The Chevrolet Citation is a range of compact cars maufactured and marketed by Chevrolet for model years 1980-1985. The first front-wheel drive Chevrolet, the Citation replaced the Chevrolet Nova as the automaker downsized its compact cars. Initially positioned between the Chevrolet Monza and the Chevrolet Malibu in the Chevrolet product line, the model line was later marketed between the Chevrolet Cavalier and the Chevrolet Celebrity.
The Citation used the GM X platform architecture used for its compact car range. For 1980, the X bodies were resized to match the previous downsizing of GM full-size and mid-size cars, along with transitioning to front-wheel drive. Sharing a common chassis architecture with the redesigned Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Omega, and Pontiac Phoenix, the Citation was offered three body styles, including three-door and five-door hatchback coupes (the latter, shared with the Phoenix). While all four model lines received a two-door notchback coupe, the Citation was styled with a model-exclusive roofline.
Development
To better compete in the compact segment following the 1973 fuel crisis, General Motors commenced work in April 1974 on a replacement for its X-body compact lines, a model family that included the Chevrolet Nova and its divisional counterparts. As the 1970s progressed, the popularity of import-brand vehicles (such as the Honda Accord and the Volkswagen Rabbit) led to declining market share held by American manufacturers in the compact segment. Though downsizing of the full-size B and C-body platforms and the A-body mid-size lines was crucial to the future of the company, the two redesigns placed GM model hierarchy out of alignment; though officially a compact, the X-body Nova became dimensionally larger than the Malibu (a year after becoming closer in size to the Caprice than the Chevette).
To realign the X-body platform in size between the A-body and the H-body subcompacts, GM commenced a redesign of its compact lines in 1974. Intended for a 1978 introduction, the Condor was to be introduced as the replacement for the outgoing Nova.
1980
left|thumb|1980 Citation 5-door
left|thumb|1980 Citation 3-door
The 1980 Chevrolet Citation was released in three body styles, including a two-door coupe and three-door and five-door hatchbacks (the first two designs were offered only for the Citation and not shared with any other X-body car). Alongside the standard trim, a sporty X-11 version was produced. At $4,800, the base price of the Citation was more expensive than a fully equipped 1979 Nova.
Though closer in size to the Honda Accord than the Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon, the three-door and five-door hatchbacks proved popular, accounting for nearly 85% of sales. The high demand for the model line, coinciding with a second fuel crisis, left GM with significant shortages of the standard 2.5L engine, with some customers waiting several months to receive their vehicles. Before the release of the model line, Chevrolet had anticipated 70% of Citation customers would purchase the optional 2.8L V6, leading its production lines backlogged under the high demand for the inline-4 engine.
Coinciding with its early-spring launch and the timing of its release (a fuel-efficient design during a fuel shortage), the 1980 Citation became one of the most successful product launches in General Motors history; over 810,000 examples were sold, with the Citation becoming the best-selling car in the United States for 1980. The two-door coupe was dropped from the model line, with all Citations produced as hatchbacks. The X-11 (see below) saw several performance upgrades, including the addition of a 135hp "high-output" 2.8L V6.).
1983
For 1983, Chevrolet concentrated its revisions on the interior, with a nearly unchanged exterior. To provide less competition for the larger Celebrity and bring the Citation in line with its import-brand competitors, the full-width bench seat was deleted, with all versions receiving bucket seats in their place. In addition, the dashboard underwent minor updates. the Citation II was only nominally changed from 1983 (distinguished by decklid badging revisions). The two-door coupe was carried over, along with both hatchbacks; the X-11 made its return.
For the first time in its production, the model line gained sales over the previous year;), citing poor build quality and mechanical reliability undeserving of such an award in hindsight. Like the other X-body cars, there were numerous reports of the Citation locking the rear wheels upon braking, causing loss of control and a crash.
Hagerty, an insurance company specializing in classic cars, notes that the X-car was "GM's prime contender for one of the malaziest cars" of the Malaise era, a car that did "enormous damage to GM's reputation, putting together a most unenviable record for recalls and poor quality control."
Safety recalls
Through its production, as one of the front-wheel drive X-body vehicles, the Citation would undergo a number of manufacturer recalls. In 1980, 225,000 examples were recalled to fix a transmission hose related to underhood fires.
!
!Coupe
!3 door hatch
!5 door hatch
!Yearly total
|-
|1980
|143,249
|210,258
|458,033
|811,540
|-
|1981
| —
|113,983
|299,396
|413,379
|-
|1982
|9,102
|29,613
|126,932
|165,647
|-
|1983
|6,456
|14,323
|71,405
|92,184
|-
|1984
|4,936
|8,783
|83,486
|97,205
|-
|1985
| —
|7,443
|55,279
|62,722
|-
!Total
!163,743
!384,403
!1,094,531
!<u>1,642,677</u>
|}