1998 Citroen Xsara Coupe VTS Photos, engines & full specs

Citroen introduced the Xsara lineup in 1997 as its new contender in the compact segment, and in the following year, it unveiled the coupe-shaped VTS version that aimed at the hearts of young customers looking for exciting vehicles.

Citroen introduced the Xsara VTS as a sporty-looking hatchback, but unlike other three-door competitors, it featured a shape that resembled a coupe, not a station wagon. Moreover, besides the sporty look, the car was also fitted with a wide choice of engines for every pocket and for every need. Thus, Citroen tried to seize a larger slice of the compact segment. Unfortunately for the French automaker, customers didn't storm showrooms despite the car's great styling.

Unlike the German automakers, who preferred the form-follow-function principle in building cars, Citroen went for the function-follow-form idea when it penned the Xsara Coupe VTS. But still, the automaker had to keep the car on a budget. As a result, some parts of the vehicle were shared with its five-door sibling.

At the front, the narrow, organic-shaped headlights were swept back around the corners and featured clear turn signals. The upper grille, mounted above the bumper, sported a horizontal slat where the brand's logo took center stage. A black, fat, rubber element protected the bumper against small bumps in the parking lot, while the lower apron got an additional air intake flanked by a pair of fog lamps when optioned.

But the car's profile was the one that sparked customers' imagination. The slightly ascending waistline with black trims was extended towards the C-pillars. A sloped-down tailgate ended the car and sported a small spoiler.

Citroen created a user-friendly interior with cloth upholstery. Depending on the trim level and engine version, the Xsara VTS featured a pair of bucket seats or sports seats with high-bolstered areas. The driver fronted an instrument cluster filled with two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer in the middle and the fuel level and water temperature that flanked them.

Citroen created the Xsara lineup at the heights of the bio-design era, so the VTS version carried over those principles. As a result, the interior lines were mostly rounded, with a center stack that continued the instrument panel's visor. It housed the controls for the HVAC system and the stereo. In the back, the automaker installed a narrow bench seat with a split-folding seatback. There, two adult-sized passengers could sit for short trips in and around town.

Under the hood, Citroen installed a choice of diesel and gasoline engines that ranged between 90 PS (89 hp) and 167 PS (165 hp). All versions were paired with a five-speed manual gearbox that sent the power to the front wheels only.

The car's platform was praised for its qualities and road-holding capabilities, being able to tackle tight corners at higher speed than most other compact-sized vehicles on the market.