Citroën Axel 1984-1990

[Matt]

The Citroën Axel was a supermini automobile produced by the French manufacturer Citroën between 1985 and 1990.

The Axel was a rebadged version of the small Oltcit hatchback produced in Romania. Three specifications were available: Axel, Axel 11R and Axel 12 TRS.

It was derived from the Prototype Y of the early seventies, which should become the Citroën Visa until Peugeot took over Citroën and requested the new model to be built based on the Peugeot 104. So the Visa became based on the 104 while the later Oltcit was built based on the original plans. So the five-door Visa and the three-door Axel look very similar, but there is no part exchangable between these two Citroën models.

[henk4]

To update the story slightly: The design was only produced in Romania (and never in France) as the Oltcit but was apparently still considered good enough to become rebadged as the Citroen Axel and was sold in Western Europe. Build quality was so poor that it really tarnsihed Citroens reputation, (which was anyhow not too great at that time) that sales stopped pretty soon. It is still a common car in Romania though. One of the main differences with the Visa was that it used the aircooled flat-four of the GS, while the visa had the aircooled twin from the 2CV and oa new inline four developed by Peugeot. Actually the Oltcit was slightly bigger than the Visa, but came with 2/3 doors only.

[go.pawel]

The Citroën Axel was a supermini automobile produced by the French manufacturer Citroën between 1985 and 1990.

It wasn't a supermini. It was B-class.

[dracu777]

Great info guys. I never knew that the Visa and the Axel were separately designed cars. Growing up around Oltcits, I was always under the impression that the Oltcit was based on the Citroen Visa.

[Ferrer]

Citroën Axel #2

[Man of Steel]

Citroën Axel #3

Higher quality and a couple of new pictures

[Man of Steel]

Citroën Axel #4