Citroën · 1982–1994

Citroën BX

The Citroën BX is a large family car which was produced by the French manufacturer Citroën from 1982 to 1994. In total, 2,315,739 BXs were built during its 12-year history. The hatchback was discontinued in 1993 with the arrival of the Xantia, but the estate continued for another year. The BX was designed to be lightweight, using particularly few body parts, including many made from plastics.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Citroën GS · Successor: Citroën Xantia

All Citroën BX data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

History

The Citroën BX was announced in June 1982, but its commercial life really only began in the Autumn of that year, with a Paris presentation on 2 October 1982 under the Eiffel Tower. The BX was designed to replace the successful small family car Citroën GS/GSA that was launched in 1970, with a larger vehicle (although the GSA continued until 1986). The French advertising campaign used the slogan "J'aime, j'aime, j'aime" showing the car accompanied by music written specially by Julien Clerc. The British advertising campaign used the slogan "Loves Driving, Hates Garages", reflecting the effort of Citroën to promote the reduced maintenance costs of the BX, over the higher than average maintenance costs of the technologically advanced GS/GSA; while still performing in the Citroën style on the road. The angular hatchback was designed by Marcello Gandini of Bertone, based on his unused design for the British 1977 Reliant FW11 concept and his 1979 Volvo Tundra concept car. It was the second car to benefit from the merger of Peugeot and Citroën in 1976, the first being the Citroën Visa launched in 1978. The BX shared its platform with the more conventional 405 that appeared in 1987, except the rear suspension which is from a Peugeot 305 Break. Among the features that set the car apart from the competition was the traditional Citroën hydropneumatic self-levelling suspension, extensive use of plastic body panels (bonnet, tailgate, bumpers), and front and rear disc brakes. The BX was launched onto the right-hand drive UK market in August 1983, initially only with 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines, although by 1986 it had been joined by more engine options as well as a five-door estate model. The BX enjoyed a four-year run as the UK's best selling diesel engine car from 1987, and was one of

Performance models

=== Sport === As well as the normal BX, Citroën produced the BX Sport from 1985 to 1987. During this period, Citroën produced 7,500 BX Sports; 2,500 in the first series, then an extra 5,000 due to its sales success. Rated at 126 PS (93 kW) at 5800 rpm and equipped with dual twin-barrel carburettors, the BX Sport was the most powerful BX in production at that time. The engine modifications, including a reshaped combustion chamber and larger valves, were developed by famous French tuner Danielson. It also stood out with its unique body kit, alloy wheels later also used on the GTi, a unique dashboard and Pullman interior. The seat fabric was the same as that used on the CX Turbo at the time. The body kit included a rear wing, side skirts, and fender extensions that added 10 cm to each side of the car in order to accommodate the larger wheels. The car was only available in LHD and was not sold in the United Kingdom. Period road tests complimented the ride quality (as usual with Citroëns) but complained that the driving characteristics were not all that sporty as a result, even though the suspension had also been modified. GT. The BX GT was launched in 1985 and featured a 1.9 L Peugeot-sourced engine, in general a Sport engine with only one twin choke carburettor. Max power is 105 PS (77 kW). That same year, Citroën produced a "Digit" model, which was based on the BX GT. It featured a digital instrument cluster and an onboard computer. Citroën only produced 4,000 BX Digits in 1985. 4TC. Citroën entered Group B rallying with the BX in 1986. The specially designed rally BX was called the BX 4TC and bore little resemblance to the standard BX. It had a very long nose because the engine (a turbocharger fitted version of Chrysler Europe's Simca Type 180 engine) was mounted longit

Engines

== BX Van == A version of the BX with an extended fiberglass roof and no rear seat called the BX Van was produced in Finland. At the time vans had to pay a smaller registration tax than passenger cars so people wanted to be able to register the BX as a van. The regular BX estate couldn't be registered as a van in Finland because Finnish law required vans to have a cargo space at least 130 centimeters high and 2.5m3 in cargo volume, lengthwise measured awkwardly from inner boot lid to the bottom of steering wheel. The higher roof was achieved by cutting off the original steel roof and replacing it with a large box made of fiberglass. The BX Van was quite popular and over 2000 of them were sold. A different van version was marketed in Ireland. This was directly based upon the shape of the estate but with rear doors and windows removed.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

sp: uk
name: Citroën BX
Manufacturer: Citroën
Assembly: France: Rennes (PSA Rennes Plant), France: Cerizay (Heuliez: BX Break), Spain: Vigo (PSA Vigo Plant), Yugoslavia: Koper (Cimos), Morocco: Casablanca (Sopriam), Uruguay: Montevideo (Nordex S.A.)
Production: 1982–1994
Predecessor: Citroën GS, Simca 1307
Successor: Citroën Xantia
Layout: Front-engine, transverse front-wheel drive / longitudinal four-wheel drive
Body style: 5-door estate, 5-door hatchback
Class: Large family car (D)
Engine: 1124 cc XW I4, 1360 cc XY I4, 1360 cc TU3 I4, 1580 cc XU5 I4, 1905 cc XU9 I4, 1905 cc XU9 J4 16V I4, 2142 cc N9TE 16V turbo I4 (BX 4TC), 1769 cc XUD7 diesel I4, 1769 cc XUD7TE turbodiesel I4, 1905 cc XUD9 diesel I4
Related: Peugeot 405
Designer: Marcello Gandini
Wheelbase: 2655 mm
Length: 4230 mm (hatchback)
Width: 1660 mm
Height: 1361 mm
Kerb weight: 870 kg - 1220 kg
Transmission: 5-speed manual, 4-speed ZF 4HP14 automatic

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q939640CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_BXCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1364694360 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Citroen_BX_Midi.jpgPublic domain · Photo: Charles01 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.