The Citroen SM was introduced 50 years ago
today and DS is marking the occasion by trying to determine what a modern-day
SM would look like. As part of the effort, the company tapped six designers
from the DS Design Studio in Paris to imagine what an SM would look like in
2020.
The first two proposals are from Romain
Saquet and Geoffrey Rossillion, and they’re different takes on the same idea.
Rossillion’s SM is more traditional as it features an angled front fascia which
pays tribute to the original model. The car also has a long hood, a rakish
windscreen and a compact greenhouse.
Saquet’s car, on the other hand, is far
more futuristic as it features angular surfaces and partially enclosed rear
wheels. The latter are, of course, a nod to the original. The two designs are
being pitted against one another and DS is asking fans to vote on their
favorite proposal on social media. Four additional proposals will be presented
in the coming days and the selection for the winning design will begin on March
16th. As an added bonus, voters will have a chance to win a lithograph signed
by its designer.
While DS is only a few years old, the
automaker said the SM is “symbolic of great French coachbuilding” and “remains
a jewel of the car industry.” The company went on to say the SM, like the 1955
DS, continues to influence their designs to this day. vAs for the original SM,
the model was the result of Citroen’s ownership of Maserati. This meant the car
combined French styling with an Italian V6 engine. Unfortunately, the car was
short-lived as Citroën went bankrupt and was taken over by Peugeot who then
ditched Maserati.
