Italians are all the time fabled for his or her aptitude in design, however the French know how one can pen a sexy-looking automobile simply as nicely. Simply consider producers like Delahaye, Alpine, Bugatti, Peugeot and Renault, who all made their mark on automobile design sooner or later throughout their existence. Some of the prolific automobile producers from France although, recognized for its typically quirky however very interesting designs, is Citroën. The model legacy consists of icons such because the Traction Avant, the 2CV and Mehari, the HY (a private favorite!) and naturally the DS. Nevertheless, one of the evocative automobiles ever made by the French agency, and made in collaboration with Maserati, must be the SM. Now, roughly half a century after the unique, the SM has made a comeback below the premium DS Vehicles model, within the type of the totally attractive DS SM Tribute idea automobile.
Sa Majesté, Her Majesty
The Citroën SM was constructed between 1970 and 1975, following a complete vary of idea and developmental autos. The Mission S program, which might finally result in the putting grand touring coupé, began method again in 1961 and was meant as a sooner and sportier two-door model of the DS. In 1968, following Citroën taking a majority stake within the Italian producer that very same yr, Maserati received concerned within the challenge. The French agency thought it was a good suggestion to make use of Maserati’s high-performance expertise to carry the SM into manufacturing with a becoming engine and drivetrain. With it, it was to be a rival to GTs by Jaguar, Ferrari, Porsche and the like.
The title, or moderately the that means of the SM abbreviation SM, stays a little bit of a thriller. Some say it stands for Systeme Maserati, Sports activities Maserati or Serié Maserati. Others declare it means Sa Majesté, or Her Majesty, which might make sense because the Citroën DS earlier than it was affectionately generally known as La Déesse, or The Goddess. I for one, really feel Sa Majesté, Her Majesty is an ideal approach to describe the distinctive magnificence of the SM.
On the time of its improvement and manufacturing, France was below strict laws when it got here to luxurious automobiles. Following the Second World Battle, the French authorities launched one thing known as “Puissance Fiscale”, actually translating to “fiscal energy”, a type of taxes primarily based on the horsepower of a automobile. The extra energy the engine made, the upper the tax charge was. The Citroën Sm was one of many few post-war automobiles that was aimed squarely on the luxurious automobile section however did endure the results of this taxation system by way of engine capability. A 2.7 litre V6 engine, constructed by Maserati, put out 170bhp. By 1973 the engine dimension elevated to three.0 litres, and the output raised to 180 horsepower. When launched, the SM was the quickest front-wheel drive automobile on the highway, with a high pace of 220kph.
Regardless of this Italian-French pas-de-deux, the design may be very a lot Citroën and one of many causes the SM is a little bit of a hate-it-or-love-it form of automobile. The low-slung physique was designed by Robert Opron, Citroën’s chief designer on the time. Essentially the most putting options are the glass-covered swivel headlights seamlessly built-in into the nostril of the automobile, the coated rear wheel arches, the well-known hydropneumatic suspension and the Kamm tail. With a manufacturing spanning 5 years and slightly below 13,000 items, the SM was not the success Citroën nor Maserati hoped it could be or wanted. In reality, the spiralling price of the SM’s improvement and manufacturing closely contributed to Citroën’s chapter in 1974, after which it merged with Peugeot to kind the PSA concern in 1976.
DS SM Tribute
Quick ahead to 2024 and Citroën now a part of the expansive Stellantis Group (which incorporates Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, Dodge, Maserati, Opel/Vauxhall and fairly just a few others), it’s apparently time for the SM to make a comeback. Kind of at the least, because it’s very a lot a Tribute to the unique with out plans for manufacturing for now. The idea automobile hints at Citroën’s and DS’ design language for the approaching years. Closely impressed by the unique, this new SM Tribute is labelled below the badge of DS Vehicles, Citroën’s offspring premium model, partly celebrating the tenth anniversary of DS’ Parisian design studio.
In the event you have a look at the side-by-side between the Nineteen Seventies unique and the 2024 tribute automobile, the resemblance is dead-obvious. The nostril of the DS SM Tribute options sharply penned diamond-tipped headlight clusters built-in into the glass-covered grill part. The unique SM had headlights that moved along side the steering angle, beaming mild into the nook for higher visibility. Sadly, DS Vehicles doesn’t point out if this DS SM Tribute has an analogous system, however the tech may be very a lot out there so it ought to in my view.
Shifting down the aspect, the resemblance continues with that low-slung stance. The 2-tone paint helps to emphasise that attribute ‘SM’ look down the size of the physique. It lacks any sort of door handles and solely comes with minute aspect mirrors (almost certainly cameras linked to screens within the inside) for a clean-as-can profile. Even the rear wheel cowl is there, albeit with a further cutout displaying the highest of the tyre. That is additionally the place the tail lights begin, which comply with a crease within the rear quarter panel and proceed into the rear part. Even the cut-off Kamm-style tail has been stored, though with a extra up to date type. Actually, the largest change may simply be the 22-inch wheels, whereas the unique SM rode on 15-inch metal wheels with covers.
On the within, the retro-inspired feast continues, though no official photographs are launched (solely sketches and renderings). The inside options comparable bucket seats completed with particular person ‘rolls’ from high to backside. The steering wheel, with a single spoke within the unique SM, has been changed by a yoke-like system with a central display screen. And simply as the unique, it’s a correct four-seater so there’s room within the again for 2 individuals, though they may need to hunch down a little bit. For the remaining, it’s modernity throughout, with a number of touch-sensitive screens and controls. The waterfall-like centre console reveals the controls for the parking brake and transmission, neatly flowing into the armrest that runs from the entrance of the cabin to the rear.
There’s no phrase on the engine for the DS SM Tribute, however I hope it will likely be one thing within the spirit of the unique drivetrain. It might be unhappy to see such a tremendous automobile glide together with simply the thrill of a battery pack and electrical motors. Though it could befit the ultra-smooth journey of the SM, due to its revolutionary hydropneumatic suspension system, I really feel the DS SM Tribute is deserving of a bit of contemporary but good-old engine noise. Vehicles like this are about emotion in any case, and what’s higher than getting your backbone tingled by the sound and vibrations of a potent V6?
For extra info, please go to Stellantis.com.
Editorial Word: The photographs portrayed on this article are sourced from and used with permission of the Stellantis Group until acknowledged in any other case.
