CITROEN

Citroën BX: the French car that changed concepts and was designed with CAD computational resources

The BX has a rich and unexpected career in the history of Citroën and the history of the automobile, a reflection of the commercial success it has achieved during its 12 years of existence. It retains, today and quite naturally, its place in the hearts of car enthusiasts and collectors, who will not fail to warmly mark the 40th anniversary of the model. On this occasion, the experts of the association L'Aventure Citroën invite all fans to rediscover the BX tomorrow, Saturday, September 24, at the Citroën Conservatory in Aulnay-sous-Bois (France).

Launch under the Eiffel Tower... It was September 23, 1982 and, at nightfall, a huge crowd invaded the Champ-de-Mars, directing their gaze to the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, where a gigantic wooden box with the inscription 'Voilà la nouvelle Citroën' ('Behold the new Citroën'). In a dizzying spectacle of light and sound, the wooden box slowly slid to the floor, then opened, revealing the BX, a model that thus began its fabulous career to a huge ovation, with the Eiffel Tower adorned with double chevrons and involved in fireworks(image above).

A few days later, on September 30, 1982, the 69th Paris Salon, at Porte de Versailles, opened its doors, marking the beginning of the commercialization of the BX, which became one of the undisputed stars of the event.

The 'XB' project...Launched in 1978 with the code name 'XB', the Citroën BX project saw its specifications finalized in November 1979. The main objectives assigned to the future BX were to allow it to be recognized as a vehicle modern and unconventional, with an emphasis on innovation. The BX was going to be a front-wheel drive car with a transverse engine and low weight to ensure good acceleration and low fuel consumption, taking into account the economic context of the time. Like all top-of-the-line Citroën models at the time, the BX was equipped with a hydropneumatic suspension system to ensure impeccable levels of comfort and road holding. The BX featured a five-door bodyshell, with a fifth rear door.

Its development was carried out by the technical center of Vélizy, which invested heavily in CAD (Computer Aided Design) equipment, in order to accelerate the convergence of design and the optimization of performances. With this type of tool, the BX would achieve a good drag coefficient value: 0.34. Innovative in the use of composite materials in various components, such as the bumpers, trunk lid, hood and C-pillar windows, the BX weighed just 885 kg.

The first Citroën vehicle of the PSA era, the BX received its engines from the group's organ bank. With powerful engines right from the start (1.4 with 62 hp or 72 hp, 1.6 with 90 hp), the BX was surprisingly dynamic.

The success line...With the BX, Citroën has set itself a double objective: to enter the mid-high segment market and to become the successor to the relevant GSA. To achieve this, the BX would rely on strong technical arguments, which would guarantee comfort, dynamism and economy of use, as well as a new profile with an innovative aesthetic.

To design the BX, Citroën turned to the famous Italian studio Bertone. Designer Marcello Gandini ('father' of Miura, Countach and Stratos) proposed an original line, sculpted to the maximum, but without falling into eccentricity, which stood out in the automotive landscape of the time and which ended up strongly characterizing the BX. The interior also aroused surprise and admiration with a futuristic dashboard, inspired by that of the CX, with characteristic equipment such as satellites on both sides of the single-arm steering wheel and the backlit tachometer.

Decidedly modern and full of arguments, the BX instantly convinced the press, seduced Citroën customers and won over new customers: it was a real commercial success. Produced at the factories of Rennes La Janais, in Brittany, and Vigo, in Spain, the BX reached sales of 2,337,016 units, until the end of production in June 1994. undoubtedly for the rebirth of the Citroën brand in the 1980s.

A full life...Over the 12 years the BX has been on the market, several bodywork changes have been made. In 1985, an elegant family 'wagon', 17 cm longer than the sedan and bearing the Evasion designation, was added to the range, as was the Entreprise (commercial) version launched a year earlier. A deep restyling took place in 1987, with the BX sporting a smoother exterior line and an entirely new instrument panel.

The equipment was not forgotten: sunroof, air conditioning, digital instrumentation, velvet upholstery, alloy wheels, digital clock, on-board computer, allowed the BX to remain faithful to its image as a modern vehicle.

Mechanically, the BX would remain at the forefront of technology with engines developing powers up to 160 hp, electronic injection equipped with a catalytic converter and lambda sensor, diesel engine, automatic transmission, permanent all-wheel drive and ABS brakes. A limited series of 200 of the road version of the BX 4 TC Group B race car (2,141 cc, 200 hp, 220 km/h) was also produced.

The BX's career was also punctuated by several limited editions (Tonic, Image, Calanque, Leader, among others) including the famous Digit version with its fully digital instrumentation.

Curiosities...Entrusted to Jacques Séguéla, the launch advertising campaign presented the BX as a car that lives, thinks and breathes. This was an obvious reference to the various noises and movements generated by the hydropneumatic suspension.

In 1985, Citroën became the first French manufacturer to offer a diesel version with an automatic transmission. Citroën followed up on this kind of firsts and innovations, launching, in 1987, the first French series production model equipped with a 16-valve engine. An honor that obviously fell to BX.

Always at the forefront of technology, the BX was the first series-produced vehicle to use a compressed fiberglass polyester composite bonnet, injected fiberglass polyester composite tailgate, bonded rear porthole glass and dual-surface headlights. homofocal reflectors.

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