CITROENXsara 1997 - 2000

　　Citroen needed a car to replace the ZX in its lineup, and the answer was the Xsara, a car built in a few shapes that rocked the French automotive market in the late '90s.

　　Already under Peugeot ownership, Citroen still wanted to create unique-looking vehicles, but it had to do that on its owner's terms. To do that, the carmaker used the same ZX platform, but the overall design was completely new. Moreover, it was available as a coupe, a hatchback, a sedan, and a station wagon.

　　In its five-door, liftback-style version, the Xsara featured a narrow front end with slim headlights and a chromed slat on the grille. To help cool the engine, the carmaker added a second grille on the lower apron, flanked by two optional foglamps. The car's profile revealed more rounded shapes, inspired by the bio-design trend. At the back, the sloped liftgate could open and reveal a decent loading area.

　　Inside, the curved-design language was present on the dashboard. The instrument cluster was extended and combined with the center stack, where the carmaker placed the audio controls above the HVAC dials. The Xsara offered room for five adults on two bucket seats at the front and on the split-folding rear bench, although the car offered limited legroom for full grownups.

　　Under the hood, the French carmaker installed a choice of seven engines ranging between 68 PS (67 hp) and 135 PS (130 hp). They were paired to a five-speed manual, while selected versions received a four-speed automatic.