About CitroenThe reputation of French automaker Citroen might be summed up as "strangely beautiful automotive design meets unconventional technological innovation". It was, in fact, this very innovation that doomed the company in the United States. New bumper regulations in the early 1970s effectively outlawed Citroen's adjustable suspension, which lowered the ride for improved aerodynamics at high speed. U.S. imports would cease entirely by mid-decade.French engineer Andre Citroen started his car-building company in 1919. The firm grew rapidly, becoming the first automotive mass-producer outside of the U.S. In 1934, Citroen introduced the Traction Avant, significant for its monocoque construction, front-wheel drive, and wide-set wheelbase, among other things, but the cost of bringing the car to production nearly bankrupt the company. Following its rescue by tire company Michelin, Andre Citroen died in 1935. The next significant model from Citroen was the shockingly utilitarian 2CV. The humble car, which has the appearance of a boxier and more basic VW... View more Beetle, was designed to be marketed to peasants in the French countryside. A fabric roof covered the top, and the seats were little more than hammocks. For 42 years the 2CV remained in production and saw only minimal updates. The engine grew to 602 cc by 1976, producing a whopping 29 horsepower, and disc brakes were added in 1978, although by that time the car was longer being imported to the U.S. Elsewhere, the cars were still being sold as late as 1990. However, a steady stream of cars were still brought into the U.S. through the gray market, and today you can find many 1980s cars with 1960s VINs. Citroen blew minds again in 1955 with the DS19. The flamboyantly futuristic body style looked like something out of another world, and the car was as technologically ahead of its time as it was stylistically. It was the world's first production car with power front brakes, and the smooth-riding hydraulic suspension was self-leveling. Classic & Sports Car magazine has called it the most beautiful car of all time. In 1970, a sporting variation of the DS was released, called the SM. In need of a high-performance engine, Citroen actually purchased Maserati. The Italian-powered Citroen proved an impossibly smooth and elegant grand tourer and served as Citroen's flagship model. The power steering system that offered increased assistance when driving at low speeds, and reduced assistance for increased stability at cruising speeds. Reportedly, the SM could drive at 125 mph for an entire tank's worth of gas without issue. The car earned Motor Trend's Car of the Year Award in 1972. In 1973, it was the only Citroen imported to the U.S. Soon after, Citroen would withdraw from the U.S. market completely. View less | |||
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