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Description
[YouTube; Big Car]
[Wikipedia]

Citroen's flagship model from 1989 to 2000, replacing the outgoing CX.

Design of the XM was made by Bertone as a development from the BX, with Art Blakeslee, the chief designer at Citroën, stating; "the XM is a modern and dynamic shape, with unique styling elements such as the very long, low hood, the extensive use of glass and the kick-up in the belt line".

Like the outgoing CX, the XM rode on an updated hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension system, with six nitrogen spheres the size of grapefruits as both springs and shock absorbers. It was also augmented with the Hydractive electronic control system which uses sensors for steering, brakes, suspension, throttle pedal, and transmission to feed information on speed, acceleration, and road conditions into onboard computers.

Two more engine options came alongside the 3 litre PRV V6 [170 hp • 240 Nm; 1989-1993, 165 hp • 235 Nm; 1993-1997] for the XM:

- 2 litre XU10 inline-4 [113 hp • 117 Nm, 120 hp • 172 Nm, 130 hp • 179 Nm; 1989-1992, 108 hp • 169 Nm; 1989-1994]
- 2.1 litre XUD11 inline-4 [82-110 hp • 147-240 Nm, 1989-1994; diesel].

A 24-valve version of the PRV engine came at 1993 with [197 hp • 260 Nm], and throughout the last three years of the XM's production run, the PRV was replaced with the less powerful yet more reliable 2.9 litre ES9 J4 DOHC (XFX) [191 hp • 267 Nm].

The interior of the XM had a more conventional approach, but still maintained the single-spoke steering wheel as derived from its predecessor, and a two spoke design came after mid-1992, hence the word to "take what Citroen means and make it acceptable". Later models as from mid-1994 would come with a four-spoke steering wheel with an airbag alongside an instrument panel more akin to the Xantia and enhanced comfort as well as quality of interior materials.

In its initial launch at May 1989, the XM was received with encouraging public and press reactions. Sales of the XM thru the first model year exceeded 50,000 units, and it won the European Car of the Year award in 1990 as well as 14 others. Rear space which was bigger than that of the CX was one of the XM's most well-received features to reviewers. Although the XM was a hatchback, there was a pane of glass between the back seats and boot space, known as the 13th window.

Sales of the XM peaked around 1990 with 96,000 units. Although Citroën hoped for a goal of 160,000 units per year, the downsides came in thru the retooling of existing factories and with the base trim costing almost 50% more than the CX. The move towards exclusive luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz as embraced by executive car customers at the time as well as mechanical issues and bad quality also wounded potential of the XM. Thus sales of the XM got lower as years passed, with the 1991 model year exceeding 49,000 units and the 1994 refresh model just a shy above 20,000 units.

A special model of the XM named the Multimédia edition was made in 1998 in preparation for the C6 planned in 2001 but ended up four years later in delay with even less overall sales. The XM Multimédia edition was equipped with a GPS navigation system, touch screen PC on the back seats with wireless keyboard, internet connectivity, mobile calls, and TV receptions.

Citroën eventually ceded the XM nameplate to BMW for the M-brand exclusive SUV model, 21 years after 333,405 units in the production run worldwide.

Description
[YouTube; Big Car]
[Wikipedia]

Citroen's flagship model from 1989 to 2000, replacing the outgoing CX.

Design of the XM was made by Bertone as a development from the BX, with Art Blakeslee, the chief designer at Citroën, stating; "the XM is a modern and dynamic shape, with unique styling elements such as the very long, low hood, the extensive use of glass and the kick-up in the belt line".

Like the outgoing CX, the XM rode on an updated hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension system, with six nitrogen spheres the size of grapefruits as both springs and shock absorbers. It was also augmented with the Hydractive electronic control system which uses sensors for steering, brakes, suspension, throttle pedal, and transmission to feed information on speed, acceleration, and road conditions into onboard computers.

Two more engine options came alongside the 3 litre PRV V6 [170 hp • 240 Nm; 1989-1993, 165 hp • 235 Nm; 1993-1997] for the XM:

- 2 litre XU10 inline-4 [113 hp • 117 Nm, 120 hp • 172 Nm, 130 hp • 179 Nm; 1989-1992, 108 hp • 169 Nm; 1989-1994]
- 2.1 litre XUD11 inline-4 [82-110 hp • 147-240 Nm, 1989-1994; diesel].

A 24-valve version of the PRV engine came at 1993 with [197 hp • 260 Nm], and throughout the last three years of the XM's production run, the PRV was replaced with the less powerful yet more reliable 2.9 litre ES9 J4 DOHC (XFX) [191 hp • 267 Nm].

The interior of the XM had a more conventional approach, but still maintained the single-spoke steering wheel as derived from its predecessor, and a two spoke design came after mid-1992, hence the word to "take what Citroen means and make it acceptable". Later models as from mid-1994 would come with a four-spoke steering wheel with an airbag alongside an instrument panel more akin to the Xantia and enhanced comfort as well as quality of interior materials.

In its initial launch at May 1989, the XM was received with encouraging public and press reactions. Sales of the XM thru the first model year exceeded 50,000 units, and it won the European Car of the Year award in 1990 as well as 14 others. Rear space which was bigger than that of the CX was one of the XM's most well-received features to reviewers. Although the XM was a hatchback, there was a pane of glass between the back seats and boot space, known as the 13th window.

Sales of the XM peaked around 1990 with 96,000 units. Although Citroën hoped for a goal of 160,000 units per year, the downsides came in thru the retooling of existing factories and with the base trim costing almost 50% more than the CX. The move towards exclusive luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz as embraced by executive car customers at the time as well as mechanical issues and bad quality also wounded potential of the XM. Thus sales of the XM got lower as years passed, with the 1991 model year exceeding 49,000 units and the 1994 refresh model just a shy above 20,000 units.

A special model of the XM named the Multimédia edition was made in 1998 in preparation for the C6 planned in 2001 but ended up four years later in delay with even less overall sales. The XM Multimédia edition was equipped with a GPS navigation system, touch screen PC on the back seats with wireless keyboard, internet connectivity, mobile calls, and TV receptions.

Citroën eventually ceded the XM nameplate to BMW for the M-brand exclusive SUV model, 21 years after 333,405 units in the production run worldwide.