The term “hot hatch” is often loosely used to describe any sporty version of an economy car, but it is important to note that there are several opposing types of hot hatches.

Two popular camps in the 1980s were turbocharged and normally-aspirated cars. The cars were further divided by their placement on the market: cars like the Golf GTI and the Peugeot 205 GTI were at the top end of the market, while others such as the Fiat Uno Turbo i.e. and the SEAT Ibiza SXi were often billed as more affordable and more basic alternatives.

When Citroën launched the AX Sport in 1987, it was aimed squarely at the bottom end of the market. The car was designed to replace the performance-oriented versions of the Visa, and so that the French automaker could participate in the sub-1,300cc class of racing.

The task of preparing the engine was handed to famed tuner Danielson Engineering, who had previously worked on the BX Sport‘s engine. The starting point for the AX Sport’s mill was a 1,124cc four-cylinder commonly used in the PSA lineup throughout the 1980s, but its displacement was increased to 1,294cc. The head was fitted with bigger intake and exhaust valves, which were opened and closed by a belt-driven overhead camshaft.

Two Solex ADDHE 40 carburetors took care of fuel delivery. Story has it that Citroën initially wanted to use two Webers, but couldn’t get them to clear the AX’s relatively low hood.

Thanks to the modifications carried out by Danielson, the AX Sport was rated at 95 horsepower and 83 lb-ft of torque. It reached 62 miles per hour from a stop in a respectable 9.2 seconds, and went on to a top speed of 115 miles per hour.

The engine was bolted to a five-speed manual transmission which was nearly identical to the one found in the AX 14, but it had a shorter final gear. Power was sent to the front wheels.

The AX Sport was only sold as a three-door hatchback, and all of the first models were finished in white. The car stood out from the rest of the AX lineup thanks to specific fender flares that accommodated a wider track, matching side skirts, and a specific front bumper that integrated fog lights. The bumper was later pulled out of the Citroën parts bin and bolted to the AX Piste Rouge, a limited edition of the AX 4×4.

Like on the BX Sport, the chevrons mounted on the AX Sport’s hood were painted flat black, and “Sport” stickers are affixed to the doors and the hatch.

The AX Sport came standard with 13″ three-lug steel wheels that were much wider than standard AX steelies. They were painted in the same shade of white as the body. Buyers who wanted a less basic look could opt for 13″ four-spoke alloy wheels. Whatever set was chosen, the wheel’s small diameter meant that Citroën had to fit small brake discs, a feature which was often criticized in period road tests.

The car’s interior was spartan at best. The dashboard has no glovebox; instead, it had numerous storage compartments, and a knee-high parcel shelf similar to the found in the Visa. The instrument cluster consisted of a tachometer, a speedometer, a gas gauge, and a temperature gauge, and the choke was still manually-controlled. Seats upholstered in black cloth were standard, as was a track-inspired three-spoke steering wheel.

The lack of standard equipment had a very positive effect: the car tipped the scales at just 1,576 pounds, which made it very agile on the track.

Buyers who wanted a better equipped car could pay extra for what Citroën billed as the “Pack VIP”. It was a bundle of options that included tinted windows, a mirror on the passenger side door, armrests on the door panels, a center console, and a light in the trunk, among other equipment.

Better yet, Citroën offered a wide range of aftermarket accessories for the car, including a pop-up sunroof, and popular Morette-style sealed beam headlights.

In 1988 the entire AX lineup was given its first facelift, and the Sport logically followed suit. Aesthetics aside, one of the most important modifications was that the size of both the standard steelies and the optional four-spoke alloys was increased to 14″. This enabled Citroën to increase the car’s stopping power by fitting bigger discs in the front.

The facelifted AX Sport also came with a rear spoiler, and it could be ordered in red, gray, and black, as well as the white that the old model was finished in.

Under the hood, the most notable modification was that Weber carbs replaced the old model’s Solex units. The engine’s power output stayed about the same.

The interior was given a new dashboard borrowed from the AX GT that featured gauges that were easier to read. The VIP Pack was still an option, and it consisted of roughly the same equipment as before.

When all was said and done, the second-generation AX Sport was almost 45 pounds heavier than the first installment of the car, but it carried a lower base price.

Citroën removed the AX Sport from its lineup in 1991, which means that it didn’t have to bother with fitting the car with a catalytic converter. The Sport was replaced by the fuel-injected AX GTI.

The AX Sport was not the most popular hot hatch in its day, but it had a successful career in motorsports. Over the years it competed in big-name events such as the Monte Carlo Rally, the Tour de Corse, and the Rally of Morocco, among others. A model-specific racing series called the AX Cup was created, giving young pilots the opportunity to enter the racing world on a tight budget.

AX Sports are still widely used today in hill climbs, which makes finding an original and unmodified example a complicated task.

The photo of the AX Sport on two wheels was taken by Ronan Glon for Ran When Parked. All others are courtesy of Citroën’s archives.