In the legends section, we are also slowly expanding the section with comfortable and luxurious cars for the upper classes of society. So far, however, the French manufacturers have remained on the sidelines, and we decided to change that today so that we will introduce the Citroën CX 2000.
The CX type was produced since 1974, and a year later, it also became the European Car of the Year. It was the last car to be completely designed by Citroën before it was taken over by rival Peugeot. Even so, it was not easy for the fans of the brand because it was replacing the breakthrough DS model. However, the groundbreaking and futuristic CX succeeded. A large range of petrol and diesel engines, advanced aerodynamics, a hydropneumatic chassis, an offer of a station wagon version, a Familiale version for 8 passengers, a three-axle version of the CX LoadRunner Bagagére used mainly for emergency services, and a sporty GTi model, all these were trumps that kept customers interested until the year 1991. Among them were French President Jacques Chirac and Erich Honecker from East Germany.
However, hydraulics here do not only provide suspension, they are permeated throughout the car. And this includes Diravi power steering, which immediately returns the wheels to the plane if you let go of the steering wheel (you can get used to it quickly) or hydraulic brakes, due to which the entire stroke of the brake pedal is shortened to about two millimeters. And be careful, it’s hard to get used to it and I still don’t know how you fool the reflexes. Of course, a smooth and calm ride allows you to focus on the fact that you only have to think about the brakes and you don’t need to actually move your foot. However, if a pedestrian, dog or just a squirrel runs into your path, try to arm yourself with empathy and run them over. If you slam on the brakes in a panic, as you are used to, you will fly through the front window, hit the cause of your accident and, in the end, kill yourself and her anyway. And you’ll break the windshield, so the next suicide, sorry, owner of your CX, will have more expenses with the reconstruction when he buys the car advantageously from your survivors.
But I would take this risk, because I always liked CX a lot. It is a beautiful ship with an atypical body shape. After all, hatchbacks are not used much in this segment. I just still can’t decide whether the version before or after the major upgrade. We have the opportunity to test a newer type with plastic bumpers and a mask and a beautiful bulge on the hood from 1986. You must have noticed the movie clues. Yes, Inspector Schimanski had a lot of fun with the CX type in the German crime series Tatort (Crime scene). And since the owner is a fan of the series, he equipped the car with several references to the well-known crime scene, the most prominent of which is the removable blue beacon. But there are more decorations on the car, for example period blinds on the rear window, which were very fashionable in the 80s.
Comfort is synonymous with the mission of the interior. The low, soft and huggable seats invite you to sit down and allow you to relax just like you would in an armchair in your living room. But the best thing is that perhaps everything is different in the interior of the CX. That’s what I call distinctiveness . For example, door handles , sure, there are classic door handles, but you don’t see any lever on them. So would it be this switch? No, it’s a mirror. She is the right answer really in the handle, you have to grab it like a pistol and shoot , that’s the secret password that will open Sesame and also the door of this Frenchman. Even the radio is located atypically, longitudinally in the central tunnel. And the blinkers are on a cradle-shaped switch, which you squeeze the end, you blink on that side. In addition to similar fads, you also have a bit of an impression of the future, but such a retro future , like when you watch the movie Back to the future . The shape of the dashboard is also responsible for this, while the shield resembles a spaceship in shape and below it is a single-arm steering wheel with an arm slanting towards the crown from under the bells, the central part slopes down roughly at the angle of a ski slope. The passenger again has a large plastic area in front of him, and only below is a shelf and a classic lockable box below it.
What excites people is the practicality of the hydropneumatic suspension . The possibility to lift the car at any time and drive over even minor terrain irregularities can be useful, especially on our roads. On a smooth road, with a lower car, you have less air resistance and therefore less consumption , even though the CX type already had one of the best coefficients – only 0.29, which is still a very good value today. And if you put the car completely on the ground, it is impossible to pull it away or put a boot on you. But definitely don’t take this as any suggestion of wrongdoing , just as an interesting point. But the whole suspension has one more, much bigger advantage. It perfectly absorbs every unevenness and allows the crew to enjoy the most comfortable ride . Not even a lot of noise disturbs here. On the one hand, the two-liter petrol engine is refined , and on the other hand, the aerodynamic resistance is very small, so you won’t be bothered by the sound around the flowing air. Thanks to this, even today, the CX can become a comfortable boat suitable for long trips.
When I said somewhere that I had the opportunity to drive a CX type, most people became quite interested in what it was like. The CX is simply one of those cars that you don’t want at first, but when you think about it more deeply, something about it starts to attract you. It’s good that a few people who put it in their garage have been found and operate it regularly. It would be a shame if this last genuine Citroën disappeared from the roads, as it recalls a time of traditional French elegance and individuality.
Photo: Mikka
