1988 CITROEN AX 5 Doors 1.4L 5MT FWD (70 HP)

Vehicle Overview

After being purchased by Peugeot, the French carmaker was forced to change its ideas so the brand could survive on a more difficult market.

In 1986, Citroen introduced the AX series as a replacement for the Axel/Visa lineup. While the 3-door AX replaced the Axel, the 5-door replaced the Visa. Both versions were built on top of a new platform. The French government funded the project, so PSA (Peugeot-Citroen-Talbot) to develop an environmentally friendly vehicle. The result exceeded the expectations since an AX diesel made it to the Guinness World Book of Records with its astonishing fuel consumption of just 2.7 l/100 km (87 MPG-US).

On the outside, the wedged design was simple and very similar to the three-door version. Apart from the rear set of doors, the AX-5 doors featured an additional set of side windows behind the rear doors. Its headlights reflected the car’s shape, and the turn-signals were mounted on the corners, so the carmaker didn’t have to install an additional set on the sides.

The interior design followed the same wedged shapes from the outside, with a dashboard that looked like it was made from vinyl-covered plywood. Apart from the steering wheel, everything else inside was made in straight lines and straight angles. The car lacked sound-deadening materials and exposed metal parts here and there to save weight.

Citroen installed a very wide engine choice, depending on the market. Its power ranged between a sluggish 42 hp unit and a lively 84 hp. All versions were paired to a manual gearbox.