The Company in 1997
Zoom
Xsara : since 1997
- At the beginning of the year, the Citroën Berlingo and Peugeot Partner are jointly voted "Van of the year 1997" with 69 points, ahead of the Volkswagen LT (36 points) and the New Daily Iveco (22 points).
- Citroën opens its corporate web site- http://www.citroën.com: - on 4 March to coincide with the Geneva Motor Show. Developed by Euro RSCG, it is based upon three key components of the marque's image: Audacity, Alliance and Appeal. The Citroën website wins the corporate "Grand Prix" awarded by the magazine "Strategie".
- Automobiles Citroën sets up an international public relations exercise aimed at young Europeans (11 nationalities) of between 18 and 35: the "Citroën Berlingo Paris-Samarkand-Moscow Raid". Selections are held between April and June, with successful candidates going on to take part in the Raid, at the wheel of a Berlingo Multispace 1.9 Diesel.
- Sales soar in Central Europe, making Citroën number one on the light utility vehicle market for the 1997 financial year. With sales up by more than 50% on 1996, the Marque reports market share of 10.4% in Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
- Annual production : 890 644 vehicles.
The models in 1997
- The Open-Top Berlingo Multispace makes its market debut with a choice of two petrol engines (1.4i and 1.8i) and one diesel(1.9D). In June, Citroën launches the Xantia LPG in France. Based on the Xantia 1.8l 16-valve Tentation, the new Xantia is the first petrol/LPG bi-fuel offering from a carmaker.
- On 11 September, Citroën launches the Xsara, a vehicle created by Citroën's Creative Styling Centre in Vélizy. Designed to meet the requirements of European customers in terms of space, modular design and on-board equipment, the Xsara aims to be the first in a new generation of "top-market" vehicles in the mid-range segment.
- Citroën launches a restyled version of the Xantia in December. The body lines are modified with a new grille, while the sophisticated interior combines elegance with a wealth of active and passive safety features.
In the news in 1997
- Jacques Chirac, President of the French Republic, appears on television on 21 April to announce that he is calling a general election one year early.
- The Kyoto conference ends with an agreement signed by 159 countries to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 5.2% by 2012.
- In 1997, we said goodbye to Pamela Harriman, US ambassador to Paris; Deng Xiaoping, Chinese head of state, Marco Ferreri, film-maker; Jacques Cousteau, underwater explorer; Gianni Versace, designer; Diana, Princess of Wales; and Mother Teresa, Nobel-Prize winner.