CITROEN is aiming to breathe new life into Xantia fleet sales by making air conditioning standard in all but three models. Exceptions to the move are the entry level 1.9D hatchback and 1.9TD estate and hatchback.

Previously a £1,225 option, Xantia buyers can now choose either air conditioning or an electric sunroof at no extra cost and for those who want both, the electric tilt/slide sunroof becomes a £545 option. Citroen's decision follows that of its sister PSA company Peugeot, which added air conditioning as a standard feature to the 405 model range during its run-out phase and has retained the feature on the new 406.

Citroen hopes the addition of air conditioning will boost Xantia fleet sales, which after three years on sale, dropped 7.1% last year to 16,171 units but are recovering this year. In the first quarter of 1996 year-on-year sales are up 17.1% at 1,835 units. More than 70% of Xantia sales are to fleets. Meanwhile, Citroen has added a passenger airbag as standard to all Xantia VSX and Activa models whilst, additionally, metallic paint becomes a no cost option on those models. Together those options would cost £465.

At the same time Xantia prices have increased by 0.87% - approximately £160 a car - whilst XM prices increase by 1.5%. Entry model Xantia 1.9D, 1.9TD and 1.9TD estate models are excluded from the rise.