The AX was launched at the 1986 Paris Motor Show to replace the Citroën Visa. The car was available from launch as a three-door hatchback with 1.0, 1.1 and 1.4-litre TU-series belt driven OHC engines. Shortly afterwards, a five-door model and a 1.4 diesel were introduced; the latter was later replaced by a 1.5-litre unit. It had fully independent long travel suspension. It was initially backed by a memorable TV advertising campaign filmed in China, starring actress Janet Mas and an elderly gentleman, whose character was simply known as Mr Wong.
The car was very economical, largely because of excellent aerodynamics for its class of car (drag coefficient of 0.31) and a very light weight of 640 kg (1,411 lb) for the basic version. This was due to the extensive use of plastic panels in non-load bearing areas and varying the thicknesses of steel in the bodyshell to be the minimum needed to take required loads. This technology came from the PSA Peugeot-Citroën / Renault / French government ECO 2000 project. It also optionally used self coloured plastic bumpers. In 1989 a naturally aspirated diesel AX, using the 1360 cc all aluminium alloy TUD engine, managed a figure of 2.7 litres per 100 kilometres (100 mpg-imp/87 mpg-US), totalling over 1,000 miles (1,609 km) from Dover to Barcelona. This was the longest ever distance travelled on 10 imp gal (45.5 L/12.0 US gal) of fuel and earned it a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the most economical production car. Also available was a 4x4 variant, but with limited success when compared to the rival Fiat Panda 4x4. This was not sold in the UK.
CITROEN AX 1.4 GT CITROEN AX 14 TRS
The range was slimmed-down in 1996, following the introduction of the Saxo, with production of the AX ending in 1998 after a 12 year production run.
CITROEN SAXO
Heuliez presented an estate version called the AX Evasion at the 1988 Mondial de l'Automobile.
The Citroën AX BB Cabrio was a small roadster derived from the AX (1988). In Portugal, Citroen dealership Benjamin Barral created an unofficial convertible version, called the BB Cabrio, originally powered by the twin-carb AX GT 1.4 L engine, but later available with any type of engine that equipped the 3 door AX. Considered very handsome, due to the lack of the usual roll bar that convertible normally require, these cars are now collector's items and command a heavy premium over the normal models they are based upon. This model was not sold in the UK.
At one stage, parent firm PSA Peugeot Citroën had planned to launch a Talbot Samba replacement as a version of the AX with a different grille and a Talbot badge, but this plan was cancelled, as the entire Talbot marque was axed in the same year the AX was launched.
The Proton company of Malaysia produced a version of the Citroën AX, the Proton Tiara, from 1996 to 2000.
Aixam Mega at one time built an AX derivative called Mega Club. It was somewhat inspired by the Méhari, with a plastic bodywork and an optional convertible version, with 2 wheel drive or four wheel drive. It was discontinued in 1998. A competition version of the Mega Club with a tubeframe chassis raced in the Andros Trophy in the early 1990, but powered by Ford and Honda engines.
CITROEN AX 4X4 FRONT
CITROEN AX 4X4 SIDE VIEW
CITROEN AX 4X4 BACK VIEW
UPGRADED WITH NGV
TU3 4L 8V WITH BOSCH MONOPOINT INJECTION SYSTEM
REAR DRIVESHAFT FOR 4X4 AX
CITROEN AX 4X4 PANEL(SAME LOOK WITH CITROEN AX GT)
4WD SWITCH
LOOKS LIKE USING ELECTRIC MOTOR