Citroën Xsara

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Citroën Xsara
Citroën Xsara 5-door
Manufacturer Citroën
Parent company PSA Group
Production 1997 - 2006
Predecessor Citroën ZX
Successor Citroën C4
Class Small family car
Body style(s) 3 and 5-door hatchback
5-door estate
Layout FF layout
Wheelbase 2540 mm (100 in)
Length Hatchback: 4190 mm (165 in)
Estate: 4370 mm (172 in)
Width 1705 mm (67.1 in)
Height Hatchback: 1405 mm (55.3 in)
Estate: 1420 mm (55.9 in)
Related Peugeot 306

The Citroën Xsara is a small family car produced by French automaker Citroën since 1997.

Like its predecessor, the Citroën ZX, the Xsara shared the running gear with the Peugeot 306.

It came in three- and five-door hatchback and five-door estate body styles; the estate was marketed as the Break and the three-door as the Coupé. The straight-4 engine range includes 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engines as well as 1.6, 1.9 and 2.0-litre turbodiesels.

Contents

[edit] Mark 1

The original Xsara was launched in 1997, and was available with different engine choices:

  • 1.4L (1361 cc 8 valve SOHC) 55 kW (74 hp) TU3JP 4 cylinder petrol 111 N·m
  • 1.6L (1587 cc) 66 kW (89 hp) TU5JP 4 cylinder petrol 136 N·m
  • 1.8L (1761 cc) 66 kW (89 hp) XU7JB 4 cylinder petrol
  • 1.8L (1761 cc) 76 kW (102 hp) XU7JP 4 cylinder petrol
  • 1.8L (1761 cc 16-valve DOHC) 82 kW (110 hp) XU7JP4 4 cylinder petrol 155 N·m
  • 2.0L (1998 cc 16-valve DOHC) 99 kW (133 hp) XU10J4R 4 cylinder petrol
  • 2.0L (1998 cc 16-valve DOHC) 122 kW (164 hp) XU10J4RS 4 cylinder petrol (used in Xsara VTS)
  • 1.9L (1905 cc) 50 kW (67 hp) XUD9A diesel
  • 1.9L (1868 cc) 51 kW (68 hp) DW8 diesel
  • 1.9L (1905 cc) 55 kW (74 hp) XUD9B SD diesel
  • 1.9L (1905 cc) 66 kW (89 hp) XUD9TE turbodiesel
  • 2.0L (1997 cc) 66 kW (89 hp) DW10TD turbodiesel

[edit] Mark 2 (Xsara II)

In 2000 the Xsara was facelifted; the car was now stiffer (so safety and handling improved), had a new front design and some interior modifications (i.e: new steering wheel). New 1.6i and 2.0i 16 valve engines were being introduced and 1.8L were removed. Now Xsara is offered with following engine choices:

  • 1.4L (1361 cc 8 valve SOHC) 55 kW (74 hp) TU3JP 4 cylinder petrol 121 N·m (catalyst and its position were changed)
  • 1.6L (1587 cc 16-valve DOHC) 81 kW (109 hp) TU5JP4 4 cylinder petrol (new, replaced 8 valve TU5JP engine)
  • 2.0L (1998 cc 16-valve DOHC) 122 kW (164 hp) XU10J4RS 4 cylinder petrol (used till 2002)
  • 2.0L (1998 cc 16-valve DOHC) 101 kW (135 hp) EW10J4 4 cylinder petrol (new, replaced XU10 engine)
  • 1.9L (1868 cc) 51 kW (68 hp) DW8 diesel (used till 2002)
  • 1.9L (1868 cc) 53 kW (71 hp) DW8B diesel (new)
  • 2.0L (1997 cc) 66 kW (89 hp) DW10TD turbodiesel (catalyst was changed, later central silencer was removed)
  • 2.0L (1997 cc) 79 kW (106 hp) DW10ATED turbodiesel (new)

The Xsara provided excellent ride, handling and refinement, but was largely sold on price because of stiff competition from the class leaders the Ford Focus and VW Golf. It was also let down by its staid styling.

The 2002 model had slight interior modifications (i.e a different way of controlling the sound system from the steering wheel). In 2003 there were also some exterior modifications.

The Xsara hatchback was discontinued and replaced by the stylish C4 in 2004. However, Station Wagon production continued into 2005. The Xsara continues to be produced for the Chinese market by the Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën Automobile, a joint venture with the PSA Group.

Since 2005, the Xsara Picasso has been the only version of the Xsara to be built or sold in Europe.

[edit] Xsara Picasso

Citroën Xsara Picasso
Citroën Xsara Picasso
Manufacturer Citroën
Production 1999- present
Class Compact MPV
Body style(s) 5-door MPV
Layout FF layout
Wheelbase 2760 mm (108.7 in)
Length 4275 mm (168.3 in)
Width 1750 mm (68.9 in)
Height 1635 mm (64.4 in)

The Xsara Picasso was Citroën's answer to the enormously popular compact MPV Renault Scénic when it went on sale late in 1999 with two trim levels - LX and SX, and three engines - a 1.6 and 1.8 litre petrols, and a 2.0 Litre HDI engine. The rear seats could be removed to create extensive storage space. It soon became the bestselling multi-purpose vehicle in France, Great Britain, and most of the rest of Europe.[citation needed] The Xsara Picasso is also built in Brazil for the Latin American market since 2001, where it is the top selling car in its class.[1]

In early 2003 the Xsara Picasso in the UK was given a 2.0i 16v engine with a four-speed Automatic gear box (the Picasso was only available with manual transmission for the first three years of production).[citation needed] In August 2006, Citroën unveiled its successor Citroën C4 Picasso, based on the Citroën C4. There are two versions, the Grand C4 Picasso seven-seat and the slightly smaller five-seat C4 Picasso. The Xsara Picasso will remain on sale as the smallest MPV in Citroën's range.[2]

[edit] Xsara Picasso Trim Levels UK 2000 - 2007

  • LX
  • SX
  • Desire From 2003
  • Exclusive From 2002
  • VTX From 2006

[edit] Xsara Picasso Trim Levels UK 2008 onwards

  • Desire
  • VTX

Only 1.6i 16v, 1.6HDi 16v 92BHP and 1.6HDi 16v 110BHP is now available

[edit] Xsara WRC

Citroën Xsara WRC driven by Dani Sordo.
Citroën Xsara WRC driven by Dani Sordo.

The Xsara World Rally Car, based on the road-going Xsara hatchback but ultimately having very little resemblance to it under the skin, was a major competitor in the World Rally Championship and one of the most successful cars in WRC history. The car took Frenchman Sébastien Loeb to 28 rally wins, three consecutive Driver's Championship titles from 2004 to 2006, and Citroën to three consecutive Manufacturer's Championship titles in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Although it is the Frenchman who has proved the archetype Xsara WRC pilot virtually since its 2001 conception, Jesus Puras, Carlos Sainz and Francois Duval are among the other drivers to have won.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Revista Carro - Top 50 best seller automobiles, 2006
  2. ^ Citroën News Releases

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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Type 1980s 1990s 2000s
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Economy car 2CV
Off-roader Méhari
City car LN / LNA AX C1
Supermini Saxo C2
Visa C3
Small family car GSA ZX Xsara C4
Large family car BX Xantia C5 I C5 II
Executive car CX XM C6
Leisure
activity vehicle		 Acadiane C15 Nemo
Berlingo Berlingo II
Compact
MPV		 Xsara Picasso
C4 Picasso
Large MPV Evasion/Synergie C8
Crossover C-Crosser