French carmaker Citroën has an unusual new model in the C4 Cactus, a stocky wagon featuring shock-absorbent body panels.
New images have leaked for the car, which the company tested by ramming a shopping cart full of batteries into its side, Jalopnik reported.
The unique vehicle absorbs shock and lessens damage from minor collisions through the "Airbump" panels on its sides.
The car comes in a variety of colors for the exterior and has an option for a PSA HybridAir engine, which compresses nitrogen and uses the pressurized gas.
"In brown, on that white C4 Cactus like in the leaked photos, the Airbump panels seem to playfully hint at an old woody wagon," Jalopnik described. "In other color combinations it appears very stylish and modern, and really sets the car apart from the masses."
The PSA fuel system makes for fuel economy similar to a hybrid with less cost, according to the company.
The Cactus will reportedly debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month, but more official details should be released this week.
The distinctive model is expected to "set the tone for the brand's future product line," The Wall Street Journal reported.
Citroën has been working to improve profitability with innovative, quality products like the Cactus, a crossover that the designers said fits a "less is more" mentality.
Featuring new technology along with simplicity and comfort, the car has low emissions and is said to weigh around 440 pounds less than a similar-sized model. The designers used aluminum and other lightweight materials to reduce the car's mass.
One example of this minimalistic approach is found in the car's rear windows, which were scaled down in size for a weight reduction of about 13 pounds.
The Cactus C4 gets about 62 miles to 0.8 of a gallon, according to the WSJ report.
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