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The ZX was launched on 16
March 1991 and filled the gap between the AX and BX
.
Prior to the launch, the stupendously successful ZX Rallye Raide was entered (and thrashed the competition) in a number of events including the 1990 Baja Aragon and the Paris Dakar to arouse interest in the ZX although mechanically, they were as alike as chalk and cheese. Work on this project had started in 1986 and the car was similar in size if utterly different in conception from the GS . Where the GS employed self levelling hydropneumatic suspension, the ZX used front Macpherson struts and rear torsion bars and unlike the GS, the (outboard) brakes were unpowered albeit fitted with a servo and anti-lock system on some models. Rear drums were standard on base models with discs being fitted on up-market variants. Power steering was also available while engines and transmissions were familiar fare, having been fitted to the AX and BX ranges. Only one body style was available at launch - a five door hatchback but this was soon extended to include a three door variant and an estate. | |||||||||||||||
Five petrol engined versions with four different trim levels, marketed as the ZX Collection, were available at launch - the Reflex 1,1 powered by the 1 124cm3 engine from the AX, the 1,4 Reflex and Avantage powered by the AX and BX 1 360cm3 unit, the Aura 1,6 using the BX 1 580cm3 unit and the Volcane 1,9 which used the 122 bhp fuel injected 1 905cm3 engine based on the unit fitted to the BX GTi. | ||||||||||||||||
Mechanical innovation was not
completely dead however - the rear suspension incorporated a passive rear
steer axle which enabled the ZX to outhandle most of its rivals while
still offering the kind of ride quality for which Citroën is
renowned.
Maximum advantage was taken to reduce costs and the ZX shared many of its components with the Peugeot 305 including the floorpan. | ||||||||||||||||
The ZX is also built
in China where there is a four door, three volume version called the Fukang 988
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© 1998 and 2000 Julian Marsh