Quick information

🏎️ Citroen AX
📍 France
🛠️ 1.0 45HP
💨 17,9 seconds
🔝 145km/h
💶 No longer on sale

What is it?

The Citroen AX is a car intended for the general public produced from 1986 to 1998. It is an important vehicle from the historical point of view as it was made a “Sport” version that could be considered one of the first high-performance city cars. The AX also completed the renewal of the Citroen range, which at the time included the BX and CX as premium cars and the Visa and 2CV as more technologically outdated models than those of the X series. The car was initially only produced in the 3-door variant; the 5-door arrived in 1987.

Design

In a historical period in which city cars began to aspire to increasingly complex and differentiated lines from those of competitors, the AX presented itself with the most minimal aesthetic possible. Also noteworthy is the extension of the rear window as a spoiler. The simple but well thought out lines have allowed the Citroen AX to have an excellent Cx of 0.31. The very small dimensions of 3,53 x 1,56 meters did not compromise the trunk, which still today settles in the average of city cars with a capacity of 265 liters that can be extended up to 1160 by folding the rear seatback.

Interior

Following the style dictated by the exterior design, the passenger compartment is characterized by simple and squared lines. Almost everything on the dashboard is made of plastic.

Mechanics

Thanks to the adoption of a simple aesthetic and a specially designed frame, the AX has a featherweight that varies from 640 to 825kg depending on the engine and equipment chosen by the customer. This structure was so successful that it was later reused for the Saxo, as well as for the Peugeot 106. The engines initially marketed are three, all petrol: a 1.0 45HP, a 1.1 55HP, and a 1.4 65HP. The engines were praised not so much for their performance, which is in line with the competition, as for their very low fuel consumption. There are no automatic transmissions: the 1.0 version is paired with a 4-speed manual, while the other two with a 5-speed manual. Each version is equipped with the same braking system, consisting of disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear.

Evolution

In 1987 the powerful AX Sport debuted, combining a weight of 715kg with a power of 95HP delivered by a 1.3-liter engine. Shortly thereafter the GT debuted, which, being intended as a slightly less aggressive variant compared to the Sport, adopts a 1.4 85HP.  In 1988 the 1.4 petrol engine was upgraded from 65 to 70HP and the first diesel version, a 1.4 53HP, arrived. A restyling in 1991 made the shape of the car less sharp and a 4×4 version with a 1.4 75HP engine that was weakened and inherited from the GT made its debut. The purpose of the AZ 4×4 was to counter the Fiat Panda 4×4, but the intent failed. The entire range of engines was updated in 1992 with the replacement of carburetors with an electronic injection to comply with the increasingly stringent anti-pollution regulations. Precisely because of the new rules, the GT was reduced from 85 to 75HP.  At the same time, the 1.0 engine went from 45 to 50HP and the 1.1 from 55 to 60HP. The following years did not present any particular novelties. Production ended in 1996 with the arrival of the Saxo.

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