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The Citroën Xantia is an mid-sized automobile produced by PSA Peugeot-Citroen, and was produced between 1993 and 2001. It was initially only available as a hatchback, but an estate car version appeared in 1995.
It was designed to replace the earlier BX, and marked a return by Citroën to its traditional engineering roots. The ZX, introduced two years earlier had been criticised for its lack of traditional Citroën flair in both its engineering and styling, and the Xantia was an attempt to address this.
Although the Xantia was not as dramatically styled as the BX, it was certainly more distinctive than its contemporaries such as the more conservatively styled Ford Mondeo and Opel Vectra (Vauxhall Vectra/Cavalier). The Xantia also used the traditional Citroën hydropneumatic suspension system pioneered in the legendary DS.
From an engineering perspective, the Xantia's biggest advance was of course, the suspension. From launch, it was available with an enhanced version of the XM's Hydractive computer-controlled version of the hydropneumatic set-up. In 1995, the Activa technology was introduced, which again used a combination of computer control and mechanical changes to all but eliminate body roll.
Power came courtesy of the familiar Peugeot XU petrol engines, this time in 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 litre capacities, with a 2.0 litre 16-valve version for the top-of-the-range VSX. The popular XUD turbodiesel units in 1.9 litre capacity proved to be the best selling engine. in 1998, PSA introduced the HDI direct injection diesel which had been developed in conjunction with Ford.
In line with PSA policy at the time, Xantia used the floorpan, core structure and the engines from the Peugeot 406, which was launched 2 years later.
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