The legendary "Frenchman" of the 90s - Citroen XM V6

Today we look at one of the most progressive cars in history. When the XM was introduced to the public in 1989, it surpassed any analogue of the business class of that time in terms of technical equipment and comfort, including the 124th Mercedes and the BMW E34. In 1990, the model was recognized as the car of the year. It seemed that she had bright prospects and a great future.


But during the operation, many problems and shortcomings surfaced that spoiled the reputation of the best luxury car of its time. Later they were eliminated, but the moment was lost. Cars were assembled until 2000 with a restyling in 1994. A little more than 300 copies were collected, which is not much for such a period.

Exterior

Engineers developed the car, hiding many technical solutions from management. And when the information became known, it was too late to change something. This made it possible to create a model with a futuristic design in the spirit of Citroen. It is somewhat reminiscent of the DeLorean, which is not surprising - some members of the team worked on both machines.



A swift, sharp profile, dark side pillars, thanks to which the roof seems to soar in the air, low landing - all this reflects the spirit of the times. In the late 80s, it was a futuristic car that stood out from the crowd and attracted attention.



An interesting feature is the 13 glasses installed on the XM. And if 12 elements were external glazing (by the way, providing a good overview), then 13 require special attention. It is located at the rear and, when the trunk lid is raised, protects passengers from cold wind, precipitation, etc. Thanks to this, the car is not classified as a hatchback, but as a “conditional” sedans.



The option in the photo is unique in that it uses a body kit from the German tuning studio Musketier. The original bumpers are installed on the car, the rear spoiler with a modified profile consists of three parts, and on the twin exhaust pipes there are linings with the image of a musketeer. These improvements could be ordered when buying a new car, the companies cooperated officially.

It is worth noting that the body and the “Frenchman” are strong, the models resist corrosion well and all sorts of problems are caused by age or damage to the protective coating. Most often, it is enough to carry out cosmetic repairs or refresh the painting.

Interior

The quality of materials and equipment is amazing. At the time of release, it was the most technologically advanced car. Individual solutions have no analogues to this day.



The first design option was shown in the concept. It was a futuristic design that seemed too extravagant and impractical to the management. Therefore, she was rejected.



From 1989 to 1994, they produced a variant with an angular panel in the traditional Citroen style. This is a classic zeitgeist solution, but it also had some convenience issues.



After restyling, the panel acquired smooth shapes, many new buttons and controls appeared. The steering wheel has also changed. This is a less original, but convenient solution for everyday use.



The quality of the leather upholstery of the seats is high, in most of the surviving cars it is in good condition. Behind it is a comfortable sofa with an armrest, it is possible to set up dual-zone climate control (for that time it was a luxury). There is a lot of legroom, they are located in a comfortable position. The front seats are comfortable, even the turn of the side supports can be adjusted in them.



When decorating the interior, natural wood impregnated with oil was used - without varnish. This option began to be used by some premium German brands just a couple of years ago.

The armrest between the front seats is unique. It uses an electric lift that allows you to adjust the position at the touch of a button. In the cabin, almost all controls are automated, there is heating both front and rear.



The audio system provides good sound quality even now. It includes two-channel acoustics, a radio tape recorder for cassettes and a CD changer.
There are audio controls on the steering wheel. On both sides are small information displays with trip data. The tidy is almost the same as the standard ones, it has a fluid pressure sensor in the hydraulic suspension.

Of the systems, cruise control and a digital keypad can be distinguished, through which the immobilizer code is dialed to start the engine.



Elements are well adjusted to each other, soft plastic is resistant to scratches. The quality of sound insulation is decent, extraneous noise does not penetrate the cabin, the engine is also almost inaudible.

Suspension, steering and brakes

The main advantage of the Citroen XM is the hydropneumatic suspension. In terms of smoothness and comfort, it has no equal to this day. The car seems to float, swallowing all the bumps in the road. No traditional shock absorber design will give such softness. This is the development of a French concern, the patent for which was bought by Rolls-Royce after a series of unsuccessful attempts to create its own analogue.



The system is called Hydractive, XM uses a second-generation electronic-mechanical version. It includes not only suspension, but also power steering and brakes. Because of this, the design turned out to be complex and demanding to maintain. The main element is the main pump, which pumps liquid Liquide aulique Mineral through a complex system of pipelines and valves, there is a storage tank for level control and topping up if necessary.



The main element of the pendant is spheres, which are round green containers. Nitrogen is pumped into them under pressure, separated from the liquid by a membrane. Two are under the hood, another 5 are under the car and in its rear. Spheres dampen vibrations, with their help, not only the clearance changes, but also the stiffness of the suspension. The system is controlled by sophisticated electronics, which allows it to adapt to the road surface.



You can choose one of four positions. Landing - when the car almost touches the bottom of the ground. Highway - for driving on the highway. For primers - with increased ground clearance. Service - the highest, in this case, you can put a support under the threshold and, lowering the suspension, hang out the wheel for removal.



The steering is specific, the system differs from the standard hydraulic booster by its extraordinary ease. But at the same time, with an increase in speed, the bagel seems to “fill up”, it becomes sharp and clear. XM has a steering wheel alignment function - the wheels return to their original position automatically both on the go and in place.



The absence of a vacuum brake booster and the control of the system by a hydraulic valve leaves its mark on deceleration. Pedal behavior is different from standard cars. She reacts weakly in the first phase of pressing, and then takes quite sharply. But it is not difficult to get used to the specifics of such brakes. Moreover, they work clearly if everything is in order with the hydraulics.

Engine and gearbox

The car is equipped with a six-cylinder V-engine ZPG4 with a volume of 3 liters. It was developed back in the 70s, XM used an improved unit of the latest generation with 24 valves, producing 200 hp. With. It is more than enough for normal driving, with sharp accelerations there is no impression of a lack of power. The motor confidently takes from the bottom and provides good dynamics.



The gearbox is a five-speed manual. It is distinguished by a clear and soft switching, the presence of mechanics does not spoil the driving experience. The unit is reliable, problems with the gearbox are rare.

The result?

The car after the debut has collected a lot of rave reviews from European publications. But the crisis of the early 90s and a number of "childhood illnesses" had a negative impact on demand. Buyers preferred proven German cars, although over the years Citroen has eliminated most of the problems, and its suspension still surpasses 90% of new models.

XM is prized among collectors, and a rare version of the V6 in normal condition costs many times more than options with standard engines.