Citroën Xantia

Citroën Xantia
Overview
Manufacturer	Citroën
Production	1992–2002 (France) 2001–2010 (Iran) 1996–1997 (China)
Assembly	PSA Rennes Plant, France Tehran, Iran Huizhou, Guangdong, China (CKD)
Designer	Bertone
Body and chassis
Class	Large family car (D)
Body style	5-door hatchback (Berline) 5-door estate (Break)
Layout	FF layout
Related	Peugeot 406
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L I4 1.8 L I4 1.8 L 16 valve I4 2.0 L I4 2.0 L 16 valve I4 2.0 L turbo I4 3.0 L V6 1.9 L diesel I4 1.9 L turbodiesel I4 2.0 L HDi diesel I4 2.1 L 12 valve turbodiesel I4
Dimensions
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 (2,760 lb)–1,430 kg (3,150 lb) (Activa CT)
Chronology
Predecessor	Citroën BX
Successor	Citroën C5

The Citroën Xantia, pronounced "Zan–ti–a" is a large family car (D) produced by the French automaker Citroën, and designed by Bertone. Presented to the press in December 1992, the car was produced between 1992 and 2001, with a facelift in the end of 1997. Citroën sold over 1.2 million Xantias during its nine years of production.

Production line of the Xantia started in SAIPA, Tehran Iran in January 2001, following the end of production in Europe. Production in France, however, continued until October 2002, which overlapped with the C5 by eighteen months. Iranian manufacturing ended in September 2010. The name "Xantia" like some other names on Citroën models before (like Athena or Pallas) is coming from ancient Greek history and mythology.

"Xantia" is derived from Xanthos, mean golden or blond in Greek Language. Xanthos is name of an ancient Lycian city (meaning "golden city") in ancient Lycia region. The name is also known for Xanthian Obelisk, An bilingual Obelisk from Persian Achaemenid Empire era found in ruins of Xanthos city.

History

Xantia hatchback (notchback)

Post facelift Xantia

Post facelift Estate version of Xantia

The Xantia replaced the earlier Citroën BX (which straddled both small and large family car segments), 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 600, Toyota Carina E and Opel Vectra/Vauxhall Cavalier.

The car was built from November 1992 to October 2002 in France, totalling almost ten years, including the facelift in December 1997.

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

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

Inline with PSA Group policy, the Peugeot 406, launched two 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 United Kingdom were strong, and even though it was never able to match the volume of British favourites, such as the Ford Mondeo or Vauxhall Vectra, the car did help Citroën establish a strong foothold in the business car market in the United Kingdom.

Suspension

Hydractive

Xantia dashboard

Xantia badge

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 ZX, 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.

Activa active anti roll bars

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. It employs active anti-roll bars. In the magazine Teknikens Värld's moose test, published in Swedish, the 1999 V6 Activa still holds the record speed through the manoeuvre, faster than the McLaren 675LT.

United Kingdom 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.

The Xantia was the last Citroën vehicle 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 from the familiar PSA XU series petrol 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. This engine was also offered with the Activa suspension system, a rare version with less than 2600 built.

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 PS (66 kW), and intercooled 109 PS). 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).

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) at 6000 rpm	130 N⋅m (96 lb⋅ft) at 2600 rpm
1.8 i	1993–1998	I4 8V	XU7 JP (LFZ)	1762 cc	74 kW (101 PS; 99 hp) at 6000 rpm	153 N⋅m (113 lb⋅ft) at 3000 rpm
1.8 i	1995–2000	I4 8V	XU7 JB (LFX)	1762 cc	66 kW (90 PS; 89 hp) at 5000 rpm	147 N⋅m (108 lb⋅ft) at 2600 rpm
1.8 i 16V	1995–2001	I4 16V	XU7 JP4 (LFY)	1762 cc	81 kW (110 PS; 109 hp) at 5500 rpm	155 N⋅m (114 lb⋅ft) at 4250 rpm
2.0 i	1993–1998	I4 8V	XU10 J2C (RFX)	1998 cc	89 kW (121 PS; 119 hp) at 5750 rpm	176 N⋅m (130 lb⋅ft) at 2750 rpm
2.0 i 16V	1993–1994	I4 16V	XU10 J4D/Z (RFY)	1998 cc	112 kW (152 PS; 150 hp) at 6500 rpm	183 N⋅m (135 lb⋅ft) at 3500 rpm
2.0 i 16V	1994–1995	I4 16V	XU10 J4D/Z (RFT)	1998 cc	110 kW (150 PS; 148 hp) at 6500 rpm	183 N⋅m (135 lb⋅ft) at 3500 rpm
2.0 i 16V	1995–2001	I4 16V	XU10 J4R (RFV)	1998 cc	97 kW (132 PS; 130 hp) at 5500 rpm	180 N⋅m (130 lb⋅ft) at 4200 rpm
2.0 i Turbo CT	1995–2000	I4 8V	XU10 J2TE (RGX)	1998 cc	108 kW (147 PS; 145 hp) at 5300 rpm	235 N⋅m (173 lb⋅ft) at 2500 rpm
2.9 i V6	1997–2000	V6 24V	ES9 J4 (XFZ)	2946 cc	140 kW (190 PS; 188 hp) at 5500 rpm	267 N⋅m (197 lb⋅ft) at 4000 rpm
1.9 D	1993–1995	I4 8V	XUD9 A (D9B)	1905 cc	51 kW (69 PS; 68 hp) at 4600 rpm	120 N⋅m (89 lb⋅ft) at 2000 rpm
1.9 D	1995–1996	I4 8V	XUD9 Y (DJZ)	1905 cc	50 kW (68 PS; 67 hp) at 4600 rpm	120 N⋅m (89 lb⋅ft) at 2000 rpm
1.9 SD	1996–2000	I4 8V	XUD9 SD (DHW)	1905 cc	55 kW (75 PS; 74 hp) at 4600 rpm	135 N⋅m (100 lb⋅ft) at 2250 rpm
1.9 Turbo D	1993–1996	I4 8V	XUD9 TE/L (D8B)	1905 cc	68 kW (92 PS; 91 hp) at 4000 rpm	196 N⋅m (145 lb⋅ft) at 2250 rpm
1.9 Turbo D	1996–2000	I4 8V	XUD9 TE/Y (DHX)	1905 cc	66 kW (90 PS; 89 hp) at 4000 rpm	196 N⋅m (145 lb⋅ft) at 2250 rpm
2.0 HDi	1998–2001	I4 8V	DW10 TD (RHY)	1997 cc	66 kW (90 PS; 89 hp) at 4000 rpm	205 N⋅m (151 lb⋅ft) at 1900 rpm
2.0 HDi	1998–2001	I4 8V	DW10 ATED (RHZ)	1997 cc	80 kW (109 PS; 107 hp) at 4000 rpm	250 N⋅m (180 lb⋅ft) at 1750 rpm
2.1 Turbo D12	1995–1999	I4 12V	XUD11 BTE (P8C)	2088 cc	80 kW (109 PS; 107 hp) at 4300 rpm	235 N⋅m (173 lb⋅ft) at 2000 rpm

Chinese production

Front view of a Chinese made Citroën XM (Xantia).

Fengshen:Citroën Badge

The Citroën Xantia, along with the Citroën XM were assembled by the firm of CKD in Huizhou, Guangdong province. This venture lasted for only two years from 1996 to 1997, and production numbers were extremely low. The cars were imported to China more or less fully assembled with only minor additions done in China as a way to avoid the high import tariffs on cars that existed at the time. Both cars were badged as XM.

Sales and production

Year	Worldwide sales	Worldwide Production	Notes
2009	12,500	TBA	TBA
2010	4,000	TBA	TBA