Jane Denny
URETHANE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
Published: July 18, 2014 1:34 pm ET
Updated: July 18, 2014 1:42 pm ET
Image By: PSA Peugeot Citroen Group
The Citroen C4 Cactus goes on sale this summer.
PSA Peugeot Citroen Group is using plastic for both design and protection on the exterior of one of its newest cars.
The Citroen C4 Cactus has exterior side panels using what it terms “Airbumps,” or air-filled cusion bumpers, made of thermoplastic polyurethane.
BASF SE is the material supplier and Rehau, based in Muri, Switzerland, developed and patented Airbumps for Citroen.
Airbumps bounce back to shape from a 20 millimeter compression in an instant thanks to the flexibility of the elastomer, according to Citroen.
Automotive component maker Rehau, developed the protective air-filled panels at its R&D centre in Morhange, France. It is producing them at its site in Tortosa, Spain, and delivering them to PSA assembly lines in Madrid.
The C4 model will be launched outside France in October. Airbump technology is available in four shades. | 
