Operation Dragon
The Company in 1988
- Automobiles Citroën boosts profits by 78.24% over 1987 levels. The PSA Group's profits reach 8.8 billion francs.
- In July, 140 young people leave for China to drive 4,500 km from Shenzhen to Beijing in AXs on a major Citroën expedition known as Operation Dragon.
- A good year for Citroën Competition: the Group A AX Sport plays the leading role in the under-1,300 cm3 category. With Carole Vergnaud, Jean-Pierre Jarier and Jean-Pierre Beltoise, the AX Sport Turbo beats all comers in seven out of ten French Superproduction Championship events.
- Citroën exports rise by 12% in a market that posts overall growth of just 4%. Significant gains are made in Portugal (78%), Spain (48%) and Britain (45%).
- Annual production : 803 145 vehicles.
The models in 1988
- February brings a limited edition of 2,500 AX K.Ways (version of the 3-door AX 10 E), followed in April by 4,000 5-door AX K.Ways.
- March sees the launch of the new version of the AX Sport and three BX Diesel Turbos: RD Turbo, TRD Turbo and TRD Turbo Evasion. All three BXs are powered by a 1,760 cm3 engine (4-cylinder in-line, 90 bhp at 4,300 rpm, torque of 18.5 mkg at 2,100 rpm, top speed of 180 km/h (saloons) and 174 km/h (Evasion estate). The BX 19 TRI Evasion arrives in the showrooms, with the same engine as the BX 19 GTI.
- In October, the Activa prototype is presented at the Paris Motor Show. The Activa programme sees the development of various projects, including four-wheel steering and master-controlled suspension.
- Also at the Motor Show, Citroën announces the market debut of seven versions of the AX Diesel (two 3-door versions, three 5-door versions and two company versions), all powered by the TUD3 engine (4-cylinder, 1,360 cm3, 53 bhp at 5,000 rpm, torque of 8.6 mkg at 2,500 rpm) and six 4-wheel-drive versions of the C 25 1400.
In the news in 1988
- François Mitterrand is re-elect-ed President of the French Republic.
- In the United States, George Bush is elected to the White House.
- Pakistan becomes the first Islamic republic with a woman head of State - Benazir Bhutto - thus ending years of military dictatorship.
- Maurice Allais becomes France's first winner of a Nobel prize for economics.
- In 1988, we said goodbye to Pierre Desproges, Edgar Faure, Enzo Ferrari, Roy Orbison and John Carradine.