The Citroën AX is a supermini built by the French manufacturer Citroën from 1986 to 1998.
The AX was launched at the 1986 Paris Motor Show to replace the Citroën Visa. The car was available from launch as a three-door hatchback with 1.0, 1.1 and 1.4-litre TU-series belt driven OHC engines. Shortly afterwards, a five-door model and a 1.4 diesel were introduced; the latter was later replaced by a 1.5-litre unit. It had fully independent long travel suspension. It was initially backed by a memorable TV advertising campaign filmed in China, starring actress Janet Mas and an elderly gentleman, whose character was simply known as Mr Wong.
The car was very economical, largely because of excellent aerodynamics for its class of car (drag coefficient of 0.31) and a very light weight of 640 kg (1411 lb) for the basic version. This was due to the extensive use of plastic panels in non-load bearing areas and varying the thicknesses of steel in the bodyshell to be the minimum needed to take required loads. This technology came from the PSA Peugeot-Citroën / Renault / French government ECO 2000 project. In 1989 a naturally aspirated diesel AX, using the 1360 cc all aluminium alloy TUD engine, managed a figure of 2.7 L/100 km (87 mpg–U.S. / 105 mpg–imp), totalling over 1,000 miles (1,609 km) from Dover to Barcelona. This was the longest ever distance travelled on 10 imp gal (45.5 L/12.0 US gal) of fuel and earned it a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the most economical production car. Xavier Karcher promised at the AX's launch in August 1986 that it would not supercede the 2 CV while the latter continued to sell...In the event, the Visa soldiered on until 1988 and the 2CV until 1990.The AX was highly aerodynamic with a Cx of only 0,31 which allowed the 1,0 litre model to achieve a fuel consumption figure of less than 4 litres/100 km (better than 70 mpg) at a constant 90 kph (56 mph).The AX was launched in six versions - 10E, 10 RE, 11 RE, 11 TRE, 14 TRS and 14 TZS, and one body style - a three door hatchback.The range was rapidly expanded within a matter of weeks to include the limited edition AX Sport equipped with a twin carburettor, 95 bhp 1,3 litre engine and a top speed in excess of 185 kph (115 mph).In 1987, the range was further expanded to include a new AX GT with 85 bhp, a lightly revised AX Sport and a range of five door cars.In 1988, a new 1 360 cm3 diesel engine was made available in the 14 D, 14 RD and 14 TRD (or DTR in anglophone markets).In 1989, the 14 TZS disappeared from the range and a new five door GT appeared.In 1990, the range was rebadged to become 10E, 10 RE, 10 Tonic special edition, 11 TGE, 11 TRS, 14 TRS, Sport, GT, 14 D, 14 RD, 14 TRD/DTR.In 1991, the 14 TZX replaced the 14 TRS while the 14 RD became the 14 TGD.In 1992, the AX Sport was replaced by the GTi with 100 bhp and 190 kph (119 mph) top speed.In 1993, the petrol versions were all equipped with new monopoint fuel injection engines (with the exception of the GTi which retained its multipoint engine) and the badging was altered yet again and a number of special editions were launched. Also in 1993, the GT was replaced by the AX Furio. Models were now defined by engine and trim level - X, SX and VSX.The AX enjoyed great success in competition and proved very popular in the marketplace too. In 1998, it was finally replaced by the Saxo although it continues to be built in Malaysia as the Proton Tiara .
The AX was launched at the 1986 Paris Motor Show to replace the Citroën Visa. The car was available from launch as a three-door hatchback with 1.0, 1.1 and 1.4-litre TU-series belt driven OHC engines. Shortly afterwards, a five-door model and a 1.4 diesel were introduced; the latter was later replaced by a 1.5-litre unit. It had fully independent long travel suspension. It was initially backed by a memorable TV advertising campaign filmed in China, starring actress Janet Mas and an elderly gentleman, whose character was simply known as Mr Wong.
The car was very economical, largely because of excellent aerodynamics for its class of car (drag coefficient of 0.31) and a very light weight of 640 kg (1411 lb) for the basic version. This was due to the extensive use of plastic panels in non-load bearing areas and varying the thicknesses of steel in the bodyshell to be the minimum needed to take required loads. This technology came from the PSA Peugeot-Citroën / Renault / French government ECO 2000 project. In 1989 a naturally aspirated diesel AX, using the 1360 cc all aluminium alloy TUD engine, managed a figure of 2.7 L/100 km (87 mpg–U.S. / 105 mpg–imp), totalling over 1,000 miles (1,609 km) from Dover to Barcelona. This was the longest ever distance travelled on 10 imp gal (45.5 L/12.0 US gal) of fuel and earned it a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the most economical production car. Xavier Karcher promised at the AX's launch in August 1986 that it would not supercede the 2 CV while the latter continued to sell...In the event, the Visa soldiered on until 1988 and the 2CV until 1990.The AX was highly aerodynamic with a Cx of only 0,31 which allowed the 1,0 litre model to achieve a fuel consumption figure of less than 4 litres/100 km (better than 70 mpg) at a constant 90 kph (56 mph).The AX was launched in six versions - 10E, 10 RE, 11 RE, 11 TRE, 14 TRS and 14 TZS, and one body style - a three door hatchback.The range was rapidly expanded within a matter of weeks to include the limited edition AX Sport equipped with a twin carburettor, 95 bhp 1,3 litre engine and a top speed in excess of 185 kph (115 mph).In 1987, the range was further expanded to include a new AX GT with 85 bhp, a lightly revised AX Sport and a range of five door cars.In 1988, a new 1 360 cm3 diesel engine was made available in the 14 D, 14 RD and 14 TRD (or DTR in anglophone markets).In 1989, the 14 TZS disappeared from the range and a new five door GT appeared.In 1990, the range was rebadged to become 10E, 10 RE, 10 Tonic special edition, 11 TGE, 11 TRS, 14 TRS, Sport, GT, 14 D, 14 RD, 14 TRD/DTR.In 1991, the 14 TZX replaced the 14 TRS while the 14 RD became the 14 TGD.In 1992, the AX Sport was replaced by the GTi with 100 bhp and 190 kph (119 mph) top speed.In 1993, the petrol versions were all equipped with new monopoint fuel injection engines (with the exception of the GTi which retained its multipoint engine) and the badging was altered yet again and a number of special editions were launched. Also in 1993, the GT was replaced by the AX Furio. Models were now defined by engine and trim level - X, SX and VSX.The AX enjoyed great success in competition and proved very popular in the marketplace too. In 1998, it was finally replaced by the Saxo although it continues to be built in Malaysia as the Proton Tiara .
No comments:
Post a Comment