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Saxo : since 1996
The Company in 1996
- Citroën mobilizes the entire workforce for the launch of the Saxo. Sixteen Citroën establishments throughout France receive 27,000 visitors in the space of just one weekend, while a sales convention brings together 10,000 salesmen from the Citroën network to test-drive the new vehicle. Moreover, 2,500,000 Saxo magnets are placed on cars in the carparks of 100 cities throughout France. At European level, the new training system adopted for the Xantia is applied to the Saxo. A Saxo shell - designed to be taken apart and put together again as required - is used to train people from the sales network.
- In the sports arena, Citroën inaugurates the AX Ice-Driving Cup, a new promotional formula which is part of the 1995-1996 Andros Trophy. Pierre Lartigue and Michel Périn win the 2,140 km Optic 2000 Tunisia Rally - held between 18 and 25 April - with their trusty Citroën ZX Rallye Raid. The Saxo Cup replaces the AX Cup.
- Citroën Spain receives a Gold Medal from the city of Vigo for the vital boost that the Vigo plant has given the local economy.
- Annual production : 836 543 vehicles.
The models in 1996
- At the Geneva Motor Show between 7 and 17 March, Citroën takes a 853 m2 display area to show the Saxo to the world. All seven Saxo models - VTS, SX, VSX, VTL and VTR - are on show, with a Saxo Cup in the middle. The cars are surrounded by the range's four engines: 1.1i, 1.4i, 1.6i and 120 bhp.
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Berlingo (5 places) : since 1996
- With its innovative styling and equipment, the Berlingo bears a close resemblance to a saloon or people-carrier: airbags, seatbelts with pyrotechnic pretensioners, ABS, etc. Eminently robust and practical, the Berlingo is a front-wheel drive vehicle with four independent wheels. It is 4.11 m long, with a useful volume of 3 m3 and a payload of 800 kg. The Berlingo is available with two petrol engines (1,124 cm3, 60 bhp, 1,360 cm3, 75 bhp) and two diesel engines (1,769 cm3, 60.5 bhp, 1,905 cm3, 71 bhp). The Berlingo is produced at the Citroën plant in Vigo, Spain, which turns out more than 100,000 units annually.
In the news in 1996
- In France, Jacques Chirac announces the end of national service and the organization of a professional army.
- On 13 March, the world's leaders gather in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, for a summit meeting on peace and terrorism.
- In 1996, we said goodbye to François Mitterrand, Ella Fitzgerald, Claudette Colbert and René Lacoste.