Citroën LNA

Citroën LN

Manufacturer	PSA Group
Also called	Citroën LNA
Production	1976-1986
Assembly	Aulnay-sous-Bois, France[1] Villaverde, Madrid, Spain[2]
Predecessor	None
Successor	Citroën AX
Class	Supermini
Body style	3-door hatchback
Layout	FF layout
Engine	602 cc Flat-2 652 cc Flat-2 1.1 L I4
Transmission	4 speed manual
Wheelbase	2,230 mm (88 in)[3]
Length	3,380 mm (133 in)[3]
Width	1,520 mm (60 in)[3]
Height	1,370 mm (54 in)[3]
Curb weight	700 kg (1,500 lb)[3] approx (60%:40%)
Related	Peugeot 104 Talbot Samba

The Citroën LN (Hélène) and Citroën LNA (Hélèna) are supermini automobiles produced by the French manufacturer Citroën between 1976 and 1986.

The LN was introduced in 1976 as a reworked version of Peugeot's 104 Z,^[4] and was powered by the economical 602 cc two-cylinder gasoline engine of the Citroën 2CV. Equipment levels were low, but the LN's key selling points were its cheap price and low running costs.

There was evidence of defensiveness at the press launch, possibly because a car that looked like a Peugeot but was assembled at a Citroën plant and fitted with a Citroën engine sharply refuted assurances that the two marques would retain their individuality. Those assurances had been provided by the same press departments just a few months earlier, when Citroën had again run out of money Peugeot had taken control.^[1] When pressed, Citroën explained that the LN project had been rushed through because of "the need to supply customers and the [dealership] network with a model to strengthen Citroën's position at the lower end of the market"^[1] which was hardly a ringing endorsement of a range which at the time included the Ami and the Dyane as well as the venerable 2CV which would continue in production long after any of the others.

Citroën sold the LN in its native France only, but its more powerful replacement, the LNA, was introduced in November 1978 and was exported to most of the rest of Europe (including right-hand drive versions for Great Britain). It had the more powerful and modern 652 cc two-cylinder engine of the Citroën Visa and later a 1.1 L four-cylinder engine was added which had a top speed of nearly 90 mph (145 km/h) on the LNA 11E and 11RE. But like the smaller-engined LN, the LNA was cheap to buy and cheap to run.

At the same time the LNA was launched, its Peugeot-sourced bodyshell also spawned the Talbot Samba which had square headlights and a different, slightly longer, rear body part. LNA production ceased in the summer of 1986, while the Talbot Samba survived another year. The Peugeot 104 remained in production until 1988 even though its successor, the 205, had been launched five years earlier.

Technical specifications

Engine specification

Type	V 06 / 630	R 06 / 630	V 06 / 644
Bore	77 mm (3.0 in)	74 mm (2.9 in)	77 mm (3.0 in)
Stroke	70 mm (2.8 in)	70 mm (2.8 in)	70 mm (2.8 in)
displacement	652 cc	602 cc	652 cc
Volumetric ration	9 / 1	9.5 / 1	9.5 / 1
Working compression	11 bars	11 bars	11 bars
Max power	36 PS (26 kW; 36 hp) @ 5500 rpm	32 PS (24 kW; 32 hp) @ 5750 rpm	34.5 PS (25 kW; 34 hp) @ 5500 rpm
Max torque	5.3 kg·m (52 N·m; 38 lb·ft) @ 3500 rpm	4.2 kg·m (41 N·m; 30 lb·ft) @ 3500 rpm
	5.1 daN.m		4.8 daN.m @ 3500 rpm
Max RPM	5850 rpm		6000 rpm
Camshaft values	for 1 mm rising
R.O.A	7° after TDC	0°5' after TDC
R.F.A	42° after BDC	49°15 after TDC
A.O.E	35° before BDC	35°55 after TDC
A.F.E / R.F.E	6° before TDC	3°30 after TDC
Transmissions
1st gear	11/50		11/50
2nd gear	18/45		18/45
3rd gear	28/46		28/46
4th gear	34/39		34/39
backward gear	11/46		11/46
transmission ratio	8/33	8/35	9/35

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Hasty hybrid :Citroen LN joins he range". Autocar: pages 21–22. date 14 August 1976. 
2. ^ "Citroën LNA". Autopista. 1985. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Test: Citroen LN. Kurzfassung. Neuer franzoesicher Kleinwagen im Mini-Format". Auto Motor u. Sport Heft 9 1977: Seite 60–71. date 27 April 1977. 
4. ^ "All about the LNA-Visa-Axel family". Citroenvisa.net. http://www.citroenvisa.net. Retrieved 2011-08-07.