Citroën BX 4TC
| Company type | Automobile model |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Citroën BX |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Trappes , France |
| Products | Rally car, street-legal homologation model |
The Citroën BX 4TC is a rally car engineered and manufactured by the French automaker Citroën, derived from the production model Citroën BX. To comply with the Group B regulations of the World Rally Championship, a street-legal variant was developed, with a total of 200 units produced to satisfy homologation criteria.
Rally version
Citroën’s commercial division initiated the project in 1983, choosing the BX platform for participation in the 1985 World Rally Championship. The design mandate required maintaining the original BX chassis and incorporating as many components from Series 1 models as feasible. Citroën’s competition team in Trappes built twenty rally-spec cars, while Heuliez was responsible for fabricating the bodywork. Initial testing conducted in December 1985 exposed critical shortcomings: excessive mass, inadequate engine output, and hydraulic suspension systems that resulted in pronounced understeer.
Making its competitive debut at the 1986 Monte Carlo Rally, the vehicle suffered two retirements caused by mechanical breakdowns and accidents. The highest placement achieved was sixth at the Swedish Rally, driven by Jean-Claude Andruet. During the Acropolis Rally, all three entered cars failed to finish, prompting Citroën to withdraw from the championship following safety issues encountered at events in Portugal and Tour de Corse, with plans to refine the design.
Outside of WRC competition, the BX 4TC participated in rallycross events starting in 1989 with driver Jacky Pivert but saw limited success. Concurrently, Jean-Luc Pailler secured three consecutive French rallycross titles from 1991 to 1993 and won the Division 2 European Championship in 1993 piloting a Turbo 4x4 BX prototype unrelated to the 4TC.
The rally tenure of the BX 4TC was short-lived and largely unsuccessful due to inherent design limitations and the premature discontinuation of Group B racing shortly after its debut. Despite high hopes rooted in Citroën's historic rally achievements with the DS model, the 4TC failed to forge a significant competitive reputation.
Production version
Homologation for Group B mandated producing 200 road-legal "customer" vehicles; however, only 86 units—also constructed by Heuliez—were sold, with unsold examples subsequently destroyed by Citroën. The powertrain consists of a 2142 cc N9TE 16-valve inline-four engine equipped with Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection and a compression ratio of 7:1, delivering power at 5,250 rpm. It features a cast-iron engine block, aluminum cylinder head, chain-driven overhead camshaft, and is turbocharged via a Garrett unit paired with an air-to-air intercooler. This engine was widely utilized in models such as the Peugeot 505 Turbo, recognized for its durability and tuning potential, originally developed by Simca for Chrysler vehicles. The same 2.2-litre engine also appeared in Talbot Tagora and Matra Murena models. Power is transmitted through a five-speed manual transmission.
The limited commercial success was influenced by poor rally results and modest sports car performance, partly attributed to its substantial weight. Nonetheless, its rarity, distinctive Citroën hydropneumatic suspension system, unmistakable styling derived from the BX, and motorsport background have enhanced its desirability over time. Presently, the BX 4TC is considered a valuable collector’s piece, with rare specimens commanding prices in the tens of thousands of euros.
Official manufacturer specifications state a maximum velocity of 220 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds. Independent testing by Sport Auto recorded a top speed of 211 km/h and a sprint time of 9.1 seconds from zero to 100 km/h.