A quirky classic that still features as one listing on the Trade Me auction website in New Zealand is the Citroen XM, and  I still remember when this car was launched in 1989. 

The XM was  meant to capture more creatively-minded buyers from lower model BMW 5 Series or Mercedes-Benz W124 buyers and perhaps also away from a Saab 9000 or Volvo 740GLE.

The XM was the successor to the long running CX, which was well and truly getting ancient in the mid 1980’s. 

In the 1970s, Citroen had major financial difficulties so fellow French brand Peugeot acquired 90 per cent of the company by late 1976.   

Once planning was underway for the XM and Peugeot’s 605, it was decided to develop a common platform for both models.  Citroen’s XM would get it’s trick hydractive hydraulic suspension, the magic carpet ride it was famous for, whilst the 605 would not.

Citroen’s Nuccio Bertone was the designer for the XM and its futuristic design was quite out there for 1989.  With a drag coefficient of 0.28, it sported links to Citroen’s past with its lift back style and single spoke steering wheel. It’s narrow headlights and deep glasshouse achieved a wedge shape that stood out. Whether it was attractive, was another question. 

Art Blakeslee, Citroen’s Design Chief at the time, said, “I believe the XM is a modern and dynamic shape, with unique styling elements such as the very long, low hood, the extensive use of glass and the kick up in the beltline.”

Comparatively, the Peugeot 605 was conservative and created by Italian car design firm Pininfarina. It looked very much like an oversized Peugeot 405 of the time, but the styling worked well and some even called it handsome. 

The XM’s interior was minimalist but high tech for the time including a few quirks like a keypad alarm system that required a PIN number to disengage, while climate control could be fitted as optional. It also had computer controlled suspension to reduce body roll.

The first generation ran from 1989 to 1994 and was sold in hatchback and by 1992, estate form. Initial engines were 2-litre petrol and a 3-litre petrol V6 engine.  All models had the trick suspension.  A 2.1-litre diesel was added and so was a 2-litre petrol turbo.

The second generation was from 1994 to 2000. A new 2.5-litre diesel was added, as was a new petrol turbo and in 1998 an upgraded 3-litre V6 engine. Airbags were by then standard as were anti-lock brakes. 

The XM sales never quite hit the magnitude that were intended. Citroen hoped to shift 160,000 in its first full sales year (1990) but got to only 94,000. It sold 333,775 of them in its 11-year history, partly this was due to reliability issues quickly developing. 

The most acclaimed fault being the quality of electrical conductor being used in the cars. Allegedly poor electrical connections would stop the car and even trained mechanics wouldn’t know where to start to find the fault, so entire electrical systems sometimes had to be replaced in the event of a small fault.

During the design phase of the XM, Citroen had lost $1.5 billion so had to cut costs.   

On TradeMe sits a 1990 Citroen XM priced at $1550. It's an import and has a comparatively low 170,000kms for its age. It had the base 2-litre engine and is a manual. This is one car for the adventurous type!