Citroën Xsara

Citroën Xsara

Manufacturer	Citroën
Production	1997–2006 2011-onward Xsara+
Assembly	Mulhouse, France Montevideo, Uruguay Wuhan, Hubei, China Cairo, Egypt[1]
Predecessor	Citroën ZX
Successor	Citroën C4
Class	Compact car World Rally Car
Body style	3 and 5-door hatchback 5-door estate
Layout	FF layout
Wheelbase	2,540 mm (100.0 in)
Length	Hatchback: 4,190 mm (165.0 in) Estate: 4,370 mm (172.0 in)
Width	1,705 mm (67.1 in)
Height	Hatchback: 1,405 mm (55.3 in) Estate: 1,420 mm (55.9 in)
Related	Peugeot 306

The Citroën Xsara is a small family car produced by French automaker Citroën from 1997 to 2006.

Like its predecessor, the Citroën ZX, the Xsara shares running gear with the Peugeot 306.

It came in three and five-door hatchback and five-door estate body styles; the estate was marketed as the Break and the three-door as the Coupé. The straight-4 engine range includes 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engines as well as 1.6, 1.9 and 2.0-litre turbodiesels.

The Xsara was 1998 Semperit Irish Car of the Year in Ireland.

Mark 1

The original Xsara was launched in 1997, and was available with different engine choices:

• 1.4L (1361 cc 8 valve SOHC) 55 kW (75 PS; 74 hp) TU3JP 4 cylinder petrol 111 N·m
• 1.6L (1587 cc) 66 kW (90 PS; 89 hp) TU5JP 4 cylinder petrol 136 N·m
• 1.8L (1761 cc) 66 kW (90 PS; 89 hp) XU7JB 4 cylinder petrol
• 1.8L (1761 cc) 76 kW (103 PS; 102 hp) XU7JP 4 cylinder petrol
• 1.8L (1761 cc 16-valve DOHC) 82 kW (110 hp) XU7JP4 4 cylinder petrol 155 N·m
• 2.0L (1998 cc) 92 kW (125 PS; 123 hp) XU10J2C 4 cylinder petrol
• 2.0L (1998 cc 16-valve DOHC) 99 kW (135 PS; 133 hp) XU10J4R 4 cylinder petrol
• 2.0L (1998 cc 16-valve DOHC) 122 kW (166 PS; 164 hp) XU10J4RS 4 cylinder petrol (used in Xsara VTS)

• 1.9L (1905 cc) 50 kW (68 PS; 67 hp) XUD9A diesel
• 1.9L (1868 cc) 51 kW (69 PS; 68 hp) DW8 diesel
• 1.9L (1905 cc) 55 kW (75 PS; 74 hp) XUD9B SD diesel
• 1.9L (1905 cc) 66 kW (90 PS; 89 hp) XUD9TE turbodiesel
• 2.0L (1997 cc) 66 kW (90 PS; 89 hp) DW10TD turbodiesel

Mark 2 (Xsara II)

A restyled Citroën Xsara

In 2000 the Xsara was facelifted; the car was now stiffer (so safety and handling improved), had a new front design and some interior modifications (i.e.: new steering wheel). The facelift also saw the introduction of multiplex wiring. New 1.6i and 2.0i 16 valve engines were being introduced and 1.8L were removed. Now Xsara is offered with following engine choices:

• 1.4L (1361 cc 8 valve SOHC) 55 kW (74 hp) TU3JP 4 cylinder petrol 121 N·m (catalyst and itsposition were changed)
• 1.6L (1587 cc 16-valve DOHC) 81 kW (109 hp) TU5JP4 4 cylinder petrol (new, replaced 8 valve TU5JP engine)
• 2.0L (1998 cc 16-valve DOHC) 122 kW (164 hp) XU10J4RS 4 cylinder petrol (used till 2002)
• 2.0L (1998 cc 16-valve DOHC) 101 kW (135 hp) EW10J4 4 cylinder petrol (new, replaced XU10 engine)
• 1.4L (1398 cc) HDI 50 KW 68 PS DW4TD 01. 2004-31.12.2004
• 1.9L (1868 cc) 51 kW (69 PS; 68 hp) DW8 diesel (used till 2002)
• 1.9L (1868 cc) 53 kW (72 PS; 71 hp) DW8B diesel (new)
• 2.0L (1997 cc) 66 kW (90 PS; 89 hp) DW10TD turbodiesel (catalyst was changed, later central silencer was removed)
• 2.0L (1997 cc) 79 kW (107 PS; 106 hp) DW10ATED turbodiesel (new)

In line with other models from the same company at the time, the Xsara largely sold on price because of stiff competition from the class leader, the Renault Scenic.

The 2002 model had slight interior modifications (i.e.: a different way of controlling the sound system from the steering wheel). In 2003 there were also some exterior modifications (i.e.: new front bumper).

The Xsara hatchback was discontinued and replaced by the C4 in late 2004. The Xsara continues to be produced for the Chinese market by Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën Automobile, a joint venture with the PSA Group.

The Xsara Picasso small MPV was continued, concurring its successors.

Xsara WRC

Citroën Xsara WRC

Jesús Puras with a Citroën Xsara Kit Car

The Xsara World Rally Car, based on the road-going Xsara hatchback but ultimately having very little resemblance to it under the skin, was one of the most successful cars ever to compete in the World Rally Championship. The car took Frenchman Sébastien Loeb to 28 rally wins, three consecutive Driver's Championship titles from 2004 to 2006, and Citroën to three consecutive Manufacturer's Championship titles in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Although it is the Frenchman who has proved the archetype Xsara WRC pilot virtually since its 2001 conception, Jesús Puras, Carlos Sainz and François Duval are the other drivers to have won.

2003 world champion Petter Solberg drove a 2006-spec Xsara for the majority of the 2009 season, which was entered by his own Petter Solberg World Rally Team.^[2]

Awards
Preceded by Peugeot 206 WRC	Autosport Rally Car of the Year 2003, 2004, 2005	Succeeded by Ford Focus WRC

See also

• Citroën Total World Rally Team

References

1. ^ "Arab American Vehicles Co". Aav.com.eg. http://www.aav.com.eg/Pathtosuccess.html. Retrieved 2010-03-25. 
2. ^ "World Rally Championship - Rallies". Wrc.com. http://www.wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=403&season=2009&rally_id=I. Retrieved 2009-10-06. 

External links

• Citroen Xsara Owners' Club
• Xsara Picasso Official UK site
• Xsara model information
• Citroën Crash Test Xsara
• Meaning of word "Xsara"
• Xsarausuarios.com - Web dedicated to users of Citroën Xsara Spanish site