Citroën Xantia

Citroën Xantia

Manufacturer	Citroën
Production	1993—2001 1998—2001 (facelift)
Assembly	Rennes, France
Predecessor	Citroën BX
Successor	Citroën C5
Class	large family car
Body style	5-door hatchback (Berline) 5-door estate (Break)
Layout	FF layout
Engine	1.6L I4 1.8L I4 1.8L I4 16 valve 2.0L I4 2.0L I4 16 valve 2.0L I4 Turbocharged 3.0L V6 1.9L I4 Diesel 1.9L I4 Turbodiesel 2.0L I4 HDi 2.1L I4 12 valve Turbodiesel
Wheelbase	2,740 mm (108 in) (Berline)
Length	4,440 mm (175 in) (Berline)
Width	1,755 mm (69.1 in) (Berline)
Height	1,380 mm (54 in) (Berline)
Curb weight	1,250 kg (2,800 lb)–1,430 kg (3,200 lb) (Activa CT)
Related	Peugeot 406
Designer	Bertone

Estate version of Xantia

Xantia hatchback

Xantia phase 1 Cockpit

Post-facelift Xantia

Xantia badge

The Citroën Xantia, pronounced 'Zan-tia'^{[citation needed]} is a large family car produced by the French automaker Citroën. First seen at the end of 1992, the car was produced between 1993 and 2001, with a facelift in 1998. Citroën sold over 1.2 million Xantias during its 8 years of production. After production in Europe ended in early 2001, the SAIPA Corporation in Iran produced it (until September 2010). Penned by Bertone, the exterior styling of the Xantia was also used on the Daewoo Espero.

History

The Xantia replaced the earlier Citroën BX and maintained the high level of popularity of that model, but brought the car more into the mainstream to compete harder with its rivals such as the Ford Mondeo, Nissan Primera, Rover 400, Toyota Carina E and Vauxhall Cavalier.

It signalled that Citroën had learned from the reception given the staid Citroën ZX, introduced two years earlier and criticised by contemporary journalists for its lack of traditional Citroën flair in engineering and design. The Xantia addressed these concerns in the facelifted Xantia.

The Xantia also used the traditional Citroën hydropneumatic suspension system pioneered in the older DS. It was initially only available as a hatchback (liftback) (Berline), but an estate (station wagon) (Break) version built by Heuliez appeared in 1995.

In-line with PSA Group policy, the Peugeot 406 launched 2 years later used the same floorpan, core structure and engines as the Xantia. The Hydractive suspension system was not carried over, and the 406 utilised a more traditional spring suspension.

Sales in the UK were strong, though it was never able to match the success of established British favourites such as the Ford Mondeo or Vauxhall Vectra.

Suspension

From an engineering perspective, the Xantia's biggest advance was the suspension. From launch, the more expensive models were available with an enhanced version of the XM's Hydractive, Hydractive II or H2, computer-controlled version of the hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension. This used extra suspension spheres to allow a soft ride in normal conditions, but taut body control during hard braking, acceleration or cornering. These models feature an innovation first seen on the CX and then subsequently fitted to the facelifted XM - a programmed self-steer rear axle. On sweeping curves and tight bends alike, the rear wheels turn in line with the front wheels, sharpening responses and adding to driver pleasure. Unfortunately, on most examples, the spheres needed replacing quite regularly, at great expense! Clutches also went quite often on some examples, hence its problems in trying to beat cars like the Ford Mondeo. But, the Xantia did have the character which comes naturally to most citroens of that era.

In 1994, the Activa technology was introduced, which is an extension to the Hydractive II suspension, where two additional spheres and two hydraulic cylinders are used together with computer control to eliminate body roll completely. This technology is more broadly known as active suspension, and the Xantia Activa has exceptional road holding comparable to true sports cars. In the Swedish magazine Teknikens Värld's moose test the 1999 model of Xantia V6 Activa still holds the record speed trough the maneuver - faster then Porsche 996 GT2.^[1]

UK Models of the Activa came fitted with a XU10 2 litre turbocharged engine also fitted to the Citroën XM 2.0CT and Peugeot 605 SRi. It produced 150 bhp and 171 lb ft of torque and was a 'low-blow' type for smooth power delivery rather than outright bhp. When modified Its performance can be improved to get close to the output of V6 models for very little outlay whilst retaining the smoothness and excellent torque characteristics.

The Xantia was the last Citroën to use a common hydraulic circuit for suspension, brakes and steering like the pioneering Citroën DS. It was also the last Citroën car that used the green LHM hydraulic fluid. Later cars, such as the C5, used LDS instead.

Engines

Power came courtesy of the familiar PSA XU-series gasoline engines, this time in 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 displacements, a 2.0 16-valve version for the Xantia VSX, a turbocharged 2.0 engine, from 1995 onwards, a 1.8 16-valve and a 2.0 16-valve engine. In 1997, a 3.0 V6 engine was offered as top-of-the-line.

The popular XUD turbodiesel units in 1.9 (turbocharged: 92 hp (69 kW), low-pressure turbo: 75 hp (56 kW), or not: 71 hp) displacement proved to be the best-selling engine. The biggest diesel was a 2.1 TD with 109 hp (81 kW).

In 1998, PSA introduced the HDi direct injection turbodiesel (in two versions: 90 hp (67 kW), and intercooled 110 hp). For an economical diesel engine, the HDi offered the kind of throttle response normally seen in a gasoline engine and quiet high speed cruising at a top speed of 118 mph (190 km/h). Acceleration was also good at 11.4 seconds from 0 to 60 mph.^{[citation needed]}

Model	Years	Engine and code		Displ.	Power	Torque
1.6 i	1993–1995	I4 8V	XU5 M3/Z (BFZ)	1580 cc	65 kW (88 PS; 87 hp) @ 6000 rpm	130 N·m (96 lb·ft) @ 2600 rpm
1.8 i	1993–1995	I4 8V	XU7 JP (LFZ)	1762 cc	76 kW (103 PS; 102 hp) @ 6000 rpm	153 N·m (113 lb·ft) @ 3000 rpm
1.8 i	1995–2001	I4 8V	XU7 JB (LFX)	1762 cc	66 kW (90 PS; 89 hp) @ 5000 rpm	157 N·m (116 lb·ft) @ 2600 rpm
1.8 i 16V	1995–2001	I4 16V	XU7 JP4 (LFY)	1762 cc	82.5 kW (112 PS; 111 hp) @ 5500 rpm	155 N·m (114 lb·ft) @ 4250 rpm
2.0 i	1993–1999	I4 8V	XU10 J2C (RFX)	1998 cc	89 kW (121 PS; 119 hp) @ 5750 rpm	176 N·m (130 lb·ft) @ 2750 rpm
2.0 i 16V	1993–1995	I4 16V	XU10 J4D/Z (RFY)	1998 cc	110 kW (150 PS; 148 hp) @ 6500 rpm	183 N·m (135 lb·ft) @ 3500 rpm
2.0 i 16V	1995–2001	I4 16V	XU10 J4R (RFV)	1998 cc	97 kW (132 PS; 130 hp) @ 5500 rpm	180 N·m (130 lb·ft) @ 4200 rpm
2.0 i Turbo CT	1995–2001	I4 8V	XU10 J2TE (RGX)	1998 cc	110 kW (150 PS; 148 hp) @ 5300 rpm	235 N·m (173 lb·ft) @ 2500 rpm
3.0 i V6	1997–2001	V6 24V	ES9 J4 (XFZ)	2946 cc	140 kW (190 PS; 188 hp) @ 5500 rpm	267 N·m (197 lb·ft) @ 4000 rpm
1.9 D	1993–1995	I4 8V	XUD9 A (D9B)	1905 cc	52 kW (71 PS; 70 hp) @ 4600 rpm	120 N·m (89 lb·ft) @ 2000 rpm
1.9 SD	1995–2001	I4 8V	XUD9 SD (DHW)	1905 cc	56 kW (76 PS; 75 hp) @ 4600 rpm	135 N·m (100 lb·ft) @ 2250 rpm
1.9 Turbo D	1993–2001	I4 8V	XUD9 TE/Y (DHX)	1905 cc	67 kW (91 PS; 90 hp) @ 4000 rpm	196 N·m (145 lb·ft) @ 2250 rpm
2.0 HDi	1998–2001	I4 8V	DW10 TD (RHY)	1997 cc	68 kW (92 PS; 91 hp) @ 4000 rpm	205 N·m (151 lb·ft) @ 1900 rpm
2.0 HDi	1998–2001	I4 8V	DW10 ATED (RHZ)	1997 cc	80 kW (109 PS; 107 hp) @ 4000 rpm	250 N·m (180 lb·ft) @ 1750 rpm
2.1 Turbo D12	1995–1999	I4 12V	XUD11 BTE (P8C)	2088 cc	80 kW (109 PS; 107 hp) @ 4300 rpm	250 N·m (180 lb·ft) @ 2000 rpm

References

1. ^ Älgtestet – resultat bil för bil Teknikens Värld

External links

• Forum Xantia Activa Club
• Xantia Activa Club de France
• Citroën World: Xantia links
• Xantia at Citroënet
• Saipa Xantia, the Xantia from Iran
• Citroën Xantia EuroNCAP crash test results
• Buying a used Xantia
• French Car Forum