Chevrolet Citation
Chevrolet Citation – middle-class car produced by the American company Chevrolet in 1980-85. Citation (initially assumed the name "Condor") and his twins based on platform X-Body (Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Omega and Pontiac Phoenix) was the first compact car with front-wheel drive sold by GM. Due to the size of cars, GM gave up the V8 engine in favor of smaller, more fuel-efficient V6 units and R4 maximum power to 137hp. Compact cars based on the construction of the "X-body" were almost 363kg lighter than their predecessors (with rear-wheel drive). In 1980, Citation was the magazine Motor Trend’s Car of the Year. Sales in 1980 reached such a high level that the production does not keep pace with market demand, this resulted in delays in delivering cars to customers; some had to wait up to 9 months. Citation model is also the first Chevrolet with front-wheel drive.
The first plans for a family of vehicles based on the construction of the X-body created in April 1974. The first prototypes were created in the summer of 1976, the model Citation was presented in April 1979 as an early 1980 model. Initial price Citation model was set at $ 6,000. There were three body styles: two-door coupe and two hatchbacks, three-and five-door. Front-wheel drive and a hatchback body were a thing unprecedented in the American automotive industry at the time, General Motors was highly praised for smaller, more economical engines and interesting body.
Cars for X-body platform was the subject of court proceedings, accused them that during heavy braking the driver lost control of the vehicle. Cars from this family changed names several times, but did not save it from collapse model Citation reputation, sales decreased from year to year. Models from the years 1984-1985 were called Citation II to convince customers that it sells to them a new car free of defects predecessor. The introduction of similar models of Chrysler, (Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant), in 1981, also badly affected the level of sales.
Two-door coupe not enjoyed success due to its unattractive style, its production was halted in 1981. Restored it but already in 1982.
GM has created a new line of engines for cars based on the X-body platform. The V6 engine with a capacity of 2.8 l still used in current production cars. X-body platform has been used in the new GM vehicles designed in 1982, was also the basis for the later platforms L-body and N-body.
Completion of the production Citation took place in 1985, this model has not got at the moment successor. In 1988, Chevrolet Beretta coupe and sedan Chevrolet Corsica officially replaced the Citation.
In 1979, GM wanted to model Citation participated in the class of racing SSB/SCCA, a requirement of the class was that the car involved in the raids were mass-produced.
Model Citation X-11 stood out more than the stripes on the body, also had a stiffer suspension, models from the years 1981 to 1985 were characterized by better performance, also had a stiffer suspension, distinctive 14-inch wheels, P215/60 R14 tires and reinforced V6. Year 1985 had already V6 engine with multi-point fuel injection.
Since 1981, the package body of the X-11 was available in unchanged form for other versions Citation until the end of its production. It contained one-color painting, other intakes on the hood, trunk lid spoiler, black bars on all the windows, and distinctive 14-inch alloy wheels.
Production of X11 in drag… over years:
137