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Citro?n C4 Cactus is the ultra-light, ultra-efficient hatch we want [w/video]

We've already told you all about the Citroën C4 Cactus when the production version was unveiled early last month, discussing its ultra-low curb weight and fuel efficient line of powertrains. Now, we've scoped it out on the floor of the Geneva Motor Show.
What's immediately noticeable is that the C4 Cactus is not a particularly large car, despite fairly spacious back and front seats. It's rather tall, which we imagine could impact the handling, although at just over 2,100 pounds (965 kilograms... no kidding), it could be as tall as the Eiffel Tower and still handle well. As we mentioned, that low curb weight shouldn't just help with the way the C4 handles, but in terms of fuel economy, which is rated at a whopping 91.1 miles per gallon on the European cycle.
The interior, meanwhile, is an interesting place. The clean dash is really only interrupted by the central touchscreen and the slim instrument cluster. It's refreshing, at least when looked at alongside more heavily styled interiors.

How good would this look as a Dodge? New Peugeot 408 is a cool EV crossover coupe

Americans have long lusted after the forbidden fruits of the automotive markets: Vehicles offered elsewhere but not sold here in the United States. When Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, former parent to Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, and others, joined forces with PSA (Peugeot and others), there was hope that Americans could get hold of some quirky French cars as part of the deal. That hasn’t happened, at least not yet. As it turns out, Europeans get just as many boring crossovers as we do, though Peugeot thinks it has a solution with the new 408, an aerodynamic compact crossover with style for days. While we seriously doubt a rebadged 408 would ever show up on our shores, it's easy to imagine how a vehicle looking something like this on the same electrified platform could spawn a viable product for the American market. Squint a bit and "new electric Dodge Intrepid" comes to mind.  Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that France would come out with a new vehicle that seems well-matched to the American market. Utility vehicles made up 46% of new vehicle sales in France in May, matching the sales numbers of sedans in the country. PeugeotÂ’s banking on the fact that many people want the space and usability of a compact SUV but tire of the styling and ubiquity of the vehicle type. The fastback shape provides a more dramatic design look without completely sacrificing the characteristics that make SUVs so popular.  Peugeot offers a traditional SUV in the 3008, but the 408 is sleeker and more aerodynamic. The automaker says that the 408 “offers a feline stance and unique allure, engineering excellence focused on efficiency and intelligent electrification, as well as the emotions provided by cutting-edge technologies dedicated to driving pleasure and instinctive use." Two plug-in hybrid powertrains will be offered first, producing 180 and 225 horsepower. A standard gas model will also be available with a 130-horsepower engine. All variants get an eight-speed gearbox, and Peugeot says an electric model will come later. No Stellantis brand in the United States currently offers a purely electric vehicle.  Peugeot will build the 408 at its plant in Mulhouse, France, for the European market. The vehicle will go on sale early in 2023 and will later become available in China. Related video: Featured Gallery 2023 Peugeot 408 Green Green Dodge Citroen Crossover Future Vehicles

Citroen Oli concept is electric and made from cardboard (sort of)

The wee-little pug-nosed beastie you see here is the brand-new Citroen Oli concept, and it's not like other cars. You see, most vehicles are made from stampings of steel and aluminum. A few, like the Chevy Corvette, have bodies formed out of fiberglass, the DeLorean was famously stamped from stainless steel and the former East German Trabant was fashioned out of something called Duroplast, which is sort of like Formica. The Citroen Oli is "made from recycled corrugated cardboard formed into a honeycomb sandwich structure between fiberglass reinforcing panels." We know what you're thinking, because it's the first thing we thought too. How can cardboard stand up to the weather, impacts and stresses that cars will undoubtedly have to contend with? The quirky French automaker has answers. Citroen partnered with BASF to design the material, and it's coated in a kind of resin, then covered in a protective layer of a "tough, textured" product called Elastocoat that's often used in parking garage construction, and finally painted. Bumpers are formed from polypropylene plastic containing 50% recycled materials, and the wheel arches are recyclable plastic, too. Why go to such trouble to use this material instead of just relying on time-tested metals? Citroen says the panels are strong enough for an adult to stand on them, 50% lighter than steel and fully recyclable (to be fair, steel and aluminum are also commonly recycled). The emphasis on weight savings continues throughout the Oli's design. The body panels are all either perfectly horizontal or vertical, simplifying construction and reducing weight. Even the windshield is perfectly vertical, which again reduces weight and cost. That all maximizes interior space, too — there's a reason boxes are square, after all. Speaking of the interior, you'll notice there aren't any screens. With all this talk of unique construction methods and design, we've not yet talked about propulsion. As you'd expect, the Oli is electric, but we don't know much past that. With its comparatively small 40kWh battery pack, it can travel up to 248 miles, though we're not sure on what testing regimen. Its top speed is capped at 68 miles per hour, which is a clear indicator that this machine is designed primarily for urban and small-town rural use, not long stretches of highway. Citroen claims a charge from 20% to 80% takes just 23 minutes, though the actual charging specifications aren't known.