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  The Citroën Xantia 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 . 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 is still (as of 2010) producing them. Penned by Bertone, the exterior styling of the Xantia was also used on the Daewoo Espero.
[edit] HistoryThe 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 an updated, conventionally attractive form. Although the Xantia was not as dramatically styled as the Citroën BX, it was certainly more distinctive[weasel words] than its contemporaries such as the conservative Ford Mondeo and Opel Vectra. The Xantia also used the traditional Citroën hydropneumatic suspension system pioneered in the legendary 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. [edit] SuspensionFrom 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. In 1995, 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. UK Models of the Activa came fitted with a XU10 2 litre turbocharged engine also fitted to the Citroen 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. 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. [edit] EnginesPower 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 115 mph (185 km/h). Acceleration was also good at 11.4 seconds from 0 to 60 mph.[citation needed] The 2.0 HDi has proved to be a very reliable engine, many taxis have gone over 250,000 miles (400,000 km).[citation needed]
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