- DS reveals SM Tribute concept car
- It’s a reinvention of the Citroen SM from the 1970s
- Features half-faired rear wheels, just like the original
- Signposts DS design language of the future
The iconic Citroen SM has been reimagined for the modern era thanks to a stunning new concept from DS Automobiles.
Citroen and DS are inextricably linked, with DS once being a sub-brand of Citroen before becoming its own independent entity a decade ago. Both Citroen and DS are also owned by mega manufacturing company Stellantis.
And here DS has turned its attention to a style icon from the 1970s in the form of the Citroen SM.
In case you need a recap, the SM was billed as a sporty variant of the curvaceous Citroen DS and packed a 2.7-litre V6 engine as well as fancy hydro-pneumatic self-levelling suspension.
The SM also featured prominently in Seventies telly series The Protectors, sharing the limelight with a Jensen Interceptor driven by actor Robert Vaughn.
With such a legacy you can understand the car’s lasting appeal.
Fast forward five decades and DS has reinterpreted the SM as part of a rejig of its design language. It’s unlikely this ‘SM Tribute’ will ever make it into full production, but it does showcase DS cars of the future.
Thierry Metroz, DS Automobiles Design Director, explains: “We are working on the genes of our iconic models to fuel our research into the shape of future models that will come along at the end of the decade.”
The distinct silhouette of the old Citroen SM is present here with this SM Tribute, with a floaty rear-end and partially faired wheels.
The original SM jettisoned a traditional front grill in favour of a large glass section that housed the headlights and number plate. With the SM Tribute, that unique feature has now become a 3D screen with vertical daytime running lights.
The cabin also retains a whiff of the 1970s with oval designs in the dash and upholstery set to kick start a bit of nostalgia.
DS hasn’t revealed what’s powered the SM just yet, though we’d hazard a guess that it’s an EV.
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If you’re looking for a modern DS lease, take a look at the DS 3 E-Tense, a fully-electric hatchback-SUV crossover that features one of the comfiest cabins in the class.
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