Citroen was founded in 1919 in France. Its founder was the engineer and entrepreneur Andre Gustave Citroen. The plant created cheap cars for the general user. The first name of the company was AO Citroen.
As a rule, among automobile brands one can find historical and iconic ones. Both terms are applicable to Citroen - its products combined quality marks traditional for cars, at the same time developing, ahead of competitors. Vehicles of this brand have been serving not only the people, but also the government of France for decades. Drivers call Citroen cars "sent from above."
Citroen makes cars accessible to a wide range of car enthusiasts.
Biography of the founder
Frenchman Andre Citroen was born in 1878. His father, Levi Citroen, was an entrepreneur. He processed precious stones, subsequently selling them. The business developed successfully - there was enough money to provide for the family. Yet Levy did not feel powerful enough in his field. Andre was 6 years old when the father of the family took his own life. As a legacy, the father of the family left a large fortune, as well as, no less important, connections with the industrial and financial figures of Paris. In the 19th century, a tradition was developed in which the sons continued to engage in the family business, but the young Citroen was more interested in technology, including cars.
After graduating from the Polytechnic School, Andre got a job with his friends in the workshop. So, at the age of 23, he became a specialist in the production of parts for locomotives. After four years in the firm, he invests all the remaining inheritance in the company's securities and becomes a co-owner of the Esten business.
While in Poland, Andre drew attention to a small factory, where a self-taught mechanic, unknown to anyone, invented gears among other units. Citroen realized that this technology would be promising, so he decided to acquire a patent for its implementation. Continuing his career in the Esten business, Andre sets up the production of gears at their factory. This technology was much more advanced than the products of the company's competitors. The new level of production allowed the business to acquire customers outside of France in a short time. This brought the business a serious profit.
Around the same time, the company developed what the French call the "double chevron". In appearance, it looks like two inverted "V"s, which schematically conveys the image of the conical ends of the gears.
In the company, Andre was engaged not only in commercial activities, but also took on the duties of technical director. In a short time, he got rid of all competitors - rapidly developing technologies left no equal on the market. Citroen received an excellent reputation, which was noticed by the managers of the Mors plant. They invited him to the post of technical director. Andre accepted the request, after which the level of Mors began to rise.
During the First World War, Citroen did not stop to realize their entrepreneurial plans. He understood that the French army did not have enough ammunition at the front. In this regard, Andre proposes a deal to the Minister of War, according to which a factory for the production of shells will be created. The large-scale project had to be implemented in just three months - time was short. After much deliberation, the state agreed to work with Citroen, providing him with funding in the form of 20% of the amount that was needed for construction. Andre borrowed the remaining 80% of the funds from workers in various industries.
Indeed, in three months, a large factory was set up on the empty banks of the Seine River, which produced more ammunition than all the enterprises of France put together. Citroën credited the high level of organization as the reason for the success.
Creation of the Citroen car brand
After the end of the First World War, production at the André factory ceased. He decided what to do with production facilities - a professional team, premises, machines and his own experience, as well as funds raised from shells. One of the most promising areas was the production of transport. Citroen was intimately familiar with cars, so he decided to invest money and time.
Andre's first idea was to create a complex and technologically advanced 18-horsepower car. Later, influenced by the production principle he saw at Henry Ford's American plant, he decided that he could do better by targeting the mass market. In 1919, with the help of the French designer Jules Solomon (the creator of the La Zebre car), he began to create cars in his factory. Production began with one trial model, but the more they became, the more cars were considered a mass commodity, rather than outlandish technology.
Citroen's first car The first model was called Citroen A. It had a volume of 1.3 liters and had a capacity of 10 Horse power, developing a speed of 65 km / h. The model was the first in Europe to have an electric starter and lighting. Runabouts were in great demand - with the production of 100 copies a day, the plant still did not have time to supply everyone with cars. The Type A was priced at 7950 francs - affordable at the time. No competing company could offer motorists the same low price, which inevitably led Citroen to success. They received over 16,000 acquisition requests in two weeks.
In the same 1919, the company negotiated the sale of the Citroen brand to General Motors. Both parties agreed, but the deal did not go through, as the Americans considered such an acquisition to be too much of a burden on the budget.
Thus, at the age of 41, Andre laid the foundation for a transport revolution in France. In order to delve into the technology of car production, as well as to peep the principles of the work of competitors, Andre Citroen secretly dismantled popular at that time at his factory american models machines. Among them were Buick, Nash and Studebreaker. For four years of operation, Citroen has developed production, producing 300 cars a day.
By the end of the 1920s, the company had representative offices in every major country in Europe. In order to make it more convenient for Citroen drivers to service their cars, aggregate warehouses were built throughout France. In 1921, more than 3000 models were sold and exported.
In the meantime, the company has developed a new subcompact called 5CV. This simple and reliable car received the status of "people's". He moved well on dirt roads. Without front brakes, the car was equipped with springs front and rear. A few years later, the model was updated to versions B12 and B14. Models were sold for more than 135 thousand euros in 2 years. They increased the popularity of Citroen.
Further development, difficulties and André's death
In 1931, the company introduced a new model - the Citroen Grand Lux. This car has become a premium from the brand. It was equipped with a 2.7-liter engine, which was a real revolution in the mechanical engineering market in France. By 1933, Citroën had taken first place among all automobile factories in Europe, ahead of the Italian Fiat. In the same year, production reached 1,100 vehicles per day.
In 1934, the demand for Citroen cars fell. This turned out to be a real shock for the company, because quite recently it showed a positive trend. By that time, all brand assets were distributed to create new service centers and factories, so the company was close to bankruptcy. A separate factor was the global financial crisis. Bankruptcy proceedings were initiated, after two months the manufacturer Michelin acquired a 60% stake in Citroen. So, the company managed to remain independent from 1919 until this time.
Andre did not see the emergence of a revolutionary concept of a car that had front-wheel drive. Citroen adheres to this technology to this day. The founder of a great company died in 1935. French journalists spread three versions that influenced Andre's death: an incurable disease, financial difficulties and the death of his daughter. The contribution to the development of the automotive industry, which the entrepreneur made over 26 years of work in the field Vehicle, immortalized his name in history.
Years later, Citroen created a new car. The SM was made in collaboration with Maserati and had a 170 hp engine. With. with 6 valves. The model was equipped with disc brakes on the wheels of both axles and air suspension. This is how the SM earned its position as one of the best coupes in the GT class.
Over time, Andre's idea became a reality - the company paid more and more attention to the production of technologically advanced, but expensive models. Such cars were original and had almost no competitors all over the world. The founder himself believed that with a good design of the car, its price does not matter. Unfortunately, extravagant cars did not bring much income - most of the drivers belonged to the working class. The situation was exacerbated by the oil crisis, which seriously undermined the sales of fuel-demanding Citroen. The brand had to join the mass part of the market, otherwise they were in danger of ruin. The image of innovators was lost for years.
In 1974, Citroen merged with the Peugeot automobile concern, pursuing pragmatic goals. This finally deprived the company of the title of a revolutionary in the field of technology, because now the products were regulated by the interests of two factories. Otherwise, such cooperation allowed Citroen to survive the crisis.
Only by the beginning of the 90s, the brand was again able to “leave” on originality. The trend is back around the world unusual cars, which allowed the extravagant models of Citroen to win the respect of the public again. One of the most important stages in the revival of the company on the market was the director's decision: he concentrated the plant's forces on developing different designs for each line of cars. Thus, each series received appearance which is very different from any other. The new XM model received excellent running system and elegant design.
The current position of Citroen in the market
In the first half of the nineties, the company produced the Santia, Berlingo and Saxo models. In parallel with this, a series of cars for sports was being prepared. Work on different directions gave results: models C4, C3 and C5 were released, which belonged to the European system.
In 2004 Sebastien Loeb, a driver from France, won the WRC racing tournament. He was driving a Casara model. Then Sebastian confirmed his status several times, but already on C4, C3 and DS3. Taking part in 12 races and winning 9 of them, the rider set the record for victories in the history of the WRC, representing his country and Citroen.
French driver wins WRC race in Citroen Given the success in the sports car segment, the company has released sports modifications to many of its models. In 2007, the company's first crossover was released, which was created on the basis of Mitsubishi Outlander. In 2011, another model came out, which took a high place in sales in the French market.
Citroen relied on the original design. The development of cars was supported by Peugeot, so the company was able to reduce the cost of updates. So, in 2013, a five-seater Picasso came out. In 2014, it appeared a new version- C4 Grand C4 Picasso. The car had seven seats, including the driver's seat. The model had not only a special appearance, but also wide electronic functionality and good environmental performance. By 2014, the line has collected more than 65,000 applications with orders - the models have become popular all over the world, mainly among large families.
Advertising moves Andre
As a seasoned entrepreneur, Citroen understood that making cars and selling them were two very different things. Thus, the growing pace of assembly (60 thousand copies in 1925 and 100 thousand in 1929) needed an implementation scheme. Andre's first project was the release of Citroen toy models, which were small copies of real cars. In order to increase brand awareness and be visible to everyone, André ordered road signs from the city's transport services with the Citroen symbol - a double chevron.
Thus, a significant part of the budget of the automobile company was constantly in the circulation of advertising. One of the projects was an "advertising run" - drivers equipped for a trip went on long routes,
loudspeaker telling the townspeople about the benefits of their company's products. During stops, they showed presentations to citizens and held lotteries. André was sure that a "live" demonstration of cars was the best way to interest potential buyers. Practice shows that from 3 to 15% of the eyewitnesses of the runs went home on the newly purchased Citroen.
Back in 1929, André created an exhibition hall six tiers high, one of the walls of which was a showcase 21 by 10 meters, consisting entirely of glass. This design attracted many visitors who could see everything. available cars firms in one place. André also provided loans on favorable terms for motorists and conducted tours of the production facilities.
One day, an enterprising businessman heard about an English pilot who, using his plane, drew various images and words in the sky. Andre decided that his company needed a similar service. He told the pilot to leave a white trail in the sky in the form of a Citroen. Despite the fact that the inscription stayed in the air for a few minutes, the rumor about automotive brand spread throughout the world. The huge investment in paying for the pilot's work quickly paid off.
One of Andre's most massive projects was the idea with the Eiffel Tower. More than 125,000 light bulbs were placed on it, which, when turned on by various levers, formed ten pictures, among which was the name of an automobile company. Both the residents of Paris and the tourists all loved this installation.
The campaign, in which Citroen supplied cars for racing events such as races in the Sahara desert and Asia, as well as parcels with gramophone recordings of advertising audio clips of cars, all this led to take the first place in Europe and the second in the world in the field of mechanical engineering by 1934.
Andre was constantly in debt to various financiers. His projects were risky, but in most cases paid off, after which Citroen started a new advertising campaign. One of the projects, however, connected with the construction of more services and factories, turned out to be critical in the history of the company. A serious financial crisis deprived Andre of almost all funds. Many attempts to attract material support did not turn out to be successful, after which Citroen went bankrupt.
Conclusion
Andre's work has become a vivid example of the fact that a devoted pursuit of what you love can create a real revolution in one area or another of life. Of course, he would not have succeeded without the ability to make decisions on time, as well as develop advertising campaigns. Citroen cars in our time are known for their originality and wide functionality - factors that Andre himself did not have time to realize.
1919 was a historic year for automotive Europe. It was this year that the first production car came out of the gates of the Paris factory on the Javel embankment - Citroen model "A". Meanwhile, industrial France, what is France, practically the whole of Europe has long known products manufactured under the trademark of two inverted V letters. Even then, few people remembered that this is exactly what helical gears look like. For everyone, this logo was associated exclusively with the name of Andre Citroen.
Helical gears. Photo: Citroen
Andre Citroen was born in 1878 in the family of a rather successful entrepreneur. But when the future automaker was six years old, his father, co-owner of a large gem-cutting company, committed suicide. However, the fortune left by his father allowed Citroen to graduate from the Polytechnic Institute, after which he began working at the company of his friends for the production of parts for steam locomotives. In 1905, he becomes a full partner of this production. In 1990 Andre visits Poland. Here was a small factory owned by relatives of Citroen. Among other equipment, large gears with V-shaped teeth were cast at this plant. Knowing the urgent need for such gears, Citroen decides to start their production in their homeland. A little later, the helicoidal gears produced at this enterprise became known throughout Europe. A Russian patent for the production of gears bought at one time, whose chevron gearing immediately became a brand, brought Citroen not only huge profits, but also wide popularity.
Workshop for the production of shells. Photo: Citroen
The name of the young entrepreneur has become almost a legend, and already in 1908 Andre comes to car factory Mors as an anti-crisis director - the business of the enterprise immediately begins to go uphill.
The First World War was another leap in the career of a young specialist. Lieutenant of the 2nd Heavy Artillery Regiment IV of the French Army Andre Citroen was on the Argonne section of the front line. With his own eyes, he saw how one after another choked attempts to go on the offensive. The reason for this was the catastrophic shortage of ammunition. In January 1915, General Louis Baquet, head of artillery at the French Ministry of Defense, received a letter signed by Artillery Captain André Citroën. The general could not believe his eyes. André Citroën undertook to build and equip a plant for the production of 75-mm shrapnel shells within four months. These were shells of the most demanded caliber at the front.
The very first Citroen model "A" at the factory building. Photo: Citroen
In the shortest possible time, an enterprise is growing on the banks of the Seine, producing more ammunition than all other enterprises combined.
The cannonade of the First World War has not yet subsided, and Citroen is already passionate about the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating its own car. The huge finances earned in the war make it possible to attract the most highly qualified personnel to this project. In 1912, he visited the Ford factories and got acquainted with the conveyor organization of labor. In January 1919, announcements appeared in all the newspapers in France about the imminent appearance on the market of a completely new car at a price of only 7250 francs. No manufacturer could offer such a low price then.
Andre Citroen 1918
The announcements had the effect of a bombshell. For two weeks, the plant received about 16,000 applications. And later this stream completely turned into a flood. The Citroen factory produced 100 cars a day. True, there was only one model - “A”, but it was Citroen, unlike other European automakers, who transferred the car from the category of luxury to a means of transportation. After four years of production, the number of cars leaving the factory gates has grown to 300 per day.
Being a far-sighted man, Andre Citroen understood that releasing does not mean selling. In this connection, a large part of the profits went to advertising. And sometimes she worked for a very distant future. So, in particular, he set up production toy cars under your logo. An exact copy of a real car brought future buyers into indescribable delight, and no one had any doubt what brand the kid would choose when he grew up.
Autumn 1922. André Citroën at the map of the rally across the Sahara. Photo: Citroen
Andre also had, by today's standards, simply unbearable advertising projects. At one time, a photo of the Eiffel Tower with a glowing Citroen inscription went around almost the whole world. Much of what Citroen came up with to promote their product, we use to this day. For example, in order for the brand name of the Citroen factories to be constantly in front of the eyes of drivers, signs and road signs crowned with a “double chevron” were installed throughout France. Today advertising on road signs no one will be surprised anymore. Promotional car rides, the distribution of commercial records, and even writing on the sky, were all tried out by André Citroën long before today's creatives.
In 1933, Citroen decided to completely rebuild its factories, and five months later, an auto giant with a total area of 55,000 square meters appeared on the site of the former enterprise. Its production capacity can fully meet the needs of France in cars. The power of the enterprise at that time was simply phenomenal.
October 1931. Andre Citroen and Henry Ford
However, often the financial capabilities of Citroen did not keep pace with his ideas, in connection with which almost all projects were made by him with the money of investors. The financial crisis of the thirties ultimately hit car sales hard, and new investors refused to invest in Citroen's promising projects. After many unsuccessful attempts to find sources of financing, Citroen declared itself bankrupt. He died in March 1935 from stomach cancer.
“If the idea is good, the price does not matter,” said Andre Citroen. This phrase became the meaning of his whole life, and it is thanks to this talented engineer and organizer that we still have the opportunity to see on our streets one of the most advanced cars, both in terms of design and technology.
Citroen factory 1935. Photo: Citroen
Citroen after Citroen
Shortly before the death of Andre Citroen, the company is mastering the production of a truly revolutionary car in those days. load-bearing body, independent torsion bar suspension and perhaps the most revolutionary innovation - front-wheel drive. So in 1934, the 7CV Traction Avant was born.
Thanks to its innovative design, the machine was at the forefront of technological progress for a long time, which allowed it to hold out on the conveyor right up to 1956. By the way, it was thanks to her that the company subsequently managed to recover relatively quickly after the crisis. But that was later. And in 1935, the country's government forces Andre Citroen to transfer a controlling stake in Michelin. Thus, the government of the country is trying to save the Andre Citroen Automobiles Joint Stock Company from bankruptcy.
However, losses still could not be avoided. So, as a result of the crisis, about 8,000 workers were fired from Citroen enterprises, and an assembly plant in Italy was also closed. However, the company remained afloat and continued to produce cars.
The first half of the fatal forties was occupied by the war. Naturally, there could be no question of any development of production here. The maximum that the company was capable of was the release of the 7CV Traction Avant already put on the conveyor. However, if by the end of 1945 9324 cars were produced, then already in 1946 they left the assembly line 24443 - the company was reborn. Maintaining traditions, the company's management does not stop experimenting. The result of one of these experiments is the reconstruction of the plant in Levallois. There, separate work areas are organized for the assembly of engines. Later, the production of another one was launched at the same plant. legendary car centenarian - Traction Avant - 2 CV, popularly nicknamed "Duck's Tail".
This car was not beautiful, it did not have a powerful engine, but being cheap even for those times, for many years it gained popularity not only in France and all over the world. The car was produced until 1990, i.e. actually 42 years old and during this time has not undergone significant structural changes.
The mid-fifties and again the company brings to light something previously unseen. The new plant in Asnier specializes exclusively in the manufacture of hydraulics. Such a narrow specialization of the plant was not chosen by chance. Even before the start of its construction, it was known that the parts that would be produced at this enterprise would first of all be installed on the new Citroen model, namely the DS-19 - a car with an extraordinary appearance and creeping fit.
In addition to the futuristic appearance, the DS-19 had a number of technological innovations, such as the use of aluminum and plastic alloys in the production of parts, disc brakes, power steering and brakes. However, the main highlight of the car was hydraulic system, which controls the operation of the adaptive hydropneumatic suspension. It provided not only a smooth ride, but also made it possible to raise or lower the car body.
The 1960s were years of strong growth for the company. An agreement is concluded with the Yugoslav company Tomos on the production of the famous 2CV at its facilities. In Brittany. The release of the Ami6 model has been launched.
By the way, this plant was the first in which not only the assembly but also the stamping of body parts was established.
In addition to Europe, the company opens production in Canada, Chile, and Africa. At the same time, Citroen acquires a controlling stake in Maserati. An agreement is concluded with the German company NSU-Motorenwerke for the development of a new engine, the production of which should be established at the joint production of Komobil in Geneva.
The seventies, after a triumphal march around the world, again became difficult for Citroen. The outbreak of the oil crisis led to the fact that the technically innovative, extravagant Citroen again began to fail badly. The reason is simple - cars consumed a lot of fuel. As a result, the company again started talking about bankruptcy. Only an alliance could save the company. As a result, it was decided to merge the companies "Automobiles Citroen" and "Automobiles Peugeot". The purpose of this decision was to create a large industrial group capable of becoming as competitive as possible on the international market. A little later, the holding company PSA Peugeot-Citroen Alliance was created, which included Citroen SA and Peugeot SA. And although Citroen entered the holding as an independent company, it was not possible to maintain its exceptional individuality. The first fruit of this alliance is the Visa model.
Taking the 104 model as a basis, Citroen equipped it with a 652 cm³ two-cylinder engine, supplemented by an air-cooled system. A nod to the companion was the modification of this car, the main difference of which was a more powerful four-cylinder 1.1-liter engine manufactured by Peugeot.
And a little earlier in 1975, with the end of the production of the DS model, the car of the presidents, as it was then called, the factory on the Javel embankment was closed. Over the entire period of operation of this enterprise, more than three million cars came out of its gates.
The 1980s are not only years of production improvement for the company. In addition, there is a rebranding. Citroen now uses white and red instead of blue and yellow colors in the logo. In addition, the head office moves to the suburbs of Paris, namely to Neuilly-sur-Seine. Increasingly, the company begins to resort to computer simulation and eventually acquires the most powerful supercomputer at the time, the Cray XMP/14. The total investment in the development of the concern over the years amounted to 7.5 billion francs, including 1.2 billion for research and development. Investments were not long in coming and the consumer received such a model as the XM.
At the end of 1984, the task was approved for the development of the Y30 project - a car that was supposed to replace the Citroen CX. Three different studios took part in the design competition: two of PSA's own bureaus and Bertone. The Bertone variant was accepted for production. And after five years Citroen XM made it to the assembly line: sales began in May 1989.
In the early nineties, Citroen presents its next novelty, namely the ZX model. By the way, it was with this model that Citroen officially returned to motorsport by creating the ZX Rally Raid rally team. Taking care of improving the quality, the company pays a lot of attention to the training of employees. As a result, in 1992, the Citroen Institute opens its doors, the main task of which is to improve the skills of the company's employees. Not deprived of attention during this period and consumers. Models such as Citroen Xantia, Saxo, Xsara, Evasion enter the market.
At the Geneva Motor Show, Citroen C6 Lignage is presented, which is a prototype of the future flagship.
The Pluriel concept debuts in Frankfurt. In December 1999, the Xsara Picasso is launched on the market.
Zero begins for Citroen with a triumph - the Citroen C5 is presented at the Paris Motor Show.
The Citroen C5 was available in hatchback and station wagon body styles. In addition, it was equipped with the latest Hydractive III hydraulic suspension with Sport and Comfort modes and quite powerful engines, then as a V-shaped “six” with a volume of 3.0 liters and a power of 210 hp. and a diesel engine with a volume of 2.2 liters and a power of 136 hp. It is with this new model that the concern returns to its usual designation of models, namely alphanumeric.
A little later, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Citroen C3 and the C-Crosser concept were presented - a new word in car creation.
At the same time, the company does not forget about consumers. So guarantee period for all Citroen vehicles is now 24 months. For the first time within the PSA Group, a new robotic gearbox– Sensodrive. Combining the advantages of mechanics and automatic, she first found her place under the hood of the C3 with a 1.6 16V engine.
2006 was the start of production of the C4 Picasso line. The seven-seater C4 Picasso was presented first at the Paris Motor Show.
Built on the basis of Citroen C4 and Peugeot 307. A little later, the manufacturer releases a five-seater modification of the model.
In addition to a capacious trunk, the car is distinguished by a rather original exterior created by rounded lines.
In 2007, the company's production program also included the first crossover, the Citroen C-Crosser.
The seven-seater C-Crosser was aggregated with a base 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel engine with a capacity of 156 hp. However, a crossover and gasoline engine 170 hp (2.4 l).
Citroën's development path has been full of both bright ups and painful downs. However, this once did not prevent the company from remaining original. And the new models are a vivid confirmation of this. Take at least new line DS models whose success in the sixties was simply stunning.
France (1919)
general information
There are historical car brands, there are cult brands - but for a car brand to be both historical and cult, it is only CITROEN. Machines that have always surprised, and sometimes amazed contemporaries.
Citroen (Citroën), a French automobile company specializing in the production of cars. Part of the Peugeot Corporation.
The headquarters is in Neuilly-sur-Seine.
Corporation History
The company was founded in 1919 by André Citroën as "Citroën Joint Stock Company" (Societe anonyme Andre Citroën) for the purpose of mass production cheap cars.
In fact, the first Citroën was also the first mass-produced car in Europe. Model "A" had a 4-cylinder engine with a power of 18 hp, was distinguished by its lightness and ease of operation. She had a wonderful soft suspension, which later became typical of all Citroëns. The engine and clutch were combined in one block. All this has given Citroen a reputation for being very simple and easy to drive.
Following the first 10CV model comes the 5CV, a 4-cylinder subcompact without front brakes and capable of driving on unimportant rural roads. In the production of cars, the company used the Henry Ford method. The first Citroen taxis appeared in 1921, later 90% of Parisian taxis were of this brand.
In 1923, a small amount was made sports cars"300 B2 Cuddy". This elegant three-seat model was and is a great success with both the drivers of those years and today's car enthusiasts.
In the spring of 1922, production began on the popular two-seat Roadster C. Because of its bright yellow color, it was affectionately called "lemon". It was also modified with a "Cabriolet" body.
In June 1924, Citroën was producing over 250 cars a day. The Javel factory grew and occupied the entire territory of the 15th arrondissement of Paris. In addition, the company had branches in Belgium, England, Italy, Holland, Denmark and Switzerland. Citroën was the first in Europe and one of the first in the world to use steel bodies instead of wood.
This is how the B12 and B14 models appeared, which, thanks to the excellent dashboard and adjustable seats have become the most comfortable mass-produced cars. In just two years, 132,483 cars were manufactured.
In 1931, the CGL ("Citroen Grand Lux") appeared, the basis for which was the C6F. The car had a 53 hp engine. and first-class bodywork with rich interior trim.
During the famous motor rally through Asia, which ended in the Himalayas, AC 4 and AC 6 showed their best side.
At the 1933 Paris Motor Show, Citroën presented its entire range of products: models 8, 10, 15 and lighter versions of models 10 and 15.
In April 1934, a fundamentally new Traksion Avan model was created, created with the decisive participation of Ki Javel. The disproportionately large financial costs for the period of the Great Depression to promote this successful one, which was sold until 1957 in various modifications, led Andre Citroen to lose control of his own enterprise. The company falls under the control of the Michelin group. Thus began the era of front-wheel drive cars.
In 1955, the historic DS car was presented at the Paris Motor Show. This car, spacious enough to carry a generation of baby boomers, inexpensive and safe, was a success with the broadest sections of the population and even with General de Gaulle. On this people's car Fantômas and Inspector Juve also went.
In 1966, Citroen and the German company NSU jointly develop a car with a Wankel engine, but the established Comotor company did not last long. In 1965, Panar Levassor was merged into Citroën.
In 1974, Citroen became part of the Peugeot concern as an independent branch that retains its brand of passenger cars. The company's engineers make a great contribution to the development of the car. In particular, in 1989, the third generation hydraulic suspension was introduced for the first time, which automatically adapts depending on the pavement and driving style.
The first show of the Citroën Xantia took place in November 1992. The model was put into production in 1993 as a replacement for the Citroën BX. The design of the Xantia model since 1993 has determined the further development of the Citroën style.
The Evasion minivan (a co-production of Peugeot/Citroën - Fiat/Lancia) was first introduced in March 1994 in Geneva.
The compact Citroën Saxo was first introduced in December 1995.
The Citroën Berlingo, a lightweight recreational van, was first introduced in 1996.
The Xsara family appeared in 1997. The restyling that the car underwent in 2000 greatly changed the appearance of this car, and today Xsara is the most popular in the Citroën family.
Another bestseller of the Citroen concern - the Citroen Xsara Picasso model - appeared on the automotive market in 2000.
The “C” line, which started with the C5 middle class sedan, has grown to size in just a few years. model range advanced German manufacturers. The C8 minivan, the C4 compact hatchbacks, the C2, the women's dream of the C3, the tiny C1 and finally the gigantic C6 luxury sedan, which may replicate the success of the legendary Citroen DS Goddess.
Among the hundreds automotive companies, offering today thousands of different cars, Citroën has always held and continues to occupy a worthy place. Apparently, the now famous engineer Andre Citroen dreamed about this, in fact, in 1919 he laid the foundations of the French automotive industry.
Citroën in Ukraine
Since April 5, 2005, FranceAuto has been the official importer of Citroën vehicles. In the same year, the founder of "FransAvto" was the corporation "AIS" - one of the largest companies in the automotive market of Ukraine.
In 2005, one of the largest Citroën auto centers in Eastern Europe was opened.
Since 2008, 23 Citroën dealers have been operating in Ukraine.
The French company Citroen, which produces passenger cars, although it does not top the ratings of the world car markets, represents models in Europe that find many of their admirers. Citroen cars characterized by a chic design and decent technical stuffing at a very reasonable price.
Cars are highly reliable: engines, brakes and control systems are made at the highest level. The motor starts easily at temperatures up to -30 degrees. Most models have a convenient climate control system that works in several directions. The driver and passengers can set their own suitable mode. A comfortable armrest is mounted between the front seats, the position of which can be adjusted. Premium models are equipped with a modern audio system, massage seats, cruise control and air conditioning.
History of Citroen
The history of Citroen will soon celebrate its centenary, and it can be conditionally divided into several eras.
Its creator, Andre Citroen, studied for several years possible methods serial production vehicles by testing on vehicles famous brands and studying their design.
As CTO of Mors automobile firm, Citroen brings together a group of engineers with the idea of creating a powerful new high-end car. In 1919, Citroën founds the Citroën joint-stock company and produces the first and inexpensive mass-produced car produced in Europe at the Paris plant.
This model was a success for its simplicity and ease of handling, was equipped with a soft suspension and a four-cylinder engine.
Further, Citroen is developing rapidly, new car models are being developed, subsidiaries are being created in Europe, an international dealer network is being developed, and the number of factories producing cars is increasing.
In 1934, the revolutionary model Traction Avant was released, which opened the era of front-wheel drive cars. However, its costly production during the Great Depression led the company to financial failure and Citroen came under the complete financial control of Michelin.
In 1948, the company, to please the villagers, produces budget car not remarkable either in design or power, but at the same time inexpensive and highly economical. This model has gained popularity for many years due to its simplicity and low cost of maintenance.
The next stage in the development of Citroen began in 1976, when the PSA holding was created on the basis of Citroen and Peugeot, but Citroen retained its brand of cars.
Where is Citroen assembled?
The desire of the future car owner to know where the Citroen is assembled is quite justified, because the quality and the country of production are currently interconnected.
Our "Citroen-C4 Sedan" completed the "60 hours" marathon, showing itself very well ( ZR, 2013, No. 8 ). Now we decided to compare it with its analogue - a hatchback, released in France. This version is now sold with a 120 hp gasoline engine. or with a 110-horsepower diesel engine (616,900–899,000 rubles). The sedan is also offered with petrol units 115 or 150 hp (579,000–853,000 rubles). Our sedan is just 150-horsepower.
The possibilities of engines and gearboxes (with a 120-horsepower engine there is a 4-speed "automatic", with a 150-horsepower - 6-speed) in this case were of last interest to us. Now we will study something else - the design differences of related cars and, of course, the build quality.
LEARN MORE
1. For some reason, our copy does not have a front hood seal
Forgot? Or not provided? But the Russian car has soundproofing on the lid of the engine compartment.
2. Salons
Differences in salons are mainly due to trim levels (for a sedan - richer). Materials, workmanship and fit of parts, even the most picky of our experts rated equally high.
3. The location of the seat heating wheels under the climate unit on a Russian car is more convenient than the traditional French one - on an armchair
4. French seats have more fashionable and comfortable headrests. But the rear sofa of the sedan is noticeably more spacious. The base is 100 mm longer
5. The trunk of a sedan also wins. According to factory data, it has 440 liters, in a hatchback with an unfolded sofa - 360 liters. According to our measurements, 404 and 364 liters, respectively.
6. Different markings of the springs are due to the characteristics of the suspension
In cars with a 150-horsepower engine, they are stiffer than in 120-horsepower ones. Thicker by 0.5 mm and front stabilizer. But on the go, the difference in the behavior of cars is minimal. Ground clearance both cars have excellent and, according to our measurements, the same: under steel protection 160 mm.
7. One of the few flaws in a Russian car is an incorrectly routed wiring harness near expansion tank cooling systems. Not a crime, but a mess.
There are advantages and disadvantages in the designs and configurations of both cars. But the workmanship of parts and assembly is almost identical. Serious shortcomings were not found even by the most meticulous experts. Well, we, of course, will regularly talk about the features of the operation of the Kaluga sedan.