Citroen XM - A futuristic magic carpet
Today, I’m going to tell you a story about the flagship Citroen car of the Nineties - Citroen XM, produced from 1989 to 2000.
The XM was a successor of the iconic Citroen DS and CX and a sibling of the Peugeot 605. The XM, with its huge windows, swift lining, sharp skew angles, and stamped side strips going along the whole car looked like a spaceship for its time - unusual, audacious, breathtaking, and impressive.
Citroen couldn’t win over German competitors in dynamics or handling but it had a lot of advantages in comfort, equipment, and price.
With its complicated hydro-pneumatic system combining the suspension, steering, and brakes, the XM had probably the most comfortable suspension in the whole history of cars.
The combination of the exterior, interior, and mechanical quirks and features allowed the Citroen XM to easily win the title of the European Car of the Year in 1990 and 14 other international awards leaving the closest competitor, the Mercedes-Benz SL, way behind.
The Citroen XM wasn’t a car for an active driver. But it probably was one of the best cars in Europe for long-distance travels and family trips, especially in its wagon version.
And if we combine its unusual look, outstanding engineering solutions, controversial handling and quality, and the importance of that car for the French auto market of the Nineties, we can certainly say that the Citroen XM definitely was a very interesting, remarkable, and significant car.
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My other stories, mentioned in this video:
Mercedes-Benz 124: • Mercedes-Benz W124 - T...
Audi 100: • Audi 100 / 200 / 5000 ...
Ferrari F40: • Ferrari F40 - The best...
Jaguar XJ: • Jaguar XJ, 2nd generat...
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If you’d like to buy a classic, exotic, or enthusiast car in Europe and bring it to the United States - we can help.
Also, if you are watching this video from another country, we can find your dream car in the USA and ship it to you.
All details are here: wurstmotors.com/
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All pictures used in this video belong to their rightful and respected owners.
I use these pictures on the basis of the fair use principle: only for the purposes of research, teaching, and education.
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Music used in this video:
“By the Fireplace” by TrackTribe
“The Joint is Jumpin” by Joel Cummins
“Amazement” by Freedom Trail Studio
“The Closing Of Summer” by Asher Fulero
#citroen #citroenxm #xm #citroencars #peugeot #citroenpeugeot #stellantis #carhistory #frenchcars #europeancars #eighties #nineties
Hi, I own a Citroen XM Y4 V6 (1998 with facelift and the newer V6) since November 2018 and use it as my daily. Most of your video is very informative and accurate. But as @famousutopias I have to absolutely argue your comment that the suspension is dangerous! 11th July 2020, we were on a dead straight A-category road at the allowed 100kph when just in front of us an SUV pulled out of the forest. There was no visible junction and I checked later it was a tiny forest road with a no entry sign. I could not expect that. Heading straight towards that SUV I could slow down to around 80-85kph, then I had to decide in an instant: Either crash head on into him or steer to the ditch. Head on at that speed I would not have survived, so I went for the ditch. Ditch spit me out the other side, I even had to steer accordingly as the road itself was dead straight. This XM allowed me that. I hardly even felt it in the steering wheel, XM ploughed through that ditch at 80kph as if it was nothing. I am absolutely convinced every other car I ever had before, that included the XM-sister Peugeot 605, a Peugeot 205 GTI, a 4x4 Subaru Impreza, would have rolled in that moment. The XM simply was not botherted by it at all! I had a 15 months old baby on board! This XM not only saved my life, it changed the life of my son forever! Accepted mine is the newer Y4 (1994 facelift) with the hydractive2 suspension, I would not be able to tell you how bad an early Y3 was in conering. But I do doubt a lot it was bad. Ever heard of the Elch/Mouse test the XM’s little sister Xantia Activa is to the day the best and safest car ever in this test. This Xantia is also 1998 and did not even have ESP. And this test is about cornering, hardly possible that a Xantia without ESP beats Ferraris, Porsches and the likes if the base car was so dangerous? Another observation is: Why do people think Citroen HP is not sporty? Again mine is 1998, so sadly I do not have the DIRAVI steering any more. But what everybody forgets: The brakes going over the HP means the big Citroens do not actually have a brake server. No brake server means yes a little more foot power, but far less brake pedal travel, firmer pedal, the LHM oil instead of brake fluid means it doesn’t attract water, it will never boil, never vapourise. It is always the same accurate brake feel! It simply does not know brake fading! Even if you load the rear, more weight on the rear = more pressure on the rear = more brake bias to the rear, the car always behaves the same and is super easy to handle. I had a Peugeot 205 GTI before and of course it would be brave to say the XM is as sporty. But the 205 GTI had a short wheel base, was nippy but also bouncy on the rear axle and that could indeed be dangerous at high speeds. The XM has not only the stiff and accurate brake pedal, bumps and holes on the entry of a corner just do not impress her one bit! Absolutely nobody with common suspension manages a combination of soft ride and sporty accuracy like that at all! The car is functional as well with its tailgate, large boot (biggest estate, though mine is a conventional one) and I keep hearing auto testers saying it feels much smaller than it is, which is pretty much hitting the point. I had the 605 before, I had it for 8 years, I loved the 605, but the 605 did feel like a heavy car and still would not have safed my and Julian’s life on that 11th July 2020! I loved that 605 to bits, I had it many years, but the XM is more functrional, more comfy, but most surpising of all: a lot more sporty, engaging and fun to drive! Nearly like a 205 GTI, only safer too! Where the 205 GTI was wild and fun, yes the XM is less wild, but carries my kid, pram and luggage and it still is a lot of fun! Vandalising corners the 205 GTI gets unsettled, the XM doesn’t get unsettled at all and its brakes are way more accurate and pointy too, and that exactly because of the HP! Final remark: RELIABILITY: The system is even quite simple, but a Citroen trademark. It is tricky for nobody else developped into this direction (sadly not even Citroen after falling into Peugeot’s claws). YES: If you lose pressure you do have a serious problem, suspension, steering, brakes, all gone at once... But what people overlook: This system runs on 120 bars pressure. The pipes are stainless steel and constantly filled with mineral oil. They do not rust! Not even after 26 years (which is the age of my XM). If there is a leak, then it is a return pipe, they are made of rubber and yes they do age, but you can basically fix that with a piece of garden hose! Maybe that is over simplified. But I hope I gave an understandable description why this system is so great, and in fact simple, and in fact not dangerous at all. @famousutopias had his life saved twice, I had my life saved and my son was saved from becoming an orphan aged 15 months. There is a reason why I will never ever forget the date 11th July 2020! This suspension system is neither dangerous, nor complicated, sorry! This car saved my life and changed the life of a loving son who was at that point only 15 months old! It saved my entire family! This wet grass deep ditch, I still can’t believe she just ploughed through as if it was nothing. Come the next corner, she still is sharp and fun to the day! HP Citroens are comfy? They are far far more than that, they are safe and fun, right in contrary to your video!
The series 1 with DIRAVI steering is the version I like the best.
I wouldn’t characterize the suspension and handling of a hydropneumatic Citroen as. “Dangerous”. That’s the most wrong headed thing I’ve ever heard. I credit that suspension and brakes with saving my life on two occasions in the DS. I’m in the USA so I’ve never driven an XM. But I have driven CX and GS and owned DS, ID, and SM. Still have an ID19. I assume the XM suspension brakes & steering performs at least as well as those much older models. Outside of that, this video is generally very informative.
Thank you!
IM NOT THAT DRUNK. (ACCENT ON PURPOSE)