|
|
Since 1st July 1982, Citroën has been offering for sale
in France (later in the other countries) a new version
of the Visa, the
Visa GT, fitted with a 4-cylinder 80 HP engine and a
5-speed gearbox.
MORE AND BETTER
The Visa GT is more than a substitute for the Visa ll
Super X: it can
reasonably be placed in the class above as far as
performance and
driveability are concerned. It is fast and responsive,
with a definite
sporty character, and is more highly specified in
keeping with its new
image.
Moreover, it is characterised by the fact that it
consumes less petrol than the Visa ll Super X. One could
describe the
Visa GT as “a civilised sports saloon” compared with the
Visa Chrono
(“butchsports saloon”) (Double Chevron no. 67) and the
Visa Trophée
(“professional sports saloon") (Double Chevron no 66).
PLEASURE TO DRIVE
With its 80 HP 5,800 r.p.m. (25 per cent more than the
Super X) and 79
1b ft of torque at 2,800 r.p.m., the 1,360 cc engine of
the Visa GT
produces impressive performance (0- 1,000 metres in 33.1
sec.; 0-62
m.p.h. in 10.9 sec.; maximum speed 104 m.p.h. against
35.8 sec.; 13.6
sec. and 96 m.p.h. for the Super X), whilst using less
fuel (50.4
m.p.g. at 56 m.p.h. and_38.2 m.p.g. at 75 m.p.h. against
46.3 m.p.g.
and 36.2 m.p.g. for the 5-speed Super X).
|
|
|
LIVELY FEEL
These characteristics give the Visa GT a lively feel,
agility both in
town and on the open road, and great flexibility at low
speeds (maximum
torque achieved at 2,800 r.p.m.) which makes it a real
pleasure to
drive.
OUTSIDE
The external appearance emphasises the up to date and
sporty character of the car (Front air dam, rear
spoiler, alloy wheels).
The air dam and spoiler mean that a CdS figure of 0,648
can be achieved which is 4% better than the standard
Visa.
INSIDE
The interior has also been treated in a careful and
practical way
(re-designed front seats, a split rear seat which is
both folding and
removable, and carpeted floor, door trims and boot).
Either light-hearted or serious at the whim of the
driver, the Visa GT
responds to the tastes and requirements of the customer
who wants a
comfortable and practical car, but who appreciates a
modern, fast and
responsive small car.
|
|
|
ANALYSIS OF A RANGE
Since the presentation of a “restyled” Visa II in March
1981, the
output of the Visa has grown from 117,451 units in 1980
up to 178,961
in 1981.
This rising production stems from the increasing orders
of the 4-cylinder engined Visa (which also entailed
10,000 2-cylinder
engined Visa more sold)- from 35,070 units in 1980 (less
than 30% of
the overall output of the Visa) it climbed up to 86,090
units in 1981
(around 50% of the overall output).
Of these models, the proportion with 1,124 cc engines
(L
and Super E) is substantial: 72,542 vehicles in 1981,
say 85% (more
than 40% of the overall output of the Visa) against
13,548 Visa Super X
with 1,219 cc engines. The launch of the Visa ll Super E
with reduced
fuel consumption contributed to a sales improvement: 45%
of the overall
Visa output, 90% of the 4-cylinders Visa, for the first
four months of
1982.
These results offer a clear conclusion: if an effort
has
to be made to enlarge the number of Visa's customers,
one has to
concentrate on the weak part of the range: the sector of
the Super X.
OBJECTIVE: CONQUEST
The Visa GT has been built as a result of Citroën’s wish
to expand the
Visa range customer profile. The objective is to
increase the number of
Visa customers through the conquest of other makes (the
performance
figures compare more than favourably with its rivals).
It is
anticipated that the rate at which the GT penetrates the
market will be
superior to that of the Visa II Super X, which means
that more than 60%
of its sales should be from outside the established
Citroën clientele.
|
|
|
QUALITY - QUANTITY
However, the objective is also to make a qualitative
adjustment to the
customer’s profile, by reducing its average age. It is
expected that at
least 60% of Visa GT buyers will be less than 40 years
old (compared to
56% for the Super X).
The Visa GT has been built to attract new buyers; young
(between 25 and 35) householders, employed in middle
management and
mainly living in big towns.
EXTERIOR FEATURES
The body is distinguishable from those of the other Visa
models, by its embellishments.
Two coachlines (dark grey or silver depending on the
interior colour scheme) follow the centre line of the
body. A grey
grille, black washer jets and radio aerial and with a
“GT” monogram on
the bonnet, rear quarters and hatchback complete the
effect.
INTERIOR SPECIFICATIONS
New split rear seats, more bucket-shaped, folding and
removable, give a
wider combination of usable space: use as a bed, for
example, or for
carrying a pram, etc… New front seats, better shaped and
more
bucket-shaped. Seats covers and door covers in grey
Shetland cloth.
Dashboard in matching grey, steering-wheel with the “GT”
monogram.
STANDARD EQUIPMENT AND OPTIONAL EXTRAS
The standard equipment of the Visa GT includes features
that are sold as optional extras on the other Visas:
Two optional extras are offered with the Visa GT:
The Visa GT is available in 3 colours:
-
Gris perle with dark grey stripes,
-
Black with silver stripes,
-
Rouge Vallelunga with silver stripes.
|
|
|
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION
The 1,360 cc 4 cylinder-engine is installed transversely
and inclined 72 degrees rearwards.
The block is made of light alloy with separate liners.
Five bearing crankshaft.
Forged steel connecting rods. Light alloy cylinder head
with hemispherical combustion chambers. Chain driven
overhead camshaft.
Carburation through mechanical pump. Two vertical
single
choke carburettors. Manual choke-dry. Air filter.
Transistorised
ignition with a diagnostic harness.
This engine reaches the maximum power of the Visa Super
X at 4,200 rpm (instead of 6,000 rpm).
The Visa GT has front wheel drive. Drive shafts with
constant velocity tri-axial joints at the gearbox and
Rzeppa type
joints at the wheels.
Clutch: dry single plate diaphragm and mechanical
operation by cable.
Five speed all synchromesh gearbox is integral with the
engine and sharing the same lubrication.
BRAKES
Dual circuit servo assisted brakes operating from a
tandem master cylinder.
Front: disc in the wheels; floating caliper; single
piston with automatic adjustment.
Wear warning device.
Rear: drums with floating shoes and automatic
adjustment. Load compensator to avoid rear wheels
locking. Hand brake
working on rear wheels.
SUSPENSION
The 4 wheel independent suspension has been specially
adapted for performance.
At the front, the coil spring has been shortened by
0.2inches compared with the Super X; integrated
telescopic dampers (Mac
Pherson type) with 23 mm anti-roll bars
At the rear (trailing arms suspension), the coil spring
has been shortened by 0.9 inch; concentric telescopic
dampers and
anti-roll bar diameter 17 mm (Visa Super X:16 mm).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
