His Majesty, the Citroën SM
01/02/2012
If one likes to speak of the goddess ("la déesse") in connection with the famous Citroen DS, the "SM" of the Citroën SM presented in Geneva in 1970 can be translated as "sa majesté" (his majesty).
With the SM, Citroën combined genes from the DS (hydropneumatics, drive concept, design elements) and the acquired Maserati subsidiary (V6 engine). The fastest front-wheel-drive coupé in the world at the time (around 220 km/h) was not a commercial success. Production was stopped in 1975 after not quite 13,000 vehicles had been built. Reliability problems and sub-optimal quality appearance contributed to the rapid end.
Even rally events, which were intended to influence public opinion on the subject of reliability, did not help.
Various coachbuilders used the Citroën SM platform for their own creations. Chapron, for example, created a four-door version called the Opéra.
Frua built a 2+2-seater candidate for the planned Maserati Merak on the SM platform, which was first shown on the Frua stand at the Geneva Motor Show in 1972.
