The Break estate ("Safari" in the United Kingdom), produced from 1975 until 1991 was joined by the seven-seat Familiale, both, with increased load capacity (baggage; equipment; passengers), taking full advantage of the CX's self-levelling suspension.
Both petrol and diesel-powered models were available in various engine sizes including turbocharged versions. The top-end sports model, alongside the CX Prestige luxury model, was the CX 25 GTi Turbo, launched in autumn 1984, rated at 168 hp (122 kW) and a top speed of 220 km/h (137 mph).
Manual, semi-automatic ("C-Matic") and, ultimately, fully automatic transmissions were fitted, the fully automatic ZF transmission replacing the C-Matic in 1980. Luxury trim-level models were badged as Pallas, and sports variants as GTi. The long-wheelbase models were badged as Prestige (petrol engine) or Limousine (diesel). The factory never produced the CX with both the powerful turbocharged petrol engine and automatic transmission in one car.
The Series 1 vehicles (1974–85) were characterised by stainless steel front and rear bumpers, hydropneumatic suspension as compliant and soft as the DS, a "spaceship" style dashboard featuring a revolving drum speedometer and similar tachometer, and a "stalk-free" layout where turn signals, wiper controls, horn and headlights could be operated by the driver's fingertips while his/her hands remained on the steering wheel. A similar version of the revolving drum speedometer was used earlier in the 1958 Edsel for only one year.
In July 1985, the styling was revised, resulting in a model known as the Series 2. The cars lost some of their earlier distinctiveness. The suspension became stiffer in most models. Plastic bumpers were the most notable exterior change, giving what some say is a more aggressive look, as opposed to the more elegant Series 1 design. Although the dashboard retained the "pod" housing for the instrumentation, it lost the revolving-drum instruments and received a sloping centre dash area, and the radio moved to a position sideways and between the front seats, with the height corrector and heating controls moving to the centre console.
A Citroën design principle was that turning signals should not cancel themselves – this should be a conscious decision of the driver. The CX perpetuated this feature, which is not shared by virtually any other contemporary automobile, limiting the CX's potential use as a rental car.
The CX was frequently used as an ambulance and camera car, applications where the cosseting suspension was especially valuable. A number of CX estates were elongated and retrofitted with a second rear axle, mostly used for high speed bulk transport such as carrying newspapers across Europe. They are known as the "loadrunner" variant. Most of them were prepared by the French company Tissier.
The last CX was the venerable Safari Estate, to this day one of the largest, and because of its suspension, most practical, family cars available in Europe. The Safari was very popular with speedway riders and other motorcycle racers, as the capacious design meant a bike could easily fit in the back.
The most collectible CX models are the very rare Series 1 GTi Turbo, and the Series 2 Prestige Turbo.
1,170,645 CXs were sold from 1974 to 1991.
Notable uses
In addition to the numerous CX models owned by Erich Honecker, head of East Germany, many other officials found the car suitable as well.
In France, the CX Prestige model was used by the French government, including former president Jacques Chirac, who kept using the CX many years after it had left production.
Mário Soares the Prime Minister of Portugal used a CX, as did the Norwegian government in the 1980s
Harald V, King of Norway, had a CX in the 70s, as did Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega.
Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, had a special Landaulet created by Henri Chapron for his 1981 wedding.
The singer Grace Jones sported a haircut shaped like a CX in a prominent series of controversial advertisements for the GTi Turbo in 1985, and included the CX prominently in her 1985 music video "Slave to the Rhythm".
The CX appears in several films, like the early Mel Gibson film Tim from Australia, Private Benjamin, starring Goldie Hawn, and the 1980s ITV (UK) children's Sci Fi drama Chocky.
The character Jasper Palmer, played by Michael Caine in the movie Children of Men, drove a vehicle based on a CX Safari. This fitted in with the director's vision of vehicles being futuristic designs based on familiar cars but with an unfamiliar disguise. Similar avant garde vehicles such as the Fiat Multipla and Renault Avantime were also used.
During the Summer 2010 season, popular BBC motoring show Top Gear hosted a challenge to its presenters to build a caravan out of an ordinary vehicle, whereupon Jeremy Clarkson built a three-storey house out of a 1988 Citroën CX Break.
Common parts from the CX were used in other more exclusive cars. For instance, the rear view mirrors of the "Series 2" CX were found on many – mostly British – sports cars, like the Lotus Esprit, the Jaguar XJ220, the TVR Chimera and the (French) MVS Venturi.
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