Uploaded April 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
The last #Citroën XM left the Rennes-La-Janais production line over 20 years ago, and it's fair to say that Citroen's flagship for the 90s is aging like the finest Chateau Laffite. #Classic
I fell in love with the XM since I saw it on magazine covers in 1989, and my admiration for what Citroën achieved with this model has only grown since then. In a world where bloated and cartoonish overdesign is the norm, the Citroën XM's sharp lines look perhaps even better than they did thirty years ago. PSA's management wanted a completely different design language from the CX, and #Bertone chief stylist Marc Deschamps certainly delivered.
Unfortunately, early XM models suffered from considerable teething problems. These were caused mainly by inadequate wiring and connectors, but that quickly ruined the car's image.
Sales of the XM peaked at around 96.000 units in 1990, then fell off a cliff in '91, never to recover.
This is a crying shame, as the XM really was a remarkable automobile that deserved to succeed.
My automotive books:
Six Appeal - The Story Of The Alfa 6
amazon.com/dp/1793931046
Alfa Romeo Giulietta - The Story 1977 - 1985 amazon.com/dp/1983393746
Alfa Romeo Arna - The Full Story 1980 - 1987 amazon.com/dp/1656632500
The last #Citroën XM left the Rennes-La-Janais production line over 20 years ago, and it's fair to say that Citroen's flagship for the 90s is aging like the finest Chateau Laffite. #Classic
I fell in love with the XM since I saw it on magazine covers in 1989, and my admiration for what Citroën achieved with this model has only grown since then. In a world where bloated and cartoonish overdesign is the norm, the Citroën XM's sharp lines look perhaps even better than they did thirty years ago. PSA's management wanted a completely different design language from the CX, and #Bertone chief stylist Marc Deschamps certainly delivered.
Unfortunately, early XM models suffered from considerable teething problems. These were caused mainly by inadequate wiring and connectors, but that quickly ruined the car's image.
Sales of the XM peaked at around 96.000 units in 1990, then fell off a cliff in '91, never to recover.
This is a crying shame, as the XM really was a remarkable automobile that deserved to succeed.
My automotive books:
Six Appeal - The Story Of The Alfa 6
amazon.com/dp/1793931046
Alfa Romeo Giulietta - The Story 1977 - 1985 amazon.com/dp/1983393746
Alfa Romeo Arna - The Full Story 1980 - 1987 amazon.com/dp/1656632500
