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| Oltcit Club | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Oltcit (1981–1991) Oltena (1991–1994) Rodae (1994–1996) |
| Also called | Citroën Axel (1984–1988) Oltcit Special Oltcit Axel Oltena Club (1991–1994) Rodae Club (1994–1996) |
| Production | 1981–1996 |
| Assembly | Romania:Craiova |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Supermini (B) |
| Body style | 3-doorhatchback 2-doorpick-up |
| Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel-drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 652 ccair-cooledflat-2 1129 cc air-cooledflat-4 1299 cc air-cooled flat-4 |
| Transmission | 4 / 5-speedmanual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,370 mm (93.3 in) |
| Length | 3,732 mm (146.9 in) |
| Width | 1,538 mm (60.6 in) |
| Height | 1,430 mm (56.3 in) |
| Curb weight | 835–875 kg (1,841–1,929 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Citroën Dyane (Citroën Axel) |
| Successor | Citroën AX (Citroën Axel) |
TheOltcit Club is asupermini produced between 1981 and 1991 and developed in co-operation byCitroën ofFrance andOltcit, ajoint venture company with theRomanian government.
They were powered by the air-cooled engines from theCitroën GS/GSA; the air-cooled flat-twin engine from the Citroën Visa used in the Romanian-market Oltcit Special was not installed in the export-only Citroën Axel.
From 1965Robert Opron worked on the Citroën G-mini prototype and project EN101, a projected replacement for the2CV using that car's flat twin engine. It was supposed to be launched in 1970. The advanced space-efficient designs, with very compact exterior dimensions and an aerodynamic drag co-efficient Cd of 0.32, were axed because of adverse feedback from potential clients.[1] The more conservative final design has a Cd of 0.36 (for the Axel 12 TRS, 0.37 for the Axel 11).[2]
The early seventiesCitroën Prototype Y, intended to replace the 2CV-basedCitroën Ami which dated back to 1960, was originally developed in co-operation withFiat. It built on the lessons from the Citroën G-mini and EN101 projects. It used the then new and advancedFiat 127 platform, featuring a transversely mounted engine driving the front wheels, with an end-on gearbox layout that Fiat had pioneered in the 1960s. When cooperation with Fiat ended, a new Citroën-designed platform was planned. After the takeover of Citroën byPeugeot in the wake of the 1974 oil crisis, the renamed "Projet VD (Voiture Diminuée)" became theCitroën Visa, incorporating the floor pan of thePeugeot 104 and using the advanced 104 engine with the (under-engine) transmission and chassis.[3] It was the first new model under the platform-sharing policy ofPSA Peugeot Citroën that continues today. The earlierCitroën LN was no more than a facelift of the Peugeot 104Z "Shortcut" with a re-engine and transmission from theCitroën Dyane.
Eventually, in 1981, the original Citroën platform design from "Project Y" emerged as an Oltcit in Romania, using a Citroën Visa flat-twin engine andCitroën GS-based gearbox, and Citroën GS flat-four engine and gearbox. Beginning in July 1984, it was also sold in Western Europe as the Citroën Axel.[2] Citroën was hoping to recoup money that Citroën had invested in Romania that the communist government couldn't repay. The Axel had been scheduled for an earlier introduction, but Oltcit had been unable to provide either the quality or the quantity expected by their French partners. This project was problematic for Citroën due to productivity and build quality issues and 60,184 cars were made, even though the base models were priced below the 2CV in Western Europe. The Axel was never sold in the UK.
When launched in France, Citroën acknowledged that the Axel was a competitor of their Visa. However, that the Axel only had three doors and was of a simpler, more robust design was considered enough to offset any possible loss of (already shrinking) Visa sales.[4] The four-cylinder Axel 11 was 10 percent cheaper than a two-cylinder Visa in the French market. It also had a particularly low rear loading height, which, with its sturdy, basic construction, contributed to being particularly well received by farmers and denizens of smaller towns.[4]
In addition to the regular Axel, there was also a light commercial version with no rear seats available, called the "Axel Entreprise."[5]
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The Oltcit Club carried on with the Prototype Y-derived design and was sold between 1981 and 1995. It was also sold inWestern Europe, often badged as theCitroën Axel.
In 1991, as a result of the withdrawal of Citroën from the joint venture, the name of the manufacturing company was changed toAutomobile Craiova and production continued under theOltena brand.
After 1994, it was sold under theRodae brand, when the company decided to go into partnership with Korean companyDaewoo Heavy Industries (laterDaewoo Motors).
TheOltcit Club 12 CS is a small pick-up based on theOltcit Club. It was launched in 1993 with a 1299 cc engine and a 5-speed gearbox with ratios that favor power. This model also has thicker rear torsion bars to withstand a greater load.[6]
| Name | Capacity (cc) | Type | Power | Torque | Top speed | Consumption (liters/100 km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VO36/630 | 652 | air cooled flat twin, OHV | 34 PS (25 kW; 34 hp) at 5250 rpm | 49 N⋅m (36 lb⋅ft) at 3500 rpm | 121.2 km/h (75.3 mph) | 6.8 litres per 100 kilometres (42 mpg‑imp; 35 mpg‑US) |
| G11/631 | 1129 | air cooled flat 4, SOHC | 57.4 PS (42 kW; 57 hp) at 6250 rpm | 79 N⋅m (58 lb⋅ft) at 3500 rpm | 149.4 km/h (92.8 mph) | 8.1 litres per 100 kilometres (35 mpg‑imp; 29 mpg‑US) |
| T13/653 | 1299 | air cooled flat 4, SOHC | 61.5 PS (45 kW; 61 hp) at 5500 rpm | 96 N⋅m (71 lb⋅ft) at 3250 rpm | 157 km/h (98 mph) | 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres (39 mpg‑imp; 32 mpg‑US) |
A marque ofStellantis | ||||||||
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