Citroen introduced the Xsara in 1997 and, in the following year, it offered the Coupe version, which showed a two-door style in a hatchback bodywork.
Citroen designers were not satisfied with a two-door version of an Xsara. They worked harder to create a coupe-looking hatchback and then push the marketing department to approve it for production. In the end, in 1998, the French carmaker unveiled the car, and the sales jumped up immediately. Moreover, the car’s presence in the World Rally Championship increased the company image. It even won two WRC events in 1999, even though it was only two-wheel-drive and not all-wheel-drive like the WRCars.

Even though it shared the same name as the five-door Xsara, it didn’t share too many body panels with that. Apart from the same platform and the similar front fascia, it was a different car. It was even available with specific engines in the VTS version. Its raked windshield and the hunchback greenhouse looked different. In the rear, the Xsara Coupe featured a tailgate in a Kamm-back design.

Inside, the carmaker offered the coupe with different styles and options. From the base, cloth-upholstered interior to the full-option version fitted with Alcantara, Citroen didn’t cut corners and let the customers decide what they wanted for their budget. Unlike other coupes on the market, there was good interior room for four adults. Two people could sit in the back on the 60/40 split-folding bench.

Under the hood, Citroen offered the Xsara a choice of gasoline and turbo-diesel version that covered most of the customers’ needs for a compact-sized coupe.