When Carl Lewis Became a Monk Because of Citroën
- Published on 31/07/2024 10:31
- Modified on 24/09/2025 21:08
How did the American champion find himself exiled in a monastery in 1995? Because of the Citroën Xantia Active!
Launched on March 4, 1993, the Citroën Xantia was produced in over 1,300,000 units between 1993 and 2002 in Europe. It even continued its career until 2010 in Iran. This certainly earned it a prominent place in the list of iconic models with the double chevron. Succeeding the divisive BX of the 80s, it showcased a unique style that would ultimately be echoed only in the XM before a radical aesthetic shift with the ZX. It was even named the most beautiful car of the year 1993.
Its high-end versions were equipped with the “Hydractive II” hydropneumatic system that reduced roll and improved road handling. In 1994, the Activa version was introduced, which featured the Hydractive II assisted by two actuators that prevented roll from exceeding 0.5°. Equipped in this manner, the Xantia could corner perfectly flat, an engineering dream seen only in F1 with the famous active suspensions. A technology that would even require the development of specific tires by Michelin. Unfortunately, this technology was too early, too expensive, and too unreliable to have a future.
King Carl trapped by Citroën
Such technology was certainly a boon for advertisers of the time. A legendary advertisement in 1995 featured Carl Lewis. In this more short film than commercial, the athlete found himself forced to join the clergy and become a monk, complete with a tonsure, due to a lost bet. For him, it was impossible for a car to corner flat, yet that was the case with the Xantia.
A wonderful piece of quirky humor that seems today impossible to replicate, as athletes are now so mindful of their image, armed with a slew of communicators who are as strict as they are sterile. We are talking about an athlete who won ten Olympic medals, nine of them gold! When we say that the 1990s were among the most creative years in history, do you believe us?
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This page is translated from the original post "Quand Carl Lewis devenait moine à cause de Citroën" in French.
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