Citroen Abandons Its Hydropneumatic Suspension
50 years ago, Citroen unveiled the DS, a car that was so advanced that it threw the luxury vehicle world upside down. The sedan not only had futuristic lines and unique controls (you braked using a rubber mushroom on the ground), but it also introduced hydropneumatic suspension. Using a very complex pump system, the car completely isolated the driver from the road’s imperfections. Some even compared it to driving a cloud! The unique technology even saved Charles de Gaulle’s life; during an assassination attempt in 1962, assailants fired at the car, blowing out all four tires. The suspension kept the car stable, and enabled the driver to speed away on its steel wheels.
Today, Citroen thinks the technology isn’t good enough; it is still offered on the C5 –one of their most luxurious vehicles– but that car is due for a refresh. It seems that the French manufacturer won’t modernize the hydropneumatic suspension, instead teasing that they will launch something even more advanced.
- Also: Citroën Numero 9 Concept: A New Expression of the DS Line
- Also: DS Divine: Half-Car, Half-Fashion Accessory
