Remembering the Xantia....

Xantia V6 at the Alps

 

This car seems to be an instant classic but not forgotten by many French car enthusiast. This is the Citroen Xantia, some say that this is somewhat a French executive sports saloon from the 1990's but for me, this isn't more of a French executive sports saloon. This is just something else...

The Xantia, when it was launched in 1993, was designed by Bertone, the same chaps who did the Lamborghini Miura and the Lancia Stratos. Unlike those, the Xantia isn't seems to be a bit sporty. In French fashion, the Xantia is just a 5-door liftback just like the Citroen BX it replaced.

Some say, the ace of its sleeve on the Xantia was its suspension and what's observed is an enhanced version of the XM's Hydractive, Hydractive II or H2, computer-controlled version of the hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension. With the Hydractive II suspension, the Xantia provides an unique ride quality and the body always stays flat even on various road conditions.

Most Xantia models have different sorts of engines such as the 1.6L, 1.8L, 1.9L, or even HDi engines offered but the one I have on Gran Turismo 5 is something else; a 3.0 i V6 engine, serving as the flagship model. Xantia V6....hmmmm....If you were the sort of patient and if you hear everyone saying XANTIA V6, your pulse keeps on going and going and going. Anyway, the 3.0L V6 engine, this produces about 140 kW (190 PS; 188 hp) @ 5500 rpm of power and 267 N·m (197 lb·ft) @ 4000 rpm of torque.

The Citroen Xantia became the final Citroen to come a common hydraulic circuit for suspension, brakes and steering like the pioneering Citroën DS. Not only that, Iit was also the last Citroën to use the green LHM hydraulic fluid.

There is a known reference that a 4WD turbo version of the Xantia was used for rallying at the Championnat de France and it won five times in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998 and 1999 with driver Jean-Luc Pailler. Never heard of it?

Anyway, the Xantia with the Hydractive suspension, does it really work even though in Gran Turismo 5? Sadly for me, it doesn't.... It kinda feels like I'm getting a bit struggling at handling through the Swiss Alps or even the corners of the Top Gear Test Track. It may be a French executive sports saloon but feels like it doesn't. This is a bit more harsh to drive, has the harshest engine for an old French car, and more importantly...what can I say? Terribly ugly. Well, whatever, at least the Xantia is dead now and it was replaced by the C5, which the first generation is getting a bit oblong but the second-generation gets it right, really right.