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

[@marcbrasse747]

A few more corrections: 1) The hydraulic system has only 1 pump. The rest is controlled by valves. 2) The steering system is still directly mechanical. The oil for the steering power assistance system is however taken from the hydraulic suspension system via a pressure reduction valve. In every other aspect it is however strictly conventional. Maybe that hydraulic connection confused you but since the car already creates hydraulic pressure it doesn't need a seperate hydraulic pump for the steering system. That was already the case in the DS. 🙂

[@rileybenstead3574]

I had a 1992 3.0 V6 XM and had it for many years. I really wish I hadn't sold it.

[@marcbrasse747]

The roadholding of the series 1 is already excellent, although the later Activa 2 system indeed improved it a bit further. If you want to make it “smaller” and a bit more “German” you only have to put it in the sports mode which switches off the extra spheres. Wihtout these the steering is actually rather stiff for a Citroen. The handling is NEVER cumbersome or dangerous! The only strange behaviour is that it sometimes raises and then lowers its rear suspension if you stand at traffic lights with your foot on the brakes. It then tries to correct the fact that the nose is fixed in a bit of a nosedown stance. They should have introduced a 6th standstill sensor to fix that. But it’s nothing more then an amusing quirk once you get used to it. Furthermore other road users often are amazed by it. And lets face it: The XM is the last Citroen in which you “take off” every time you start it after more then a few hours. You are however right about the many early electrical problems but they mostly affected the lesser important luxury stuff. Irritating but survivable and the series 2 version indeed fixed most of of those problems. The bad reputation is mostly being sustained by those who never came close to one. 😁

[@marcbrasse747]

The design of the XM is indeed an interesting and complex story. Although officially called a Bertone design and as such indeed penned by Deschamps when he worked there things where a lot less clear behind closed doors. Firstly it carries a lot of details which where developed by Citroens own styling department for earlier studies. Also the final detailing was done internally, which still influenced the front and rear styling. Furthermore the interior was designed by Citroen itself. I actually wrote a few articles about it for the Dutch XM club magazine, called Ambience Extreme. Let me know if you are interested.

[@marcbrasse747]

Mine is a ‘96 Verde Vega Turbo CT to which I added a series 1 grille and single seat steering wheel plus the ultra rare aerodynamic Seduction wheelcaps as seen in your video at

[@famousutopias]

The series 1 with DIRAVI steering is the version I like the best.

[@xm222]

Beautiful car and very nice movie 👍🏻😊

[@chrisbiewer-rallye-info]

Hi,

[@famousutopias]

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.

[@kiritanJ]

IM NOT THAT DRUNK.