The exterior mirrors: a major asset of the Citroën CX

Ah, the exterior mirrors. Those little bits of plastic or metal that no one really looks at, but without which your car would be a real moving public hazard. The Citroën CX, that diva of the 70s and 80s, understood this well, transforming these often-overlooked elements into a true aerodynamic work of art. It's funny how a simple mirror can be worth more in design and reputation than many modern cars packed with useless gadgets. Hold on tight, we're about to talk about a time when people still thought mirrors could be both stylish, functional, and even capable of reducing wind noise – not like some SUVs today that seem to have come out of a giant vacuum cleaner.

The design and aerodynamics at the heart of the exterior mirrors of the restyled Citroën CX

In 1985, the Citroën CX didn’t just refine its interior or trade its chrome for plastic, it also gave its exterior mirrors a visual and technical revival that would make several current manufacturers blush. These mirrors, far from being simple accessories hastily added, blend perfectly with the avant-garde silhouette of the beautiful French car. But the most amusing part? These mirrors are equipped with clever little holes to eliminate aerodynamic whistling, as if Citroën had guessed that some drivers had enough worries without having to endure a concert of whistling worthy of a fugue by a bad recorder.

Between Peugeot, Renault, and even foreign stars like Mercedes-Benz or BMW, few cars have taken as much care in designing their last visual refuges on the sides. The CX mirrors are a bit more than a humble homage: they are a concentrate of function and form, intertwined in a unique design.

A major inspiration for British and French sports cars

It's quite fascinating: these mirrors signed by Citroën have charmed many rivals. The Lotus Esprit S3 in 1987 used them, and not without reason. Aston Martin, another British king of luxury automobiles, also succumbed, adopting these mirrors for its 1988 Virage and its very popular DB7 starting in 1993. One must say that with such a fluid silhouette, the DB7 equipped with CX mirrors could only attract attention, perfectly integrated into its line.

English manufacturers like TVR and Marcos, who didn’t rely on a marketing budget worthy of Audi or Volkswagen, also used these parts abundantly, proving that when a design is good, it crosses borders and automotive social statuses like a rockstar crosses the stage.

An indelible mark even in the Jaguar XJ220 supercar

If we're talking speed, we can't skip the Jaguar XJ220, the fastest supercar of its time flirting with 350 km/h. Surprise: it said yes to the exterior mirrors of the Citroën CX. A beautiful irony when considering that Jaguar was attacking high technology with carbon fiber and biturbo V6 engines, while the inspiration for its mirrors came from a Citroën with a resolutely old-school charm. Here’s a great example that performance doesn’t always rhyme with extravagance; sometimes, it’s simply a taste for the good and the beautiful that makes the difference.

The CX mirrors, a lasting legacy even among rival French manufacturers

In France, the prestige of the CX mirrors has surpassed the circle of just fans of the chevron brand. Renault, a major rival of Citroën, did not hesitate to adopt them for its Spider in 1995 – without too much boasting, of course, they slightly touched up these mirrors to save face. Venturi, with its 400 GT of 1994 – the only French supercar that draws a good hat tip – also equipped itself with these extraordinary mirrors, just like Méga Track in 1988, this mastodon with an improbable line.

These mirrors clearly survived their own car, as the CX was taken off the roads in 1991. They remained a reference until 2003, a nice longevity for a detail that many current manufacturers disdain in favor of digital cameras often as hyped as the last season of an overrated Netflix series.

A quality of design forgotten in the tumult of modernity

When looking at what giants like Toyota, Nissan, Ford, or even Audi and Volkswagen are doing today, one might think that the artisanal charm of these mirrors could really use a comeback. Of course, they all want to move toward electric, connectivity, and other things that end up distracting the driver more than anything else. But at a time when some are looking to eradicate mirrors in favor of dubious digital gadgets, the lesson from the Citroën CX persists: a well-thought-out mirror is not just a vulgar accessory, it’s a true aesthetic and functional asset.

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