Chevrolet Citation
| Chevrolet Citation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Chevrolet (General Motors) |
| Production | 1980–1985 |
| Assembly |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. North Tarrytown, New York, U.S. Ramos Arizpe, Mexico |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact |
| Body style | 2-door notchback 3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback |
| Layout | Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive |
| Platform | X-body |
| Related |
Buick Skylark Oldsmobile Omega Pontiac Phoenix |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.5 L Iron Duke I4 2.8 L LE2 V6 2.8 L LH7 HO V6 2.8 L LB6 MPFI V6 |
| Transmission | 3-speed TH-125 automatic 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 104.9 in (2,664 mm) |
| Length | 176.7 in (4,488 mm) |
| Width | 68.3 in (1,735 mm) |
| Height | 53.9 in (1,369 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Chevrolet Nova |
| Successor |
Chevrolet Corsica Chevrolet Beretta |
The Chevrolet Citation is a compact car marketed by Chevrolet for model years 1980–1985 in two-door coupe, three-door hatchback, and five-door hatchback bodystyles. Introduced in April 1979 for model year 1980, the Citation superseded the Chevrolet Nova.
The Citation was significantly downsized compared to the Nova it was replacing. As a variant of the GM X platform, the Citation was adapted for front-wheel drive and was manufactured with badge engineered variants including the Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Omega, and Pontiac Phoenix.
After its discontinuation in 1985, the Citation was replaced by the Chevrolet Beretta coupe and Chevrolet Corsica sedan/hatchback, introduced in 1987. 1,642,587 Citations were manufactured during its production run.
To better compete in the compact segment following the 1973 fuel crisis, General Motors commenced work in April 1974 on replacing its X-body compact lines, following slow sales of full-size domestically-produced vehicles in favor of smaller import cars. Sales of the latter spiked following the Arab oil embargo of 1973 and its resulting gasoline shortages. While the Chevrolet Monza proved relatively successful, it was outdated and inefficient compared to front-wheel drive compacts such as the Honda Accord and the Volkswagen Rabbit; based on its success, the layout of the latter would be copied nearly outright by Chrysler upon the introduction of the Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon for the 1978 model year.
While GM had been producing front-wheel drive cars for nearly a decade, the Cadillac Eldorado and Oldsmobile Toronado were neither fuel-efficient nor compact. In the mid-summer of 1976, the company produced its first prototypes of the cars intended to replace the X-Body; the Chevrolet Nova replacement was intended to be called the "Condor". Intended for a 1978 model release (alongside the downsizing of the mid-size car line), the X-body was delayed until the 1980 model year due to parts supply issues; GM parts suppliers were trying to adjust to the large-scale production of a front-wheel drive car. During the delay, the Chevrolet Condor name was changed to Chevrolet Citation.
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Wikipedia