Chevrolet Citation

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The Chevrolet Citation was a compact car sold by General Motors' Chevrolet brand from 1980 through 1985. The Citation (originally to be the "Condor") and its X-body siblings (the Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Omega, and the Pontiac Phoenix), were the first compact front wheel drive vehicles sold by GM (the nameplates which once dominated the rear wheel drive X platform were used on the front wheel drive X-cars with the exception of Chevrolet — the Nova nameplate was officially retired). Realizing the consumer need for smaller cars, GM switched from V8 engines to smaller, more economical V6 and 4-cylinder engines. The X-body cars were 800 lb (363 kg) lighter than previous similar vehicles. The Citation was Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year for 1980. 1980 model sales were brisk, causing significant delays in delivery to customers; some had to wait nine months to receive their vehicle.

Contents

1 History
2 Sales decline
3 Design and replacements
4 X-11
5 Turbo 660
6 External links

History

Planning for this family of vehicles started in April 1974. The first prototypes were created in mid-summer 1976, and the Citation was released in April 1979. The Citation's initial retail price was under US$6,000. Three body styles were available, a 2-door coupe, 3-door hatchback and a 5-door hatchback. The front wheel drive design and hatchback bodies were a radical departure for the American industry, and GM was widely praised for the X-body's efficient packaging and smaller engines.

Sales decline

The X-body cars were the target of an unsuccessful lawsuit by NHTSA, describing a tendency to lose control under heavy braking. The X-body cars were, however, recalled many times and the Citation's reputation took a beating, resulting in decreasing sales every year. 1984 and 1985 models were known as the Citation II in a halfhearted attempt to convince consumers that the vehicle's problems had been overcome to the extent that the car deserved a new name. The introduction of Chrysler's similarly packaged, but more conventionally styled K-cars (the Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant) for 1981, along with the GM J platform also ate into sales of the Citation.

The 2-door coupe was regarded by many as awkward looking, and after slow sales was dropped for 1981. However, it was reintroduced for 1982.

Design and replacements

In addition to the X platform, GM also created a new line of engines for the Citation and its sisters. The 2.8 L LE2 V6 was the first of the 60° family of engines still in use today. The X platform was used in 1982 as the basis for the new front-wheel drive A-body cars. The X platform was also the basis for the L-body and N-body cars.

The Citation was dropped after the 1985 model year, making way for the Toyota Corolla-based Nova, although the Chevrolet Beretta sport compact coupe and Chevrolet Corsica sedan and hatchback would properly replace the Citation for 1987.

The Citation was still produced in 1986 for Mexico, but unsure of the number or models sold. They had two other models of the Citation: the CL and XS. The CL had an upgraded interior and the XS was a partial X-11.

X-11

In 1979, GM wanted to race the Citation in the SSB/SCCA class and a requirement of the SSB/SCCA rules was to produce a production model of the race car.

The 1980 Citation X-11 was little more than a striping package with the stiffer suspension, but 1981 to 1985 models had legitimate performance upgrades, including stiffer suspension, added corner braces to the cradle, 14 in specific alloy wheels, P215/60 R14 tires, functioning fiberglass cowl induction hood from 1981 to 1984, and a high-output version of the V6 engine. 1985 model of the X-11 had a MPFI (Multi-Port Fuel Injection) V6 engine with a faux cowl induction hood and the Rally Wheels became an option, plus the interior has red or blue piping around the seats and door interior. According to Car & Driver magazine (1981), only two other cars beat the Citation X-11 (63pmh)in the slalom test - the Chevrolet Corvette and the Lamborghini Miura. The reason: the car's suspension was significantly upgraded and Goodyear Eagle GT P215-60R14 tires were standard.

The 60 degree V6 received a "hot rod" treatment: compression was bumped from 8.5:1 to 8.9:1 through bigger pistons; larger intake and exhaust valves (1.72" Intake and 1.42" Exhaust valves vs the stock 1.60"/1.30"); a bigger camshaft was used (.390"in./.410"ex. high lift camshaft as compared to the stock .350"/.390"); heavy duty oil pump; dual intake air cleaner; larger exhaust pipes (2 1/2 inch) and other minor engine block improvements. The engine's nickname became "HO660".

Starting in 1981, the X-11 exterior package was available on either the hatchback or the notchback and remained the same through the 1985 model year. It consisted of a monochromatic paint scheme, cowl induction hood, rear deck spoiler, black trim around all windows, "strobe" style X-11 graphics on the lower side doors and rear spoiler and specific 14" alloy wheels. The 1981 & 1982 wheels had the word "Citation" etched into the rim; the word "Chevrolet" was etched into the wheels from 1983-1985 (eventually, these wheels also found their way onto the Chevy Celebrity Eurosport).

X-11 Prodution Numbers by Year:

1981 : 11,631

1982 : 3,864

1983 : 1,934

1984 : 1,458

1985 : 1,687

Turbo 660

The Turbo 660 was a one-time specialty car built by the Chevrolet Design Center in Michigan. GM used the LE2, bolted on throttle body injection and a Borg-Warner/IHI RB6 turbocharger in a blow-through system. The boost was run at 5 PSI and alcohol injection helped minimize detonation. This engine produced 170 hp. It lacked the cowl induction hood, but had flared fenders and Goodyear P235/60R14 tires on BBS wheels, and a Canary Yellow paint job. Contrary to popular belief, only one was produced. It was built by John Pierce at GM and was used as a show car and to scare people. It was later disassembled with the drivetrain going to a 1981 X11 owned by John. The body went somewhere unknown; Pierce said the body is most likely gone.

External links

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