Citroën BX
Lightweight family car with hydropneumatic suspension and plastic panels.
The Citroën BX, a large family car, rolled off French production lines from 1982 to 1994, with a total of 2,315,739 units built over twelve years. The hatchback version was phased out in 1993 when the Xantia arrived, but the estate continued for another year. Lightness was a key design goal, achieved through a minimal number of body parts, many of which were plastic.
Announced in June 1982, the BX truly entered commercial life that autumn, with a Paris launch under the Eiffel Tower on 2 October 1982. It replaced the successful GS/GSA, though that model lingered until 1986. French ads used the slogan "J'aime, j'aime, j'aime" with music by Julien Clerc, while British marketing promoted reduced maintenance costs with "Loves Driving, Hates Garages," a nod to the higher upkeep of the technically advanced GS/GSA.
Marcello Gandini of Bertone penned the angular hatchback, basing it on his unused 1977 Reliant FW11 concept and 1979 Volvo Tundra concept. The BX was the second model to benefit from the 1976 Peugeot-Citroën merger, after the Visa. It shared its platform with the more conventional Peugeot 405 (launched 1987), except for the rear suspension, which came from a Peugeot 305 Break. Distinctive features included hydropneumatic self-levelling suspension, extensive plastic panels (bonnet, tailgate, bumpers), and disc brakes all around.
The right-hand drive UK market got the BX in August 1983, initially with 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines. By 1986, more engine options and a five-door estate had joined. From 1987, the BX was the UK's best-selling diesel car for four years and one of the most popular foreign-built cars there in the late 1980s. Yet by February 2016, only 485 remained on British roads.
The BX ditched the GS's air-cooled flat-four for PSA's XY, TU, and XU petrol engines: 1360 cc, 1580 cc, and from 1984, 1905 cc. A 1124 cc engine, unusual for this size, was offered in countries taxing by engine capacity, like Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Greece. The 1.1 and 1.4 used the PSA X engine (the "Douvrin" or "Suitcase Engine") from a Peugeot/Renault joint venture, already in the Peugeot 104 and Renault 14. The 1.6 was the first to use the new short-stroke XU-series engine, built at a new Trémery plant, later appearing as a 1.9-litre version.
Quick Facts
- Sp
- uk
- Manufacturer
- Citroën
- Assembly
- France: Rennes (PSA Rennes Plant) · France: Cerizay (Heuliez: BX Break) · Spain: Vigo (PSA Vigo Plant) · Yugoslavia: Koper (Cimos) · Morocco: Casablanca (Sopriam) · Uruguay: Montevideo (Nordex S.A.)
- Production
- 1982–1994
- Predecessor
- Citroën GS · Simca 1307
- Successor
- Citroën Xantia
- Layout
- Front-engine, transverse front-wheel drive / longitudinal four-wheel drive
- Class
- Large family car (D)
- Related
- Peugeot 405
- Designer
- Marcello Gandini
- Wheelbase
- 2655 mm
- Length
- 4230 mm (hatchback)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Citroën BX was announced in June 1982, with a Paris presentation on 2 October 1982 under the Eiffel Tower. It was the second car to benefit from the merger of Peugeot and Citroën in 1976, the first being the Citroën Visa. The BX shared its platform with the more conventional Peugeot 405, except the rear suspension which came from a Peugeot 305 Break. The French advertising campaign used the slogan 'J'aime, j'aime, j'aime' with music by Julien Clerc; the British campaign used 'Loves Driving, Hates Garages' to promote reduced maintenance costs.
The BX dispensed with the air-cooled flat four engine of the GS and used PSA group XY, TU and XU series petrol engines. A 1.1 L engine was available in countries where car tax depended on engine capacity, such as Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Greece. The diesel and turbo diesel models became the most successful variants, especially as estates, and the BX was the UK's best-selling diesel car from 1987. In 1986 the Phase II BX launched with a redesigned interior and exterior updates. A Phase II facelift in 1989 brought smoked rear lamp units and new wheel trims.
Citroën entered Group B rallying with the BX 4TC in 1986. The rally car bore little resemblance to the standard BX, with a very long nose and a longitudinally mounted turbocharged engine derived from the Simca Type 180 engine, downsized to 2,141.5 cc.
Reader's Guide
The Citroën BX was a significant model for Citroën, bridging the gap between the technologically advanced but maintenance-heavy GS/GSA and more conventional offerings. Its lightweight construction, using plastic body panels, and hydropneumatic suspension set it apart from competitors. The BX enjoyed commercial success, particularly as a diesel estate, and won many Towcar of the Year awards due to its power, economy, and self-levelling suspension. However, its reputation was tarnished by variable build quality; in 1983, one quarter of production needed touchups before shipping. Later models improved, but the damage was done. The BX was partially replaced by the smaller ZX in early 1991, with its key replacement being the slightly larger Xantia in early 1993, when the BX hatchback was discontinued. The estate continued for another year until the Xantia estate launched. By February 2016, only 485 examples remained on Britain's roads.
Did You Know?
- The BX was designed by Marcello Gandini of Bertone, based on his unused design for the 1977 Reliant FW11 concept and the 1979 Volvo Tundra concept.
- A 1.1 L engine was available in the BX 11E/TE for markets like Italy, Greece, and Portugal, producing 55 hp at 5800 rpm.
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