How2Day: Citroen BX Features

The Citroen BX is a large, five-door family car that was made between the years 1982 and 1994 by the French manufacturer Citroen. The car was developed by the renowned Italian designer Bertone and was available in both a hatchback and an estate model. BX Club estimates that a total of 2,337,013 BX cars were produced worldwide before it was discontinued and replaced by the Citroen Xantia.

The exterior of the car features plastic body panels on the hood, tailgate and bumpers. This is in order to make the car more lightweight and agile.

The Citroen BX uses a self-leveling suspension system called the Macpherson Strut. This model uses a uses a shock absorber and a coil spring within a single unit, allowing for a light and compact system to achieve sharp handling.

The original 1982 Citroen BX's were built with 1360cc and 1580cc petrol engines, featuring a low drag factor of 0.34 CD and front and rear disc brakes. The Citroen BX poster campaign in Britain in 1984 states that the 1360cc model can do 38 miles per gallon (mpg) at a speed of 75 miles per hour (mph), and the 1580cc model can do 39 mpg at 75 mph. According to Citroen Car Club, 62 varying models were later introduced during its 12 years of production, each offering different engine sizes.

The Citroen BX was designed to allow for easy and little maintenance. The car's gearbox can be taken out without affecting the engine, and the bumpers and front wings can be quickly unhinged and then reattached. According to Citroen, a new model would require only two hours of servicing for every 12,000 miles driven.

Controls are bunched together around the steering wheel on a PRN dashboard. steering wheel image by BaSSaBaS from Fotolia.com
The Citroen BX is fitted with a Pluie Route Nuit (PRN) Dashboard, which means that all of the car's controls are logically grouped around the steering wheel, allowing the driver to keep his hands on the wheel at all times. Although now a customary feature in most 21st-century cars, this was a new and pioneering fixture at the time of the car's launch.

In addition to the standard features of the Citroen BX detailed above, upgrades such as air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors, power sunroof, remote-controlled central locking system and leather upholstery can also be installed on request.

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