Citroen XM

The XM were presented the May 23rd 1989, after 55 months of development under Y30 name. It succeeds the CX. She was elected car of the year 1990.

The XM were a car with radical esthetics (signed Bertone), very aerodynamics (Cx of 0,28) and with the advanced technological choices: she preserved the oil and air suspension of the CX, to which she added in her version “Hydractive” two spheres, one by axle, for anti-roll control.

Convey prestige, it offered for the first time in series a double rear window, allowing to preserve the passengers of the wind even with the open forage ladder. In 1991, to the Auto show of Frankfurt, Citroen presented the XM station-wagon, which was the largest station-wagon of the European market. The hydraulic suspension allowed him as with all the station-wagons Citroen precedents, to keep a constant plate whatever its load, giving him an obvious superiority on all its competitors.

The repurchase then recent of Citroen by Peugeot involved the replacement of the Citroen blocks of old design by driving blocks Peugeot, gasoline XU, diesel XUD in (with for the first time in series a Diesel multi- Soupape S, the 2.1l 12 valves, 83 ch into atmospheric and 110 ch in turbocompressée). This block was not however able to compete with the 2.5l turbo D of the CX, which held the world speed records for a diesel of series! Contrary to the CX, the XM offered from now on V6, instead of the 2.5l turbo gasoline. This softer motorization was appropriate well for the statute of the XM, there still without offering same the performances as its predecessor. This V6 appeared then in a version with 24 valves, offering 200 ch, but this motorization appeared extremely fragile. It also had a 2.0l with Carburateur of 115 ch, a 2.0l with injection of 130 ch, a 2.0l turbo low pressure of 145 ch (150 ch since 1994). In 1994, it offered as of the line entry a 2.0l gasoline 16 valves of 135 ch, then a 2.5l turbo diesel of 130 ch, which equalized finally the CX preceding, but its competitors also, in particular the Mercedes 300D turbo of 143 ch, and the BMW 525 tds of 143 ch, both in 6 cylinders. In end of a career, it was equipped with V6 ES, a 3.0l 24 valves of highly reliable 194 ch and much more economic than its predecessor PRV. At the time of sound restylage in June 1994, it was equipped like her sister Xantia with a sphere SC-MAC, which avoided the depression of the suspension to the prolonged stop. It also gained there an instrument panel inspired of the Xantia, finished very well, but much more traditional than the first. Its grill was modified for more opened version and with the centred rafters. Its back aileron is flattened.

XM the least expensive was nearly 50% more expensive during its launching than the CX corresponding. In spite of that, it was very well sold the first two years. Unfortunately she suffered from defects of connector industry, due to excessive economies on the components decided by the head office PSA, which was in financial problems when designing XM. Good number of first XM spent much time in repair in the concessions. These problems were regulated as of year 92. As of the restylage of June 1994, the XM had become a highly reliable car. But its reputation remained to him, and its sales did not cease tumbling down. It however was sold much better in Germany, fatherland of the automobile high-end, that her sister at Peugeot, the 605.

Like all the Citroen the top-of-the-range preceding ones, the XM was used as presidential car (for François Mitterrand, which used especially Renault, but the Elysium into XM in 1995 left).

The Citroen C6 succeeds to him.

External bonds

''' 3000FR ''' - Forum of mutual aid XM
XM Club of France
Citroenet - in English
Forum XM on Planet Citroen
Rafter-Passion: a forum Internet on old the Citroen, with a part especially dedicated to the XM with documents of time and technical councils…

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