An automotive icon - the Citroën CX as a design toy

Arnaud Frappart, who has repeatedly surprised us with new Saab designs, is French. It must be there that he deals with the most interesting of all brands from France.

One of his last designs revolved around the Citroën CX. The is a milestone in French automotive engineering and perfectly suited as a design object. As with the Saab designs, Frappart reduces the design language to a minimum.

Citroën CX by Arnaud Frappart
Citroën CX by Arnaud Frappart

The Citroën CX as a design toy

What comes out is not surprising. It is a CX that the fan perceives as such at first glance. Who does not deal with the brand, but certainly on the second. The first thing that catches the eye is the paneled rear wheel arches.

They stand for the avant-garde brand, at least since the immortal DS. Unfortunately, this tradition came to an end with the Citroën XM, the wheel spats atrophied into a body part that was only slightly implied to be lower. With the C6, the last big Citroën with hydropneumatics, the paneling had completely disappeared.

Short rear end, inwardly curved pane
Short rear end, inwardly curved pane

The wider track of the front wheels, which stands for the front-wheel drive and the recognized good road holding, is also a style-defining feature of the Citroën CX. What shouldn't be missing either is the extra-long bonnet, which contrasts with the short rear end with the trunk lid.

Large flared front wheels. Faired rear wheels.
Large flared front wheels. Faired rear wheels.

The rear window, which curves inwards, is also typical. Frappart takes up all of this, draws a Citroën that couldn't be more typical. As always, he dispenses with the trademark. Nowhere do you discover the double angle, which is also not needed at all.

Reduced forms - but clearly a Citroën CX
Reduced forms - but clearly a Citroën CX

Of course, the color ambience must also be right. Appropriately, he dresses everything in a prominent bright orange. The color that made a splash in the mid-70's and that goes incredibly well with the CX. An XM in orange, you couldn't imagine that.

Would you like to put this Citroën CX on your desk? You want it, and as always, you suffer that this fine design object is not available for purchase. Maybe someone should finally tell Frappart to start producing their design toys.

With graphics by Arnaud Frapart

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Thomas 78
Thomas 78
1 year before

Have now actually through the Saab design culture (https://saabblog.net/category/saab-design-cuture/) read through. Frappard's ideas are so top notch, I don't understand why the designer isn't making more of them.

Volvoab Driver
Volvoab Driver
1 year before

Perhaps someone should finally tell Frappard (...) ...

Yes, please. Frappard is striking. The designs are great. I can't grasp it, but I find his designs for Saab even more captivating, more compelling than these for the CX - why ever?