Citroën Axel
Encyclopedia
The Citroën Axel was a supermini
automobile produced between 1984 and 1990 and developed in co-operation by Citroën
of France
and Automobile Craiova
, a joint venture company with the Romania
n government.
The Axel was a rebadged
version of the small Oltcit
hatchback. Three specifications were available: Axel 11, Axel 11R and Axel 12 TRS. They were powered by the air-cooled engines from the Citroën GS/GSA
.
It was derived from the Prototype Y
of the early 1970s, which was intended to become the Citroën Visa
until Peugeot
took over Citroën (forming the PSA Group) and required the new model to be based on the Peugeot 104
. At this point the Visa came to be based on the 104, whilst the later Oltcit was built based on the original Prototype Y plans. Thus the five-door Visa and the three-door Axel look very similar, but there is no part exchangeable between these two Citroën models.
Supermini car
A supermini is a British term that describes automobiles larger than a city car but smaller than a small family car. This car class is also known as the B-segment across Europe, and as subcompact in North America....
automobile produced between 1984 and 1990 and developed in co-operation by Citroën
Citroën
Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that...
of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Automobile Craiova
Automobile Craiova
Automobile Craiova is a Romanian car manufacturer located in Craiova, Romania. It is owned by Ford Motor Company.-The beginnings:Automobile Craiova was founded in 1976 as OLTCIT joint venture company between the Romanian government and Citroën...
, a joint venture company with the Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n government.
The Axel was a rebadged
Badge engineering
Badge engineering is an ironic term that describes the rebadging of one product as another...
version of the small Oltcit
Oltcit
The Oltcit was a Romanian car developed in co-operation with Citroën of France in the 1980s. It is a small three-door hatchback, based on the Citroën Prototype Y and built in Craiova at the Automobile Craiova plant.-History:...
hatchback. Three specifications were available: Axel 11, Axel 11R and Axel 12 TRS. They were powered by the air-cooled engines from the Citroën GS/GSA
Citroën GS
The Citroën GS and Citroën GSA are small family cars produced by the French automaker Citroën. The GS was voted European Car of the Year for 1971, and was probably the most technologically advanced car in its class when launched, with class leading comfort, safety and aerodynamics.-Market...
.
It was derived from the Prototype Y
Citroën Prototype Y
The Citroën Prototype Y was a project to develop a replacement for the Citroën Ami, conducted by Citroën in the early seventies. It was superseded by project Citroën VD ....
of the early 1970s, which was intended to become the Citroën Visa
Citroën Visa
The Citroën Visa is a supermini that was produced by the French car marque Citroën from 1978 to 1988.-Development History:The Citroën Prototype Y to replace the 2CV based Citroën Ami that dated back to 1960 in the early seventies, was originally developed in co-operation with Fiat...
until Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
took over Citroën (forming the PSA Group) and required the new model to be based on the Peugeot 104
Peugeot 104
The Peugeot 104 is a supermini motor car designed by Paolo Martin and produced by the French car manufacturer Peugeot between 1972 and 1988.- Production history :Saloon launch 1972...
. At this point the Visa came to be based on the 104, whilst the later Oltcit was built based on the original Prototype Y plans. Thus the five-door Visa and the three-door Axel look very similar, but there is no part exchangeable between these two Citroën models.
Models
- Citroën Axel 11 R Enterprise(1129 cc)
- Citroën Axel 11 R (1129 cc)
- Citroën Axel 12 TRS (1299 cc)
- Citroën Axel 12 TRS Enterprise(1299 cc)
External links
- Oltcit (Citroen Axel) in RomanianRomanian languageRomanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
- Oltcit, Oltena and Axel at Citroenet
- Oltcit Memorial Video
- Oltcit.Eu Community welcomes you