General Motors X platform (FWD)

GM X platform (FWD)
Overview
Manufacturer	General Motors
Also called	X-body
Production	1979–1985
Body and chassis
Class	Compact
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive
Body style(s)	2-door notchback coupé 3-door hatchback 4-door notchback sedan 5-door hatchback
Vehicles	Chevrolet Citation Oldsmobile Omega Pontiac Phoenix Buick Skylark
Related	GM A platform (FWD)
Powertrain
Engine(s)	2.5 L Iron Duke I4 2.8 L 60° V6
Transmission(s)	3-speed TH 125 automatic 4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	104.9 in (2,664 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor	GM X platform (RWD)
Successor	GM N platform GM L platform

The General Motors front-wheel drive X platform was used for compact cars from the 1980 through 1985 model years, superseding the earlier, similarly designated, rear-drive platform.

After front-wheel drive cars had become somewhat common in the North American market, first through foreign imports, and then by American-badged but wholly or partially foreign-developed cars (e.g., the Ford Fiesta and Dodge Omni), GM's X-bodies were the first American-developed front-wheel drive cars introduced for the high-volume, mainstream market. GM would subsequently migrate most of its mainstream platforms to front-wheel drive as well.

Where numerous earlier American front-wheel drive cars were aimed at the luxury market and manufactured in relatively small numbers, the GM X bodies offered an alternative to high volume imported front-wheel drive compacts — and initially met considerable sales success.

Ultimately, the X-bodies — which included the 1980–1985 Chevrolet Citation, 1980–1984 Oldsmobile Omega, 1980–1984 Pontiac Phoenix and 1980–1985 Buick Skylark — became synonymous with their design defects, and GM's mishandled response.^[1]

The X platform was the basis for the intermediate FWD GM A-body that proved much more successful. The X platform was superseded by the L-body and N-body platforms, which were derived from the J-body platform.