Citroën Xantia 2.0i VSX
The Xantia hid electronically guided hydraulic suspension beneath a clean family-car shape, choosing soft comfort or firmer control as the road changed.
Citroen Xantia 2.0i VSX 1993 (37682658945).jpg · RL GNZLZ from Chile · CC BY-SA 2.0
More than a set of wheels.
Citroën unveiled the Xantia at the Geneva show in March 1993 as the BX successor. Daniel Abramson's Citroën team refined Bertone's proposal into a flowing five-door body. The better-equipped VSX used Hydractive II suspension, while this page keeps the original 2.0-litre eight-valve manual specification separate from later Activa and 16-valve cars.
Look a little closer.
For its 30th birthday, Citroën's heritage team gathered 56 Xantias at the Conservatoire near Paris.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Hydraulics with an electronic referee
Hydractive II did not replace the gas-and-fluid spring idea; it added electronic control. Citroën says the system reduced body roll and improved road holding without giving up comfort, using the VSX as the upper launch trim.
Source: Citroën/Stellantis · Xantia 30th anniversary ↗Keeping the first 2.0 VSX distinct
The launch range soon grew into diesels, sixteen-valve engines, estates and the flat-cornering Activa. The cited technical sheet isolates the 1993 five-speed 2.0i VSX at 1,998 cc, 121 PS and 176 Nm instead of back-applying later performance.
Source: Automobile-Catalog · 1993 Xantia 2.0i VSX ↗Where these facts come from
- Citroën/Stellantis · Xantia 30th anniversary
- Citroën Origins · Xantia
- Automobile-Catalog · 1993 Xantia 2.0i VSX
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 1, 2026.