MatraSport Forum

Skimming through my copy of Motorsport magazine I looked apon a car i'd totally forgotten about, this car was the Citroen BX 4TC EVOLUTION. A group B monster which sadly for Citroen BX was something of a flop... Anyway on reading this there were five prototypes, it states all used variations of Peugeot's X5N2 engine,  one with a 2.5 motor and another stated as a 2.2 turbo engine producing 405BHP. It also later states it was based on a 1970 simca design of iron block, alloy head, a single overhead camshaft and just eight valves. I've heard that the the 205 rally car used a 2.2 murena engine with a complicated special 16 valve head, could it be that this BX a Murena engine? Anyone know anymore about this car/engine?

Hi
The Citroen BX 4TC EVOLUTION used the 505 turbo engine i.e. the N9TE engine which  has roots back to the Simca/ Chrysler 180, Talbot Tagore engine and thereby to the Murena 2.2.
For track race the final development stage of the 505 Turbo the engineering copany Danielson managed to squish 575 HP out of the engine
I have no idea of the expected running hours for that 575 hp Danielson engine, but I guess that it had to be overhauled quit often.

Hans

B X   4 T C,  4 T C   E V O, with N9TE engine
The BX 4TC Evo was Citroën's weapon for the B-group World Rally Championship. The 4TC Evolution was classified with a 4TC (a series of 200 cars). The car was officially launched by Citroen in November 1985 ment for he World Rally Championship season 1986.
The 4TC was far from similar to normal BX's, and the 4TC Evolution was far from similar to the 4TC street version. The last Evo version had a number of radiators in the back and a different turbo (KKK). The first Evolution version had 6 round headlights and this version was only tested before the final version was created. Both types (evo and street version) had the hydropneumatic suspension. Transmission was borrowed from the SM and brakes from the CX.
The nose of the 4TC was a lot longer then the normal BX because a 4 cylinder 2 litre engine had to be rotated by 90 degrees compared with the normal BX-engine.
The 4TC was a fast and very luxurious car. The interior (for 5 passengers) was similar to the yet to be launched BX Sport, including the steering wheel. On the dashboard a few additional gauges (for example engine temperature indicator) were added.
Bonnet, tailgate and all the wings are plastic in both versions. 4TC's have six head lights and 210/55 VR 390 tyres on 150 TR 380 FH alloy wheels. The last Evo versions had only 2 small headlights to permit as much cooling area as possible in front of the car.
Link: Public BX 4TC register of CitSportSite
Two BX-4TC-200 series cars were displayed at the ICCCR - 98 meeting held in Belgium.
Both cars were in very good shape (as new) and completely original. BX-SPORT owner Robbert Bakker toke some very nice pictures of these cars which can be found below.
On these pictures it is clear that the car has a very huge nose and the front and rearbumpers have much in common with those used on the BX SPORT.
One of the cars was noticed by Robbert Bakker during arrival and Robbert mentioned that its sound was incredible.

4TC
N9TE (2141,5cc) with a Garret turbo and Bosch K-Jetronic injection
200 hp/5250 rpm
300 Nm/2750 rpm
1280 kg

BX 4TC-EVO
N9TE (2141,5cc) with a KKK(K26) turbo and Bosch K-Jetronic injection.
380 hp/7000 rpm
460 Nm/5500 rpm

4TC
7.5 s 0-100 km/h
14.3 s 0-400 m
Max speed over 220 km/h

4TC-EVO
5.5 s 0-100 km/h (unofficial)
10.0 s 0-400 m (unofficial)
Max speed 280 km/h (unofficial)

...and this:


BX 4TC
Meet the BX 4 TC - a limited series of 200 is being produced. Impressive features include 4 wheel drive, 4 cylinder turbo-charged engine (200 ch DIN), hydropneumatic suspension, Varipower steering and high pressure ventilated disc brakes all round.
The BX 4 TC has been bred for competition and conforms to the requirements of Group B of the Federation International du Sport Automobile (FISA). It goes from a standing start to 400m in 14.3 seconds and covers a standing km in 27.5 seconds.
From 0 to 100km/h takes 7.5 seconds and the top speed is in excess of 220 km/h.
The BX 4 TC has also been designed as a luxury performance car that will seat five people in comfort - the boot also is spacious.
The Citroen competition department are currently testing "Evolution" versions of the BX 4 TC. Two of these cars will be taking part in the 1986 World Rally Championship, driven by Jean Claude Andruet and Philippe Wambergue.    TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
•   4 cylinder 2141 cc in-line engine light alloy head, cast iron block
•   Chain driven overhead canshaft
•   Bosch K jetronic fuel injection
•   Garrett turbocharger and electric compressor in the inlet manifold
•   Air to air intercooler
•   Compression ratio : 7:1
•   Maximum revs : 6000rpm with fuel supply cut off
•   Maximum HP : 200 DIN at 5250 rpm
•   Citroen SM 5 speed gearbox
•   Front and rear differentials limited to 30% slip
•   Rear drive disengaged by manual control
•   Special dashboard including:
o   speedometer
o   revcounter
o   turbo boost
o   water temperature
o   oil temperature and oil pressure gauges
•   Leather bound steering wheel
•   4 long range driving lamps
•   Electric tinted windows all round
•   Independant hydropneumatic suspension
•   Rack and pinion Vari-power assisted steering
•   Steering ration : 1:14.48
•   Number of turns lock to lock : 2.5
•   Steering wheel diameter : 380 mm
•   Ventilated disc brakes front and rear with high pressure assistance
•   Alloy wheels : 150 TR 380 FH
•   Michelin tyres : 210/55 VR 390 TRX
•   Wheel base : 2612 mm
•   Track front and rear : 1548 mm
•   Length (overall) : 4512 mm
•   Width (overall) : 1830 mm
•   Weight : 1280 kg
•   Fuel tank capacity : 83 litres
   PERFORMANCE
•   Maximum speed : in excess of 220 km/h
•   0 - 400 m : 14.3 secs
•   0 - 1000 m : 27.5 secs
•   0 - 100 km/h : 7.5 secs

... and ever this:

Simon Arron previews a brace of rare cars up for auction (Daily Telegraph) 17/5/05)

1985 Citroën BX 4TC
Price: (estimated) £10,000-£14,000
From: Les Grandes Marques à Monaco - a Bonhams auction (www.bonhams.com - lot 207) In 16-valve trim, the Citroën BX remains one of the world's least celebrated supercars: light, spacious, sharp and very fast. But while it might have been the best BX bar none, it is neither the fastest nor the rarest. That honour falls to the BX 4TC, of which just 200 were built to legitimize Citroën's attempt to become a World Rally Championship force in the mid-1980s.
Its 2.2-litre, four-cylinder engine generated 300bhp, but the chassis was about as nimble as a giraffe on water skis. Bonhams, which is auctioning the car in Monaco on Monday, claims the BX 4TC "had the potential to be competitive, but the banning of Group B supercars at the end of 1986 left insufficient time for development and the car was retired after just one season".

Anybody who was there, however, will tell you a more prosaic truth: It was simply rubbish.

This example was a gift from Citroën to French racing driver Jean-Pierre Beltoise, the last man to score a grand prix victory in a BRM, at Monaco in 1972. Never officially registered, it is part of a well-preserved private collection that Beltoise has decided to sell. It has been fired up on a regular basis in the past 20 years, but has covered only 180km (110 miles).
He might have done rather more if they'd given him a BX 16v.

Recommended: a wide berth; even wider roads;
or buy lot 208  instead: Beltoise's beautifully maintained Citroën 11BL Cabriolet  from 1937, for £27,500-£35,000.

Not recommended: rallying.

And here is a picture of the Big nose BX for thoes of you who have not sen such a beast!
Hans

Yuk! The BX is beautify in its own (very special) way, but this is horrible!

/Anders

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I like it a lot!

GP

Pictures from this years Goodwood Festival of Speed