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101-505: The Citroën XM is a front-engine, front-drive, five-passenger, five-door hatchback noted for its hydropneumatic suspension . Manufactured and marketed by Citroën from 1989 to 2000, with a minor facelift in 1994, XM production reached 333,405 over the course of 11 years. The XM was voted 1990 European Car of the Year . Launched on 23 May 1989, the XM was the company's flagship saloon, replacing

202-401: A car of this configuration is called a saloon ( / s ə ˈ l u n / ). Hatchback sedans are known simply as hatchbacks (not hatchback saloons ); long-wheelbase luxury saloons with a division between the driver and passengers are limousines . In Australia and New Zealand , sedan is now predominantly used; they were previously simply cars. In the 21st century, saloon remains in

303-463: A dedicated brake accumulator on some models. On later cars fitted with Hydractive or Activa suspension, there may be as many as ten spheres. Spheres consist of a hollow metal ball, open to the bottom, with a flexible Desmopan rubber membrane, fixed at the 'equator' inside, separating top and bottom. The top is filled with nitrogen at high pressure, up to 75 bar , the bottom connects to the car's hydraulic fluid circuit. The high pressure pump, powered by

404-445: A filter assembly was fitted into the hydraulic reservoir. Cleaning the filters and changing the fluid at the recommended intervals removes most dust and wear particles from the system, ensuring the longevity of the system. Failure to keep the oil clean is the main cause of problems. It is also imperative to always use the correct fluid for the system; the two types of fluids and their associated system components are not interchangeable. If

505-679: A four-door station wagon from 1958 until 1960 in the Rambler and Ambassador series. In 1973, the US government passed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 216 creating a standard roof strength test to measure the integrity of roof structure in motor vehicles to come into effect some years later. Hardtop sedan body style production ended with the 1978 Chrysler Newport . Roofs were covered with vinyl, and B-pillars were minimized by styling methods like matt black finishes. Stylists and engineers soon developed more subtle solutions. A close-coupled sedan

606-600: A more conventional three box sedan . The XM's sister car, the Peugeot 605 , also proved a weak seller. Most subjective of all was the matter of the XM not living up to the expectations created by its forerunner the Citroën DS , despite that car having been launched in an era of national markets, of different demands and standards, an era when there was more scope for large advances in engineering and design than were possible in 1989. Export markets experienced lower sales from

707-474: A partially galvanised body shell and the option of a 3.0 L V6 engine –  the first V6 in a Citroën since the Maserati -engined SM ended production in the mid 1970s. The XM offered improved ventilation and rear accommodation, in width, legroom and height. In particular the rear passengers were seated higher than those in the front in order to afford a good view. To improve rear seat comfort when

808-574: A railroad train's club carriage (e.g.,, the lounge or parlour carriage). From the 1910s to the 1950s, several United States manufacturers have named models either Sedanet or Sedanette. The term originated as a smaller version of the sedan; however, it has also been used for convertibles and fastback coupes. Models that have been called Sedanet or Sedanette include the 1917 Dort Sedanet, King , 1919 Lexington , 1930s Cadillac Fleetwood Sedanette, 1949 Cadillac Series 62 Sedanette, 1942-1951 Buick Super Sedanet , and 1956 Studebaker . Sedans, as

909-644: A roof. A one-off instance of similar coachwork is also known in a 1900 De Dion-Bouton Type D. A sedan is typically considered to be a fixed-roof car with at least four seats. Based on this definition, the earliest sedan was the 1911 Speedwell , which was manufactured in the United States. In American English , Latin American Spanish , and Brazilian Portuguese , the term sedan is used (accented as sedán in Spanish). In British English ,

1010-468: A rubber membrane. Citroën first introduced this system in 1954 on the rear suspension of the Traction Avant . The first four-wheel implementation was in the advanced DS in 1955. This type of suspension for automobiles was inspired by the pneumatic suspension used for aircraft landing gear, which was also partly filled with oil for lubrication and to prevent gas leakage, as patented in 1933 by

1111-422: A sedan can have four or two doors. Although the sloping rear roofline defined the coupe, the design element has become common on many body styles with manufacturers increasingly "cross-pollinating" the style so that terms such as sedan and coupé have been loosely interpreted as "'four-door coupes' - an inherent contradiction in terms." When a manufacturer produces two-door sedan and four-door sedan versions of

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1212-561: A separate front brake accumulator on power steering models. The old LHS and LHS2 (coloured red) cars used a different elastomer in the diaphragms and seals that is not compatible with green LHM. The orange LDS fluid in Hydractive cars is also incompatible with other fluids. The principles illustrated by the successful use of hydropneumatic suspension are now used in a broad range of applications, such as aircraft oleo struts and gas filled automobile shock absorbers , first patented in

1313-414: A specific category of automobiles, have had serious social consequences shaped by their design and use. Their compact and fuel-efficient nature has made them a preferred choice for urban and suburban settings, promoting individual mobility. However, this accessibility has contributed to increased urban sprawl and car dependency. Sedans, like other private vehicles, encourage dispersed living patterns, reducing

1414-400: A straight line on highways and suppressing the "sneeze" factor inherent to fast steering ratios. Another helpful function of DIRAVI is its ability to return the steering wheel to its central or neutral position when let go by the driver, even when the car is stationary. This is especially helpful when parking as the driver can be assured that his or her wheels will be in the correct position when

1515-584: A sudden change in road height was encountered at moderate speed - e.g. lateral ridges or speed bumps. Citroën finally addressed this, and for Xantia (which shared the Hydractive system with XM) came up with a modified design of the suspension (centre sphere) regulator valves, which made them immune to hydraulic impulses produced by the road surface, and which could push the older-type valves into Firm mode, just when this wasn't needed. The modified valves were fitted to production Xantias from 8 March 1999 (and were available as replacements), but were not fitted to XM, which

1616-399: A system that could be switched from 'Comfort' to 'Sport' mode, this did exactly what you would expect and firmed up the suspension on flicking the switch but this made for a harsh ride which Citroën owners don't like. So Citroën developed "Hydractive 2" suspension (for series 2 vehicles) that although in essence was the same it worked differently, it still had to two states 'hard' and 'soft' but

1717-414: A trend which saw Ford pull out of this market sector in 1998 and Opel/Vauxhall in 2003. Customers were placing a higher priority on speed and handling rather than ride comfort which was Citroën's specialty. The XM was underdeveloped at launch which resulted in reliability problems; the vehicle as designed was inconsistent in its abilities. The XM's styling was also controversial and alienated those who desired

1818-694: A way to avoid the high import tariffs on cars that existed at the time. The two models were given the same name: Fengshen Xietuolong XM. Hydropneumatic suspension The purpose of this system is to provide a sensitive, dynamic and high-capacity suspension that offers superior ride quality on a variety of surfaces. A hydropneumatic system combines the advantages of hydraulic systems and pneumatic systems so that gas absorbs excessive force and liquid in hydraulics directly transfers force. The suspension system usually features both self-leveling and driver-variable ride height , to provide extra clearance in rough terrain. This type of suspension for automobiles

1919-587: Is a Stretch-Limousine . In the United States, two-door sedan models were marketed as Tudor in the Ford Model A (1927–1931) series. Automakers use different terms to differentiate their products and for Ford's sedan body styles "the tudor (2-door) and fordor (4-door) were marketing terms designed to stick in the minds of the public." Ford continued to use the Tudor name for 5-window coupes, 2-door convertibles, and roadsters since all had two doors. The Tudor name

2020-534: Is a passenger car in a three-box configuration with separate compartments for an engine, passengers, and cargo. The first recorded use of sedan in reference to an automobile body occurred in 1912. The name derives from the 17th-century litter known as a sedan chair, a one-person enclosed box with windows and carried by porters. Variations of the sedan style include the close-coupled sedan, club sedan, convertible sedan, fastback sedan, hardtop sedan, notchback sedan, and sedanet. A sedan ( / s ɪ ˈ d æ n / )

2121-457: Is a body style produced in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s. Their two-box boxy styling made these sedans more like crossover vehicles than traditional three-box sedans. Like other close-coupled body styles, the rear seats are farther forward than a regular sedan. This reduced the length of the body; close-coupled sedans, also known as town sedans, were the shortest of the sedan models offered. Models of close-coupled sedans include

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2222-423: Is a car with a closed body (i.e., a fixed metal roof) with the engine, passengers, and cargo in separate compartments. This broad definition does not differentiate sedans from various other car body styles. Still, in practice, the typical characteristics of sedans are: It is sometimes suggested that sedans must have four doors (to provide a simple distinction between sedans and two-door coupés ); others state that

2323-449: Is a type of motor vehicle suspension system , designed by Paul Magès , invented by Citroën , and fitted to Citroën cars. The suspension was referred to as Suspension oléopneumatique in early literature, pointing to oil and air as its main components. The system was also used under licence by other car manufacturers, notably Rolls-Royce ( Silver Shadow ), Bmw 5-Series e34 Touring, Maserati ( Quattroporte II) and Peugeot . It

2424-489: Is hydrophobic, unlike standard brake fluid; therefore, water-vapour bubbles do not form in the system, as would be the case with standard brake fluid, creating a "spongy" brake feel. Use of mineral oil has thus spread beyond Citroën , Rolls-Royce , Peugeot , and Mercedes-Benz , to include Jaguar , Audi , and BMW . LHM, being a mineral oil, absorbs only an infinitesimal proportion of moisture, plus it contains corrosion inhibitors. The dust inhalation problem continued, so

2525-559: Is the simplest damper and one of the most efficient. Ride height correction (self leveling) is achieved by height corrector valves connected to the anti-roll bar, front and rear. When the car is too low, the height corrector valve opens to allow more fluid into the suspension cylinder (e.g., the car is loaded). When the car is too high (e.g. after unloading) fluid is returned to the system reservoir via low-pressure return lines. Height correctors act with some delay in order not to correct regular suspension movements. The rear brakes are powered from

2626-419: Is thus vital. A ruptured membrane means suspension loss at the attached wheel; however, ride height is unaffected. With no springing other than the (slight) flexibility of tyres, hitting a pothole with a flat sphere can bend the suspension parts or dent a wheel rim. In the case of main accumulator sphere failure, the high pressure pump is the only source of braking pressure for the front wheels. Some older cars had

2727-522: Is to provide a sensitive, dynamic and high-capacity suspension that offers superior ride quality on a variety of surfaces. The suspension system usually features both self-leveling and driver-variable ride height , to provide extra clearance in rough terrain. Hydropneumatic suspension has a number of natural advantages over steel springs, generally recognized in the auto industry. In a hydropneumatic system, gas absorbs excessive force, whereas liquid in hydraulics directly transfers force, which combines

2828-405: Is used as the trapped gas to be compressed, since it is unlikely to cause corrosion. The actuation of the nitrogen spring reservoir is performed through an incompressible hydraulic fluid inside a suspension cylinder. By adjusting the filled fluid volume within the cylinder, a leveling functionality is implemented. The nitrogen gas within the suspension sphere is separated from the hydraulic oil by

2929-684: The Chrysler Imperial , Duesenberg Model A , and Packard 745 A two-door sedan for four or five passengers but with less room for passengers than a standard sedan. A Coach body has no external trunk for luggage. Haajanen says it can be difficult to tell the difference between a Club and a Brougham and a Coach body, as if manufacturers were more concerned with marketing their product than adhering to strict body style definitions. Close-coupled saloons originated as four-door thoroughbred sporting horse-drawn carriages with little room for rear passengers' feet. In automotive use, manufacturers in

3030-686: The Citroën CX . It went on sale in its native France immediately afterwards, and was available in right-hand drive on the UK market from October 1989. The CX Break and Familiale remained in production until the spring of 1991, when the XM Estate launched. The XM did not enjoy the commercial success of its predecessors, the CX and the DS , which each raised the bar of automotive performance for other manufacturers. By

3131-483: The Fiat Croma . The XM's reliability became suspect due to a problem with the quality of electrical connector used. Cost-cutting on the components was needed since the parent company was in financial difficulty at the time of the design of the XM. Between 1980 and 1984 the company lost $ 1.5 billion. Poor connections would stop the car, and require extensive investigation by a trained mechanic to repair. This point

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3232-518: The Sport setting the car's suspension was always kept in its firmest mode. In the Auto setting, the suspension was switched from soft to firm mode temporarily when a speed-dependent threshold in accelerator pedal movement, brake pressure, steering wheel angle, or body movement was detected by one of several sensors. In Hydractive 2, the preset names were changed to Sport and Normal . In this new version

3333-541: The Sport setting would no longer keep the suspension system in firm mode, but instead lowered the thresholds significantly for any of the sensor readings also used in Normal mode, allowing for a similar level of body firmness during cornering and acceleration, without the sacrifice in ride quality the Sport mode in Hydractive 1 systems had caused. Whenever the Hydractive 1 or 2 computers received abnormal sensor information, often caused by malfunctioning electrical contacts,

3434-503: The United Kingdom , demand slowed significantly by the late 1990s. The angular Bertone design was a development of Marcello Gandini 's Citroën BX concept. Citroën's design chief, Art Blakeslee, believed "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". Another Citroën designer, Daniel Abramson, explained: "We lowered

3535-658: The "Hydractive" but unless you are maintaining the vehicle yourself these are unimportant. There are a number of visible differences between the first series (May 1989 – May 1994) and second series (June 1994 – June 2000) cars, including: Differences to the interior include: Other major improvements include: In addition, the following changes were made to make the car easier to accept by more mainstream car buyers: The hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension used grapefruit-sized metal spheres containing nitrogen acting as both springs and shock absorbers, along with an electronic control system marketed as Hydractive . Sensors in

3636-614: The 1630s. Etymologists suggest the name of the chair very probably came through varieties of Italian from the Latin sedere , or the Proto-Indo-European root " sed- " meaning "to sit." The first recorded use of sedan for an automobile body occurred in 1912 when the Studebaker Four and Studebaker Six models were marketed as sedans. There were fully enclosed automobile bodies before 1912. Long before that time,

3737-463: The Activa and Activa 2, the car leaned inwards by one degree in turns – Citroën acknowledged that this was somewhat of a marketing gimmick, and that a lean of zero degrees was optimal. An additional, perhaps unexpected, benefit of active suspension is that fuel consumption and tire wear is lowered overall. The negative camber designed into most suspensions in order to maximize the size of

3838-525: The European market. It also competed with cars from mainstream brands including the Ford Scorpio and Opel Omega . Citroën was quoted as saying that the car was supposed to "take what Citroën means and make it acceptable". The car's initial reception was positive. Some six months after its launch, The XM won the prestigious European Car of the Year award for 1990 (gaining almost twice as many votes as

3939-432: The Hydractive 3 suspension calculates the optimum vehicle height, using the following information: The 3+ Hydractive hydraulic suspension has 3 automatic modes: The BHI of the 3+ Hydractive suspension calculates the optimum vehicle height, using the following information: C5 I (2001–2004) C5 II (2004–2007) C6 (2005–2012) C5 III X7 (2007–2017) Sedan (automobile) A sedan or saloon ( British English )

4040-558: The SC/MAC sphere, it often became known as the 'anti-sink' sphere, because of its ability to better maintain rear suspension height. The 2001 Citroën C5 has continued development of Hydractive suspension with Hydractive 3. Compared to earlier cars, the C5 stays at normal ride height even when the engine is turned off for an extended period, through the use of electronics. The C5 also uses orange synthetic hydraulic fluid named LDS fluid in place of

4141-528: The U.S. in 1934 by Cleveland Pneumatic Tool Co. Similar systems are also widely used on modern tanks and other large military vehicles. Hydractive Suspension is an automotive technology introduced by Citroën in 1990. The prototype debuted in 1988 on the Citroën Activa concept. It describes a development of the 1954 hydropneumatic suspension design using additional electronic sensors and driver control of suspension performance. The driver can make

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4242-526: The United Kingdom used the term to develop the chummy body, where passengers were forced to be friendly because they were tightly packed. They provided weather protection for extra passengers in what would otherwise be a two-seater car. Two-door versions would be described in the United States and France as coach bodies. A postwar example is the Rover 3 Litre Coupé . Produced in the United States from

4343-464: The United States from the early 1950s into the 1970s provided at least a 2-door hardtop model in their range and a 4-door hardtop. The lack of side bracing demanded a strong, heavy chassis frame to combat unavoidable flexing. The pillarless design was also available in four-door models using unibody construction. For example, Chrysler moved to unibody designs for most of its models in 1960 and American Motors Corporation offered four-door sedans, as well

4444-647: The XM Pallas (combined with the 2.0 injection engine) and the XM Vitesse (combined with the 3.0 V6 engine). In 1993, the XM Exclusive was added to the range. Unfortunately, the XM cost 40 percent more than the CX Prestige, with a price in excess of $ 50,000 due to the costs needed to modify the cars for US approval and only a few examples were sold. As a result of newer, tougher US anti-pollution standards,

4545-710: The XM and replacing it with an all-new model. At the Geneva Motor Show in March 1999, it unveiled the C6 Lignage concept car, which was scheduled for launch in 2001. In the event, the XM's successor - the C6 - did not go on sale until late 2005 and was even less successful. XM suffered from poor resale value, which affected sales of new cars. Quentin Willson predicted in 1990 that the XM's residuals would be better than

4646-568: The XM as one of Bertone's seven most significant designs. The standard 5-door models were called "Berline". The XM was also available as a "Break" (station wagon) – and in France, Tissier continued a tradition begun with the DS and CX, converting many to be used as ambulances and specialised delivery vehicles including their distinctive twin rear-axle conversions. When introduced, lower-end and upper-end models looked largely identical. The main difference

4747-558: The XM received a minor facelift with revisions including a driver's airbag (ending the single-spoke steering wheel), belt-pretensioners, a redesigned dashboard and upper door casings. The suspension was redesigned to reduce roll, pitch and dive and the design incorporated a passive rear-steering system similar to that on the Citroën Xantia . Power from the turbocharged engines increased to 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) from 145 PS (107 kW; 143 hp) at 4400 rpm. In

4848-453: The advantages of two technological principles : Suspension and springing technology is not generally well understood by consumers, leading to a public perception that hydropneumatics are merely "good for comfort". They also have advantages related to handling and control efficiency, solving a number of problems inherent in steel springs that suspension designers have previously struggled to eliminate. Although auto manufacturers understood

4949-501: The air, which caused corrosion in the system. Most hydraulic brake systems are sealed from the outside air by a rubber diaphragm in the reservoir filler cap, but the Citroën system had to be vented to allow the fluid level in the reservoir to rise and fall, thus it was not hermetically sealed. Consequently, each time the suspension would rise, the fluid level in the reservoir dropped, drawing in fresh moisture-laden air. The large surface of

5050-451: The appearance of Japan's automobile market being closed to imports. It was also offered by Citroën's traditional importer Seibu Motor , who kept selling the XM by themselves after the Eunos brand was discontinued in 1996. The market for executive cars made by volume manufacturers ( Ford , Opel , etc.) was on the verge of decline as customers opted for offerings from more prestigious marques,

5151-476: The belt line to give the shape a stronger image. It is purely a 'design statement' that is not functional and does nothing for the aerodynamics of the vehicle. We wanted a car that looks good from every angle". Abramson is also reported as saying that they "picked three areas to emphasise: 1) A very aggressive look ("Almost sinister"), 2) Lots of glass to create a greenhouse effect, and 3) An aerodynamic accent based on fact (low drag). In 2013 Car magazine described

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5252-482: The bodywork, and most of the older cars have been modified in a similar way. When the Hydractive system worked, the result was a big car with a smooth "magic carpet" ride, and better handling than many smaller, lighter, sports cars. When it didn't work, it was quite harsh and bumpy, although no worse than any contemporary high-performance sports sedan. Although the Hydractive suspension coped superbly with undulations and driving at speed, it could be unexpectedly harsh if

5353-407: The brake control or height corrector valves, also catching seeping fluid around the suspension push-rods. Height corrector, brake master valve and steering valve spools, and hydraulic pump pistons have extremely small clearances (1–3 micrometres) within their cylinders, permitting only a very low leakage rate. The metal and alloy parts of the system rarely fail, even after excessively high mileages, but

5454-412: The car's suspension system would be forced into its firm setting for the remainder of the ride. Starting with Xantia model year 1994 and XM model year 1995, all models featured an additional sphere and valve that together functioned as a pressure reservoir for rear brakes because of new hydraulic locks, letting the car retain normal ride height for several weeks without running the engine. Correctly called

5555-472: The cars, making them radically different from ordinary cars with common mechanicals. France was noted for the poor quality of its roads after World War II , but the hydropneumatic suspension as fitted to the Citroën ID/DS and later cars reportedly ensured a smooth and stable ride there. Hydropneumatic suspension offers no natural roll stiffness. There have been many improvements to the system over

5656-502: The contact patch when turning leads to tire scrub, which wears out tires and increases fuel consumption. Citroën Hydractive (and later Hydractive 2) suspension was available on several models, including the XM and Xantia , which had a more advanced sub-model known as the Activa . The first Hydractive suspension systems (now known as Hydractive 1) had two user presets, Sport and Auto . In

5757-533: The curve" when the car was launched and early versions were sometimes unreliable. Many problems stemmed from the sensitive electronics controlling the car's hydraulic system, often caused by the poor quality of the multipoint grounding blocks – one on each front inner wing, one at the rear, and one under the dashboard. These tended to corrode (especially the ones in the engine compartment), causing all manner of intermittent faults which were hard to diagnose. On later cars, these were changed to screw terminals bolted through

5858-482: The density of communities and limiting opportunities for local social interactions. This can lead to a decline in neighborhood growth and an increase in reliance on cars for even short trips, increasing environmental and health concerns through CO2 and Greenhouse Gas emissions and reduced physical activity . Furthermore, while sedans are a practical solution for families and individuals, their role in encouraging road-centric urban planning has been criticized for reducing

5959-454: The elastomer components (especially those exposed to the air) can harden and leak, typical failure points for the system. Spheres are not subject to mechanical wear, but suffer pressure loss, due to the pressurised nitrogen diffusing through the membrane. They can, however, be recharged, which is cheaper than replacing them. When Citroën designed their Hydractive 3 suspension they redesigned the spheres with new nylon membranes, which greatly slow

6060-405: The engine, pressurizes the hydraulic fluid (LHM – liquide hydraulique minéral) and an accumulator sphere maintains a reserve of hydraulic power. This part of the circuit is at between 150 and 180 bars. It powers the front brakes first, prioritised via a security valve, and depending on type of vehicle, can power the steering, clutch, gear selector, etc. Pressure flows from the hydraulic circuit to

6161-403: The extra spheres as with "Hydractive 1", it simply just narrows the parameters that cause the suspension to go into 'hard' mode and keeps the suspension in that mode for longer before defaulting back to 'soft' mode. So a series 1.5 vehicle has the styling of a series 1 but with some of the suspension refinements of the series 2 vehicles. There are other detail changes to the actual implementation of

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6262-401: The fluid in the reservoir readily absorbed moisture. Since the system recirculates fluid continually through the reservoir, all the fluid was repeatedly exposed to the air and its moisture content. To overcome these shortcomings of LHS, Citroën developed a new green fluid, LHM ( Liquide Hydraulique Minéral ). LHM is a mineral oil , quite close to automatic transmission fluid . Mineral oil

6363-540: The green LHM mineral oil used in millions of hydropneumatic vehicles. A further improved Hydractive 3+ variation was for cars with top engines on the Citroën C5 and in 2005 was standard on the Citroën C6 . Hydractive 3+ systems contain additional spheres that can be engaged and disengaged via a Sport button, resulting in a firmer ride. The Hydractive 3 hydraulic suspension has 2 automatic modes: The BHI of

6464-476: The hatch was opened, the car had an additional, interior rear window – a feature not picked up by anyone else since. The XM shared a floorpan with the Peugeot 605 , and the two models fared similarly in both teething problems and market acceptance. XM was intended to compete against prestige vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz W124 , Audi 100 and BMW's 5 Series in a sector that accounted for 14.2% of

6565-611: The ignition is turned off; again this function also aids high speed, straight line driving on highways etc. Although an odd sensation to start with, most Citroën drivers become accustomed to DIRAVI in a very short time, only appreciating its unique abilities when they let go of the steering wheel in a car without DIRAVI, only to find nothing happens. DIRAVI makes the tendency of all cars' steering to return to center constant in DIRAVI equipped Citroëns, rather than being affected by tire adhesion, road tilt, tire pressure, tire failure, etc. The XM

6666-569: The import of these cars ceased in 1997. XM parts must be sent over from Europe. The Citroën XM, along with the Citroën Xantia were assembled in a form of CKD in Huizhou , Guangdong province. This venture lasted for only two years in 1996 and 1997 and production numbers were extremely low. The cars were imported to China more or less fully assembled with only minor additions done in China as

6767-478: The inherent advantages over steel springs, there were two problems. First, it was patented by the inventor, and second it had a perceived element of complexity, so automakers like Mercedes-Benz , British Leyland ( Hydrolastic , Hydragas ), and Lincoln sought to create simpler variants using a compressed air suspension . Citroën 's application of the system had the disadvantage that only garages equipped with special tools and knowledge were qualified to work on

6868-566: The least competitive. As a result, Citroën restructured the range such that all but the base model petrols were fitted with low-inertia Garret turbochargers to add an extra 15 bhp (11 kW). This made the cars more powerful than more expensive competitors such as the Rover 820, Vauxhall Carlton and Ford Granada 2.0 GLX. After a run of 11 years, production finally ended in June 2000. By 1998, Citroën had confirmed that it would soon be discontinuing

6969-407: The long-established names of particular motor races. In other languages, sedans are known as berline ( French ), berlina ( European Spanish , European Portuguese , Romanian , and Italian ), though they may include hatchbacks. These names, like the sedan, all come from forms of passenger transport used before the advent of automobiles. In German , a sedan is called Limousine and a limousine

7070-436: The mid-1920s to the mid-1950s, the name club sedan was used for highly appointed models using the sedan chassis. Some people describe a club sedan as a two-door vehicle with a body style otherwise identical to the sedan models in the range. Others describe a club sedan as having either two or four doors and a shorter roof and therefore less interior space than the other sedan models in the range. Club sedan originates from

7171-458: The outgoing CX by the end of the car's life, its resale value was far below average, further denting the car's appeal. By the mid-1990s, it was apparent that the XM's image meant it was less desirable than German products such as the BMW 5 Series . The view of the XM as commercially unsuccessful is reported by Compucars, the used car website, along with numerous other period commentaries. In mid-1994,

7272-477: The outset, partly due to the XM's pricing. The least expensive XM was nearly 50% more expensive at the time of launch than the corresponding CX. Whilst strong at first home market sales also declined, after the mechanical issues of the first few model years became known. By early 1993, the XM was viewed as an "underachiever". Initial sales in the UK were at 3,500 units a year, making it Citroën's weakest seller. The 2.0-litre petrol engined variants were viewed as being

7373-511: The rate of deflation. These are recognisable by their grey colouring. Classic (non-saucer) green- (and grey-) coloured suspension spheres typically last between 60,000 and 100,000 km. Spheres originally had a threaded plug on top for recharging. Newer ('saucer') spheres do not have this plug, but it can be retrofitted, enabling them to be recharged with gas. The sphere membrane has an indefinite life unless run at low pressure, which leads to rupture. Timely recharging, approximately every 3 years,

7474-427: The rear suspension circuit. Because the pressure there is proportional to the load, so is the braking power. Citroën quickly realized that standard brake fluid was not ideally suited to high pressure hydraulics, and developed a special red-coloured hydraulic fluid named LHS ( Liquide Hydraulique Synthétique ), which they used from 1954 to 1967. The chief problem with LHS was that it absorbed moisture and dust from

7575-419: The same company. Other modifications followed, with design changes such as the 1960 "Double stage oleo-pneumatic shock absorber" patented by Peter Fullam John and Stephan Gyurik. Major milestones of the hydropneumatics design were: At the heart of the system, acting as pressure sink as well as suspension elements, are the so-called spheres, five or six in all; one per wheel and one main accumulator as well as

7676-468: The same fully enclosed but horse-drawn carriages were known as a brougham in the United Kingdom, berline in France, and berlina in Italy; the latter two have become the terms for sedans in these countries. It is sometimes stated that the 1899 Renault Voiturette Type B (a 2-seat car with an extra external seat for a footman/mechanic) was the first sedan, since it is the first known car to be produced with

7777-409: The same model range. Several sedans have a fastback profile but a hatchback-style tailgate is hinged at the roof. Examples include the Peugeot 309 , Škoda Octavia , Hyundai Elantra XD , Chevrolet Malibu Maxx , BMW 4 Series Grand Coupe , Audi A5 Sportback , and Tesla Model S . The names hatchback and sedan are often used to differentiate between body styles of the same model. To avoid confusion,

7878-536: The same model, the shape and position of the greenhouse on both versions may be identical, with only the B-pillar positioned further back to accommodate the longer doors on the two-door versions. A sedan chair, a sophisticated litter , is an enclosed box with windows used to transport one seated person. Porters at the front and rear carry the chair with horizontal poles. Litters date back to long before ancient Egypt, India, and China. Sedan chairs were developed in

7979-401: The same problem. Series 2 (from mid-1994 onwards) LHD XMs had improved light units without the plastic element, but slow United Kingdom sales meant these were never fitted to RHD forms. Headlamp retrofit kits using dual or triple round optics are available from third party suppliers, though this changes the aesthetics of the car. Series 1 cars can be fitted with series 2 headlights. The XM

8080-495: The second half of the 1990s, sales were in sharp decline, and Citroën ended production in 2000. Total sales of the XM reached 333,405 in 11 years, of which 31,035 were of the Heuliez-built Breaks (estates). The XM's replacement, the Citroën C6 , was launched at the end of 2005. In 2021, the company ceded use of the name to BMW for their BMW XM SUV . The XM offered active electronic management of its suspension;

8181-590: The second, the Mercedes-Benz SL ) and went on to win a further 14 major awards within a year of its launch. The anticipated annual sales of 450 cars a day in the first full year of production, or 160,000 units a year, never materialized. Sales never reached this ambitious level (higher than even its popular predecessor) for a variety of reasons. Like the CX, the XM did not have the worldwide distribution of competitors from BMW , Audi , and Mercedes-Benz . Also, it

8282-454: The steering, brakes, suspension, throttle pedal and transmission transmitted car's speed, acceleration, and road conditions to on-board computers to control the ride. The chassis needed very few modifications to handle nearly double the power in the V6 24V compared to the lowest-end models; the only difference was a somewhat sturdier rear stabiliser bar . The Hydractive system was somewhat "ahead of

8383-415: The suspension cylinders, pressurizing the bottom part of the spheres and suspension cylinders. Suspension works by means of a piston forcing LHM into the sphere, compressing the nitrogen in the upper part of the sphere; damping is provided by a two-way 'leaf valve' in the opening of the sphere. LHM has to squeeze back and forth through this valve which causes resistance and controls the suspension movements. It

8484-507: The suspension into 'hard' mode locking out the extra centre spheres and stopping the 'crossflow' of fluid, this dramatically firmed up the suspension and cut body roll, as soon as the vehicle stabilized the ECU would switch the suspension system back into 'soft' mode. This is the basis of "Hydractive 2", a soft cosseting ride all the time unless the conditions demand otherwise, switching a "Hydractive 2" vehicle into "Sport" mode doesn't just switch out

8585-416: The suspension stiffen (sport mode) or ride in outstanding comfort (soft mode). Sensors in the steering, brakes, suspension, throttle pedal and gearbox feed information on the car's speed, acceleration, and road conditions to an on-board computer, which in turn activates or deactivates an extra pair of suspension spheres on the circuit, to enable either a more smooth supple ride or tighter handling in corners. On

8686-406: The switching was controlled differently. In general smooth gentle driving the suspension would be in 'soft' mode ("Normal" mode according to Citroën on series 2 vehicles) which utilized all 6 suspension spheres and allowed 'crossflow' of fluid from side to side producing the characteristic wafting ride, but as soon as the suspension ECU sensed a large or sudden change in one of the sensors it would put

8787-513: The system is manufactured from steel tubing of small diameter, connected to valve control units by Lockheed type pipe unions with special seals made from Desmopan, a type of polyurethane thermoplastic compatible with the LHM fluid. The moving parts of the system, e.g. , suspension strut or steering ram, are sealed by contact seals between the cylinder and piston for tightness under pressure. The other plastic/rubber parts are return tubes from valves such as

8888-472: The term hatchback sedan is not often used. There have been many sedans with a fastback style. Hardtop sedans were a popular body style in the United States from the 1950s to the 1970s. Hardtops are manufactured without a B-pillar leaving uninterrupted open space or, when closed, glass along the side of the vehicle. The top was intended to look like a convertible's top. However, it was fixed and made of hard material that did not fold. All manufacturers in

8989-543: The wrong type of fluid is used, the system must be drained and rinsed with Hydraflush (Total's Hydraurincage), before draining again and filling with the correct fluid. These procedures are clearly described in DIY manuals obtainable from automotive retailers. The latest Citroën cars with Hydractive 3 suspension have a new orange coloured LDS hydraulic fluid. This lasts longer and requires less frequent attention. It conforms to DIN 51524-3 for HVLP. The whole high pressure part of

9090-438: The years, including steel anti-roll bars , variable ride firmness ( Hydractive ), and active control of body roll ( Citroën Activa ). This system uses a belt- or camshaft-driven pump from the engine to pressurise a special hydraulic fluid , which then powers the brakes , suspension and power steering . It can also power any number of features such as the clutch , turning headlamps and even power windows . Nitrogen

9191-426: Was also used on Berliet trucks and has been used on Mercedes-Benz cars, where it is known as Active Body Control . The Toyota Soarer UZZ32 "Limited" was fitted with a fully integrated four-wheel steering and a complex, computer-controlled hydraulic Toyota Active Control Suspension in 1991. Similar systems are also widely used on modern tanks and other large military vehicles. The purpose of this system

9292-487: Was also used to describe the Škoda 1101/1102 introduced in 1946. The public popularized the name for a two-door model and was then applied by the automaker to the entire line that included a four-door sedan and station wagon versions. In the United States, the notchback sedan distinguishes models with a horizontal trunk lid. The term is generally only referred to in marketing when it is necessary to differentiate between two sedan body styles (e.g., notchback and fastback) of

9393-460: Was driven home in one of the final reviews of 2000, when Richard Bremner's polemical "Parting Shot" essay in Car emphasized these electrical faults. Bremner paid less attention to the remediation of the problem and to the fact that changed market conditions meant demand for the XM was never going to be the same as for its predecessor. Components supplier Valeo designed the XM's lamps and a similar design

9494-528: Was fitted with a wide range of gasoline and diesel engines: Being part of the PSA Peugeot-Citroën company, most of these engines were found in contemporary PSA cars, like the Citroën Xantia , Citroën C5 , Peugeot 405 , Peugeot 406 and Peugeot 605 . The ZF 4HP18 automatic transmission – the late V6 had 4HP20 – was used also in Saab 9000 , Peugeot 605 , Alfa Romeo 164 , Lancia Thema and

9595-493: Was imported into the United States by CXA, a company that had imported several hundred CX25 GTi and Prestige model cars for Citroën loyalists in the USA. These cars can be recognized by small filler plates at the headlights, as CxAuto installed the slightly narrower headlight units from the 1988–1993 Pontiac Grand Prix . CxAuto presented the XM at the 1991 New York Motor Show , in the spring of 1991 and began converting and selling

9696-416: Was in wheel design, while the most expensive models also received colour-coded rear view mirrors. Although not an official variant XMs produced around 1992/1993 have been termed series 1.5 cars due to the mix of newer technology (developed for the series 2) with the series 1 vehicle type. One example of this being the alterations to the "Hydractive" suspension system on such cars. Early vehicles (series 1) had

9797-426: Was inspired by the pneumatic suspension used for aircraft landing gear, which was also partly filled with oil for lubrication and to prevent gas leakage, as patented in 1933 by the same company. The principles illustrated by the successful use of hydropneumatic suspension are now used in a broad range of applications, such as aircraft oleo struts and gas filled automobile shock absorbers . Hydropneumatic suspension

9898-409: Was launched only a year before a major global recession began, impacting negatively on car sales across the world; a notable example being the UK, where more than 2.3 million new cars were registered in 1989, but that figure fell to less than 1.6 million in 1991 (a drop of more than 30% in just two years). In Japan the XM was sold through Mazda 's Eunos dealership chain, part of an effort to minimize

9999-565: Was nearing end of production. Interest in these new-type valves has led to a good few XM owners successfully fitting them, and benefiting from a noticeable improvement in smoothness and consistency of ride. Some production models of the XM were not equipped with the Hydractive system, but had a 'conventional' hydropneumatic suspension closer to that of the Citroën BX . These lower specification vehicles were all built for markets in mainland Europe. A function much missed by Citroën enthusiasts

10100-524: Was the " DIRAVI " System, previously present in the SM and CX. This option was only available for the French or LHD Export market and then only on the 3.0 V6 models. The functionality varied from car to car, but simply put the system affects steering control, at lower speeds less steering centering force aids parking and make city driving easier, but at higher speeds the system makes the steering heavier keeping you in

10201-525: Was used on the Eagle Premier . The goal of the design was to reduce the size of the lamps and to increase their output. The XM's new "complex surface" headlamps were not powerful enough on dipped beam, though main beam was perfectly adequate. This could be traced to the use of a plastic optical element between the bulb and the outer lens, which yellowed with age. The XM was not alone here; the pre-facelifted first-generation Ford Mondeos suffered from

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