Citroen CEO Linda Jackson announces that the brand will début Mehari-inspired concept based on the Cactus.

Citroen will preview a potential new model inspired by its iconic Mehari utility vehicle at the Frankfurt auto show next month. The concept will be based on the C4 Cactus compact.

In a statement, Citroen said the concept was a "fresh and invigorating" version of the C4 Cactus that "revisits the spirit of the legendary Mehari.”

MANY THANKS TO AUTO EXPRESS FOR THE PICTURES

Citroen CEO Linda Jackson told Automotive News Europe in June that the company was mulling a revival of the open-top Mehari sold between 1968 and 1987.

Jackson has previously said that the C4 Cactus will influence future models in the brand's lineup. The distinctive car, which went on sale last year, has underlined Citroen's intent to be the fun brand in PSA/Peugeot-Citroen's lineup.

Citroen built 150,000 Meharis. It was bought by holidaymakers as a beach buggy and by farmers who used it to get around their fields. The Mehari was also used by the French army, which found its thermoplastic body made it light enough to drop by parachute from an airplane.

The original Mehari was based on the 2CV, another iconic Citroen car, but the brand has ruled out reviving this model.

Citroen's Frankfurt concept could preview an electric Mehari EV built alongside the Bollore Bluesummer convertible electric car.

Autocar reported that Citroen recently applied for the trademark on the e-Mehari name, suggesting the car could have an electric or hybrid powertrain.

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen will start building next month the Bluesummer at its factory in Rennes, western France.

Vincent Bollore, who heads the Bollore industrial group that developed the Bluesummer, has previously talked about the vehicle as a "beach car" in the vein of Mehari.

The Bluesummer will cost less than 20,000 euros and will be sold through Citroen dealerships.

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The SEAT Ibiza Cupster, a revisited Concept

• Radical open-top show car to celebrate SEAT Ibiza 30^th anniversary
• One-off project created and designed by SEAT Design
• Based on the Ibiza CUPRA 1.4 TSI 180 PS model

SEAT will present an exciting new design study at the 2014 Wörthersee Treffen later this month. Built to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of the iconic SEAT Ibiza, the Ibiza CUPSTER is set to wow fans at the now hugely anticipated annual show.

This innovative design study, created and built by SEAT Design, is based on the series production Ibiza Cupra, with its 180 PS TSI engine and DSG dual-clutch transmission. However, in CUPSTER form, this Ibiza concept model is lower and wider than its racy predecessor. The two-seater car has no roof, the front windscreen has been replaced with a wrap-around strip window and the seating position is 80 millimetres lower than the series-production car.

“The Ibiza has always been the heart of SEAT – a young, dynamic car with an emotional design, a good head for the practical things in life and excellent value for money,” says Jürgen Stackmann, President of SEAT S.A. “At Wörthersee, we are celebrating the anniversary of our most successful model with the unique Ibiza CUPSTER, not to mention the exceptionally well-equipped 30 Years edition – and, of course, with a great programme.”

Every Ibiza captures the imagination, with a design that is as emotional as it is dynamic – and cited by customers as one of the most important reasons for buying the Spanish brand’s most successful model. SEAT Design has created a surprising reinterpretation of this design language in the Ibiza CUPSTER.

The steering wheel is swathed in pure aniline leather and the paint work is a custom ‘New Orange’ hue, with a dark grey cover behind the classic ‘double-bubble’ style seats. The interior lends itself towards a traditional racing feel, with the design lead being taken from the Ibiza Trophy race car. With minimalist instrument dials, black Alcantara upholstery and low-slung bucket seats, the Ibiza CUPSTER has a definite racing feel.

There is also no shortage of performance – the CUPSTER is based on the Ibiza CUPRA. And that means a powerful 180 PS from the 1.4 TSI engine, super-fast gear changes thanks to the DSG transmission and precision sports running gear with 18-inch wheels.             

SEAT is the only company in its sector with the full-range capacity to design, develop, manufacture and market cars in Spain. A member of the Volkswagen Group, the multinational has its headquarters in Martorell (Barcelona), exporting more than 80% of its vehicles, and is present in more than 75 countries. In 2012 SEAT had a total turnover exceeding six billion euros, with overall deliveries amounting to 321,000 units.

SEAT Group employs 14,000 professionals at its three production centres in Barcelona − Zona Franca, El Prat de Llobregat and Martorell, where it manufactures the highly successful Ibiza and Leon, amongst other models. Additionally, the company produces the Alhambra in Palmela (Portugal), the Mii in Bratislava (Slovakia) and the Toledo in Mladá Boleslav (Czech Republic) at Volkswagen Group plants. 

The Spanish multinational also has a Technical Center, a ‘knowledge hub’, bringing together close to 1,000 engineers whose goal is to be the driving force behind innovation for the number one industrial investor in R&D in Spain. In line with its declared commitment to environmental protection, SEAT undertakes and bases its core activity on sustainability, namely reduction of CO₂emissions, energy efficiency, as well as recycling and re-use of resources.

SEAT UK enjoyed a tremendous year in 2013, selling 45,312 cars and achieving a 2.0% market share – both company records.