Citroën ZX (1991-1998). A look back at the career of a 30-something

16-valve version with 167 hp, convertible designed by Heuliez or even a rally-raid version that won many times in the Paris-Dakar, discover all the facets of the Citroën ZX.

At the heart of the Citroën range during the 1990s, the ZX continued its journey in China until 2014. A look back at a discreet compact sedan not as wise as it seems. It was assembled in 2,130,600 units.

When it was launched in 1991, the Citroën ZX compact sedan filled the gap left between the AX and the BX by the Citroën Visa. The latter left the scene, without recalling the public, in 1988. The ZX made a career in Europe until 1998 while having exceptional longevity in China, where it was in the catalog under the Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën Automobile brand until 2014. In the Middle Kingdom, it stood out from the European variants by its silhouette with a chest and its surname Fukang which later became Élysée then C-Élysée.

>> The career of the Citroën ZX in pictures <<

Two sedans and a station wagon

Citroën ZX station wagon — In 1994, at the time of restyling, characterized by the appearance of a real grille, the ZX range was completed by a 4.26 m long station wagon body.

Citroën ZX estate trunk volume from 488 to 1,580 liters — Stretched 20 cm with respect to the sedan – of which it retains the rear doors – the Citroën ZX station wagon has a trunk volume of between 488 and 1,580 liters. A real cargo ship!

This distant heir to the Citroën Ami 6 who, like her, played a central role in the range, did not take up the aesthetic eccentricities of her grandmother. No, in the 1990s, place for stylistic sobriety with a reassuring line, all in roundness, in short a kind of Visa but better. Offered as a coupe, rather in fact as a 3-door sedan, 5-door, and a station wagon that appeared in 1994, the ZX covered a wide spectrum. Produced in the Rennes-La Janais (35), Aulnay-sous-Bois (93) and Vigo factories in Spain, the ZX was assembled in 2,130,600 units. Nice score! In 1994, the mid-career restyling added a real grille to the muzzle of the car.

In the shadow of the 306 … except in the Dakar

Citroën ZX 16V 167 hp — At the top of the range, the ZX 16V claims a power of 167 hp, like its cousin, the Peugeot 306 S16.

The car hides its game well since under its rather placid plastic, its rear axle with self-directional effect, helping it to pivot perfectly in the curves, could be associated with a tonic 2.0 petrol engine with 167 hp. The latter made it the alter ego of a Peugeot 306 S16.
But unlike its Sochaux cousin, which had the prerogative of a six-speed manual gearbox, the Citroën was much less fortunate than the lioness, with a classic five-speed mechanical transmission. And even if Heuliez had thought about it in 1994, the chevron manufacturer has never offered a ZX convertible. Still in the idea of not getting in the way of Peugeot?

TO READ. Citroën. Little-known prototypes developed by Heuliez

Citroën ZX Rallye Raid yellow color Camel — The Citroën ZX entered the Rallye-Raid scene, in particular at the Paris-Dakar, from 1991, in the colors of the Camel tobacco company.

Citroën ZX Rallye Raid red color Total — Then, the legislation having evolved, it is then in the colors of the oil company Total that she pursued her career in the deserts.

The ZX took its revenge in the dunes of Paris-Dakar with the help of a very powerful Rallye-Raid version which gave it four times the victory in 1991, 1994, 1995 and 1996 with, at the wheel, Pierre Lartigue and Ari Vatanen. Thirty years later, the ZX hasn’t really made history. It is not the most emblematic of Citroëns. It did not earn its stripes of collector’s cars and remains in the collective memory as an eternal used car less than 1000 €.

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