Citroen
- The Tesla Model 3 is famous for its minimal interior and single, central touchscreen.
- Other automakers are moving the same direction as Tesla with their designs.
- They aren't common in the US, but I found a very Model 3-esque setup in a Citroën C4 Cactus in Rome.
- The Citroën C4 Cactus is a quirky French compact crossover SUV.
The reaction that a lot of people have when they first slip into a Tesla Model 3 is one of mild shock that there isn't an instrument panel, nor much in the way of controls — just a large, central touchscreen that pretty much runs everything.
Revolutionary? Sort of.
Minimizing visual instrumentation and in-car controls isn't new, but Tesla has taken it to an extreme.
Other automakers have also taken the plunge. I was reminded of this recently when I visited Rome, rented a car, and wound up at a Citroën dealership. Citroën, in case you were wondering, is a French carmaker that's been around since the early 20th century and has created some iconic vehicles, most famously the DS, which arrived in the mid-1950s.
Citroën now sells a variety of modern vehicles, and one of the more interesting is the C4 Cactus, a small crossover SUV that has rubbery pillows on its sides, intended to alleviate scratches.
I didn't rent one of these in Italy, but while I was waiting around at the dealership for a ride to an airport hotel after I returned my car, I checked out a bunch of vehicles I never see in the US. The C4 Cactus stood out. And it wasn't just because of the padded sides.
Here's a closer look at the C4 Cactus and other Tesla Model 3-esque minimalist interiors.
The Tesla Model 3! I reviewed the car a few months back.Matthew DeBord/BIRead the review.The Model 3's interior is insanely minimal. Almost no knobs or buttons, with the majority of functions handled by the center touchscreen.Matthew DeBord/BI
Personally, I liked it. Takes some getting used to, but after a few days, you wonder why other vehicles are such buttonfests.Matthew DeBord/BI
On to Rome!Matthew DeBord/BI
Here's the C4 Cactus. The Citroën badge is legendary: It's a "double chevron" and is a reference to the teeth of an innovative gear designed by founder Andre Citroën.Matthew DeBord/BI
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- Tesla is suing former employee Martin Tripp for more than $167 million
- The 36 most wild things said by Elon Musk
- Elon Musk says Tesla will 'retire' the board chairman title in 3 years
FOLLOW US: On Facebook for more car and transportation content!
