Citroën CX History
History
Launched at the 1974 Paris Motor Show, the CX replaced the legendary DS as Citroën's large executive car — an enormous challenge the car met with an aerodynamically radical body (Cd 0.36, exceptional for 1974), a concave rear screen, and the full Citroën hydropneumatic suspension and DIRAVI steering inherited from the DS and SM lineages. It won the 1975 European Car of the Year award in its first year on sale.
The CX was produced in saloon (hatchback) and Break (estate/Familiale) forms and powered by a range of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines; there was no V6 as had been mooted, because PSA (which absorbed Citroën from 1976) declined to offer the PRV V6 in the CX. The turbo-diesel CX 2500 DTR Turbo — one of the first turbocharged diesel passenger cars — arrived in 1978, becoming a significant fleet and taxi-driver favourite. A facelift in 1985 sharpened the styling and improved the interior.
Production ended in 1991 as the XM, which had arrived in 1989, took over. Approximately 1.04 million CX models were built across the saloon and Break variants.
Generations
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CX Series 1 · Series 1
Original CX with concave rear screen and full Citroën hydropneumatic suite; turbodiesel added 1978.
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CX Series 2 · Series 2
Sharper restyled nose and tail with squared-up trim; electronic engine management added across the range.
Body styles
- Saloon (hatchback)
- Estate (Break/Familiale)
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