LNA
LNA
Introduction July 1976 - LN

After the Peugeot takeover in 1974, this was the first new Citroën. In fact it was not a new Citroën, but a restyled Peugeot 104, just as the Talbot Samba was. Grille, head and rear lights and dashboard were slightly changed. Citroën purists were horrified when the LN was displayed at the Paris Motor Show. This was not the car in line with the Citroën tradition of making odd, technically challenging cars, not a decent successor to the Ami8. A real Citroën 'detail' was the fitting of the Dyane/Ami 602 cc 2-cylinder engine in the LN. Some other parts were also from Citroën: some switches came from the 2cv, the interior light (!) from AK250/400, wheels from the Visa, head light rims from Dyane/Mehari, gear box of the GS. A real Citroën?

October 1978 - LNA

Belle Helène became Elena end 1978. A new engine was fitted, the 652 cc 2-cylinder. It was an evolution of the 602 cc engine. The principal differences are that its capacity has been increased to 652cc and that it now has an electronic ignition system, controlled by a computer.

LNA July 1982 - Restyling, new engines

In 1982 the LNA underwent a restyle: other head and rear lights, new badge, plastic bumpers. And the LNA was now also fitted with the Peugeot 954 and 1124 cc engine (like the original Peugeot 104).

LNA 1977 The LNA remained in production until 1986. Strange enough, the direct rival of the LNA was the Visa, both equally priced. The ensueing of the LNA, Visa, BX and AX brought Citroën into the hands of a much wider audience, and these cars ensured the (financial) situation of Citroen. But the future of Citroën did not look bright until the nineties. The policy and priorities Peugeot had in mind with Citroen were very obscure. Was Citroen to disappear like Talbot? Or was Citroen the odd leg of the PSA concern, creating peculiar cars?

The LNA was very popular though in France and in Italy. From 1976-1979 129,611 LN's were built. From 1978-1986 223,772 LNA's were built.