Citroën XM

Citroën XM (1989-1994)

The Citroën XM is a vehicle of the upper middle class of the French car manufacturer Citroen, which was built between spring 1989 and autumn 2000. The XM sedan ( " Berline " ) was prepared in Rennes, France (Brittany ), the combination was introduced in the fall of 1991 ( "Break" ) at the vehicle manufacturer Heuliez.

The well-known models of the Citroën DS, GS and CX from the previous hydropneumatic had been developed for the XM to Hydractive. She made the XM for the first production car with electronically controlled suspension.

History

The XM was designed by three design studios: the Citroën design department, the Peugeot design department and the external office Bertone. There is no mistaking the similarity of the body line to the Citroën SM, a coupe that was built by summer 1970 to spring 1975.

XM was presented at the IAA in Frankfurt in September 1989. Later that year, 2,000 copies were sold in the Federal Republic of Germany.

The XM also was elected Car of the Year in 1990, after which the highest number of registrations were recorded in 1991. 1991 and 1992, readers of the magazine Auto Motor und Sport, the XM "best import car of its class."

The first series (Y3 ) was produced from May 1989 to July 1994, the second ( Y4) from August 1994 to October 2000 is. Manifested externally, the second series to the front now centered (rather than in the direction of travel left) attached badge and a revised rear spoiler.

Factory there was the XM initially only as a hatchback. As of November 1991, he was also available in a wagon version as XM Break. Higher level of equipment of the sedan include a second inner glass rear window, the rear passengers protected in the tailgate open from drafts.

The XM was offered by a manufacturer as a six-door Stretch Limousine. The XM Break was rebuilt by Heuliez as ambulances and hearses as Rappold, the latter was a deconstruction capable version.

Citroën XM Break (1991-1994)

Cockpit

Option: Leather interior

However, the sales broke a 1992 because several problems showed up especially with the electronics. The electronics have been revised only twice in the Y3 series.

The second series of the Y4 -called XM with Hydractive II chassis is considered mature and reliable. Although there was the XM in many versions, to the luxurious Pallas and EXCLUSIVE, he was able to tap only a relatively small number of customers; the initially damaged reputation could not seem to recover quite, although this car offered a then extraordinary wealth of sophisticated technology and comfort with its appearance.

The four-cylinder petrol engine of the XM (Y3 ) with 2.0 liters of displacement was ( in Germany ) as a normal injection engine with 89 kW (121 hp) and later also charged as Turbo CT (Constant Torque to German: constant torque ) with 104 kW ( 141 hp ), 1994 then in Y4 with an increased power output of 108 kW (147 hp). There was also a V6 engine with 3.0 liter displacement and 123 kW ( 167 hp ) from which from 1991 also a 24V version was built with the following features: 147 kW ( 200 hp ), 0-100 km / h in 8.0 seconds, top speed 235 km / h The displacement of these engines was almost 3000 cm ³ of slightly reduced during the construction period, after which the XM fell in some countries in a lower tax category. This so-called PRV V6 is known as Europe V6 because he found pervasive across Europe as a community development by Peugeot, Renault and Volvo ( PRV ), and even in some small manufacturers came into use, inter alia, in the De Lorean DMC-12, known from the film series Back to the Future.

Facelift

A visual and especially technical revision took place in July 1994. Here, the 2-liter 4- cylinder 16- valve engine with a newly developed 97 kW ( 132 hp ) has been replaced. As of mid- 1997, there were entirely new gasoline engines. The new V6 24V (Engine ES9J4, was installed in the Xantia, Peugeot 406/Peugeot 607, Renault Laguna and in a modified form in the Renault Espace ) had - unlike the PRV V6 - no timing chain, but like all other XM engines a valve control via toothed belt.

The turbo C.T. was last offered with the control standard D3 and taken out of the XM- range 1997. All 4- cylinder gasoline engines, V6 petrol engines with 123 and 140 kW and the 2.1 -liter diesel engines were available as an option in conjunction with a 4- speed automatic transmission from ZF. The 140 kW engine had it as the only one Adaptivautomatik (ZF 4HP20 ).

The PRV V6 ( 12V and 24V) was equipped with the self-resetting and speed-sensitive steering DIRAVI as they had in 1970 the SM and later the CX. This peculiarity fell away with the year 1997/1998.

Also available were three four-cylinder diesel engines: a 2.1 -liter naturally aspirated diesel engine with 60 kW ( 82 HP ) ( top speed 172 km / h ) and two turbo-diesel. The 2.1-liter turbo diesel engine with three valves per cylinder to deliver 80 kW ( 109 hp ), the 2.5-liter 95 kW ( 129 hp ), the XM thus reached a maximum of 190 and 208 km / h Mileages of over 500,000 kms possible with reasonable driving, the diesel engine is, however, not by design for extended full throttle runs suitable.

Rear view

Motor overview

Production figures and successor

Although production has been reached 300,000 units, the car remained in the numbers significantly behind those of his predecessor. The technical and creative innovations of the car, however, have further continued the avant-garde image of Citroen. After setting the XM based in the middle class was the largest Citroën C5 sedan. Only when presented in autumn 2005 C6 there was a successor to the XM.

Although François Mitterrand began ostentatiously to the beginning of his term as President of France a Renault as a state coach, he decided later for a Citroen XM. Even after the delivery of this car during the ceremony of the official handover to his successor Jacques Chirac on 17 May 1995 he was adopted by another XM in retirement. His successor, Jacques Chirac also used various copies of the XM.