The Company in 1987
- End-of-year figures show a tripling of 1986 profits.
- In March, the design department acquires a Cray XMP/14 supercomputer.
- During the year, at least one-half of the workforce benefits from THE COMPANY's training and education programme, which accounts for 3.5% of the total payroll. The marque introduces a 5-year anti-corrosion warranty.
- At the Trémery plant in Lorraine, Citroën opens an assembly shop for the production of the XU2 petrol engine, thereby increasing flexibility in the plant by 70%. The shop is designed to assemble seventy different types of engine, and especially the 16-valve unit that equips the BX GTI.
- In conjunction with Total and Michelin, Citroën organizes the AX Sport Challenge Rally. The event is open to all comers, including company staffers. Out of the 18,500 entrants, three prizewinners are officially engaged to race the AX Sport in 5 events counting for the 1988 World Rally Championship.
- Annual production : 769 252 vehicles.
The models in 1987
- The BX 15 RE is launched in January, boosting the number of vehicles in the BX range to 23 (15 saloons and 8 estates). The BX 15 RE is powered by a 1,580 cm3 XU unit (80 bhp at 5,600 rpm, torque of 13.5 mkg at 2,800 rpm).
- January also sees the launch of the AX 10 E Entreprise. In March, the CX 25 Turbo diesel is fitted with an air/air exchanger, adding 26% more power (120 bhp at 3,900 rpm) and 18% more torque (26 mkg at 2,000 rpm) to the CX 25 Turbo Diesel 2, and earning the car the title of fastest diesel saloon in Europe.
- The AX breaks into the small sportscar market with the introduction of the AX Sport. The eighth member of the AX family is equipped with a 1,294 cm3 engine derived from the TU1, with bore of 75 mm and stroke of 73.2 mm. The unit, equipped with a dual-barrel carburetter and a 5-speed gearbox, develops 95 bhp at 6,800 rpm with torque of 11.5 mkg at 5,000 rpm.
Ax GT
- In July, Citroën brings out the 16-Valve BX 19 GTI, equipped with the first French-designed multivalve engine (4 cylinders, 1,905 cm3, 160 bhp at 6,500 rpm, torque of 18.4 mkg at 5,000 rpm, top speed of 218 km/h). The 16-Valve BX 19 GTI becomes the flagship of the BX range, and takes the number of versions available from 23 to 24.
- In October, the AX GT moves to the top of the AX range. The lines of the AX GT are reminiscent of the AX Sport, and the car is equipped with a 4-cylinder 1,360 cm3 power unit and a 5-speed gearbox. The AX range offers 16 versions with five engine options (45 to 95 bhp).
In the news in 1987
- In December, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev sign the first treaty covering the elimination of intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe.
- In France, the government goes ahead with a denationalization programme, turning a number of companies, including the TF1 television channel, over to private ownership.
- Monday October 26 passes into history as Black Monday, when the crash of the US stockmarket spreads to bourses throughout the world.
- The Orsay Museum opens in Paris.