingly, the platform has transformed once again, this time as homage to the Mehari light utility off-roader.

Between 1968 and 1988, Citroen produced 144,953 examples of the Mehari. Based on the stout 2CV, the Mehari served many different purposes, including military use in the French army. However, civilians also got to enjoy the Mehari’s rugged capability – not only was it lightweight enough to tackle rough terrain, its plastic body resisted corrosion, even in the grit and salt of repeated beach runs.

Drawing inspiration from the Mehari “and the seaside world associated with” it, the new Cactus M Concept hopes to prove the versatility of the C4 Cactus platform for future models in a variety of different bodystyles, exhibiting several fun ideas along the way.

Updated 09/21/2015: We’ve added a series of new photos we took at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Find them in the "Pictures" tab.

Continue reading to learn more about Citroen Cactus M Concept.

Exterior

Note: 2014 Citroen C4 Cactus shown here.

Like the Mehari (and any other serious beach cruiser for that matter), the Cactus M Concept has no roof, bringing an “open-air” design that offers passengers miles and miles of blue sky. With the top chopped off, Citroen added thick pillar arches front and back, including the windscreen surround. The windscreen was also tilted up to 60 degrees, which helps direct air over the passenger space at speed, and is outfitted with a single, central wiper blade. The pillars are finished in a wood-grain look and are capable of carrying up to two surfboards lengthwise. To demonstrate, Citroen even created two custom boards matched to the concept crossover’s color scheme.

In case the sun decides to take a vacation, the Cactus M Concept comes equipped with an inflatable roof located in the “double-floor” trunk. This piece is installed by hand, extending across the top via three blowup tubes that hold it in place. And if hyperventilating in the rain harshes your mellow, an air compressor is located in the rear.

Unlike the four-door production Cactus, this concept boasts just two long doors. Each is a single piece of molded plastic, which helps to reduce the crossover’s curb weight, while opener straps are in place for simplicity’s sake. Like the Mehari, the door hinges are visible.

Passengers vying for the backseat can use step indents in the flanks to climb up and over the side of the crossover, aiding ingress without actually opening the doors. The bumpers and door mirrors echo those from the Aircross concept. Covering the exterior is Citroen’s “Airbump” technology, which uses a thermoformed TPU coating to resist scratches and impacts, not to mention the harsh elements of life on the beach. There are metal tow hooks in place should you find yourself stuck in a dune, and a Hawaii Blue paintjob works well to blend in with the waves.

In the corners is a larger-diameter tire and wheel package, which yields a higher body height overall. Despite carving out the wheel arches a bit, these rollers are narrowed slightly to accommodate the size. Citroen says the wheel design was inspired by the floral pattern of a wetsuit.

Exterior Dimensions

Interior

Note: Interior from 2015 Citroen Aircross Concept shown here.

Speaking of wetsuits, the interior uses neoprene for the upholstery and dash trim. It’s all extremely functional, designed to tolerate the demands of those living the beach lifestyle. As such, there are water drains in the foot wells, and Citroen says “the whole cabin can even be hosed out” for quick and easy cleanup.

There’s plenty of storage as well. The doors come with decently sized bins covered by nets, and there’s a large trunk in the rear.

The Cactus M Concept is very cohesive, and not just in the theme. The automaker wanted it to look like a “singular molded object,” with the same bright colors used inside and out. The cabin continues the maritime motif, resembling a ship’s hull, and even the headrests draw inspiration from boat fenders.

However, the coolest part of the interior has to be the double-duty roof. Not only does the inflatable top cover the crossover in inclement weather, it can also be used to create a “freestanding tent” that extends outwards from the rear, perfect for camping out. To complement this, the rear seats tilt back into the trunk, offering a nice place to sleep. Cue crackling fire and smores.

Drivetrain

To help it contend with the unpaved pathways to that hidden break, the Cactus M Concept employs Citroen’s Grip Control (basically, advanced traction control), which offers those behind the wheel four available driving modes selectable from an input on the dash. These include Normal, All-Terrain, Snow and Sand.

While Grip Control is nice, it would have been better if Citroen included an AWD system in lieu of the stock FWD. After all, the Mehari 4x4 was introduced in 1979, and anyone serious about going off-road will need more than just the front wheels for motivation.

I also would have liked to see a bump in output, maybe with a more powerful version of the 1.2-liter inline 3-cylinder gasoline powerplant found on the production vehicle. But given this concept will most likely remain tethered to the show floor its entire life, I guess it’s forgivable.

Competition

Jeep Renegade

When it comes to fun and functional crossovers, the Cactus has the Jeep Renegade->ke4827 to contend with.

Targeting young adventure-seekers, the Renegade has been busy building a strong following, which is absolutely crucial for this segment. In terms of engine choices, the Renegade offers some nice options, starting with a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder that produces 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Those looking for something a little more powerful can opt for the 2.4-liter Tigershark four-cylinder that pumps out 184 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque.

The Renegade runs on AWD (as it should), but customers get a choice of systems: the Jeep Active Drive and Active Drive Low.

Pricing for the baby Jeep starts at $17,995 for the Sport trim, going all the way up to $25,995 for the top-of-the-range Trailhawk.

Read our full review here.

Fiat 500X

Essentially, the 500X is just like the regular 500, albeit a bit oversized. It doesn't come with fancy technologies like Airbump in the Cactus or the My Sky roof system in the Renegade, but it does give precedence to things like interior space and functionality.

The 500X has a myriad of trim levels and options available. There are seven engine choices available in Europe, but here in the U.S., we get just two: a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder making 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder MultiAir engine that pumps out an impressive 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. FWD is standard, while AWD is an option.

The 500X starts at an even $20,000 for the Pop trim, going all the way up to $27,100 for the range-topping 500L Trekking Plus.

Read our review here.

Conclusion

Like many Citroen concepts, the Cactus M combines the make’s long heritage with a variety of clever ideas and a healthy exercise of the imagination. I love seeing a reimagining of an existing model, and a two-door Cactus with no roof fits the bill nicely.

I like the neoprene interior you can clean with a hose. I think the exterior Airbump technology and plastic body panels are an excellent fit for the theme. Looking at this thing, I can’t help but see it transported into one of those ‘60s surf movies, surrounded by dancing, well-tanned teenagers as a Dick Dale riff plays in the background.

Yeah, it would have been more realistic if there was AWD and more power, but hey, why be real when pretending is so much more fun?

Updated History

Updated 09/03/2015: Citroen dropped the official details on the new Cactus M concept, with just a few days before its official debut in Frankfurt.