Citation 3-Door Hatchback
This hatchback combined two side doors with a rear opening that lifted with the glass. A sloping roof and folding rear seat joined passenger-car proportions with flexible luggage access.
Selected generation models, including overseas specifications
Vehicle details
Introduced in 1979 as Chevrolet’s first front-wheel-drive passenger car, Citation changed the packaging of the division’s compact range. This hatchback combined two side doors with a rear opening that lifted with the glass. A sloping roof and folding rear seat joined passenger-car proportions with flexible luggage access. A transverse engine and front-drive powertrain concentrated the mechanical layout at the front, leaving no long driveshaft through the passenger compartment. Rack-and-pinion steering and front disc brakes accompanied a base 2.5-liter OHV four-cylinder. In the 1980 federal-market version, the standard powertrain used a four-speed manual, with a V6 and an automatic also available. Citation represents an important production step in the American compact car’s transition from traditional rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive.
- Production years
- 1979–
- Illustrated model year
- 1980
- Body
- Hatchback
- Powertrain
- Petrol
2.5 L inline-four manual · 1980 US federal (except California)
- Development / body code
- 1XX08
- Powertrain
- Petrol
- Displacement
- 2.5 L (151 cu in)
- Length
- 4488 mm
- Width
- 1736 mm
- Height
- 1348 mm (design)
- Wheelbase
- 2664 mm
- Engine
- LW9 OHV inline-four, two-barrel carburetor, transverse installation
- Maximum power (net)
- 90 hp @ 4000 rpm
- Maximum torque (net)
- 182 Nm @ 2400 rpm
- Transmission
- 4-speed manual
- Drivetrain
- Front-wheel drive
- Seating capacity
- 5
- Compression ratio
- 8.2:1