Citroën SM
| Citroën SM | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Citroën |
| Production | 1970-1975 |
| Designer | Robert Opron |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Grand tourer |
| Body style | 3-door hatchback coupé |
| Layout | MF layout |
| Related |
Citroën DS Maserati Merak Maserati Quattroporte II Citroën CX |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.7 L V6 3.0 L V6 |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual 3-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 290 cm (110 in) |
| Length | 489.3 cm (192.6 in) |
| Width | 183.6 cm (72.3 in) |
| Height | 132.4 cm (52.1 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,460 kg (3,220 lb) (carburetted version) 1,520 kg (3,350 lb) (fuel-injection version) |
The Citroën SM is a high-performance coupé produced by the French manufacturer Citroën from 1970 to 1975. The SM placed third in the 1971 European Car of the Year contest, trailing its stablemate Citroën GS, and won the 1972 Motor Trend Car of the Year award in the U.S.
In 1961, Citroën began work on 'Project S' — a sports variant of the revolutionary Citroën DS. As was customary for the firm, many running concept vehicles were developed, increasingly complex and upmarket from the DS. Citroën purchased Maserati in 1968 with the intention of harnessing Maserati's high-performance engine technology to produce a true Gran Turismo car, combining the sophisticated Citroën suspension with a Maserati V6.
The result was the Citroën SM, first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1970. It went on sale in France in September of that year. Factory produced cars were all left-hand-drive, although RHD conversions were done in the UK and Australia.
The origin of the model name 'SM' is not completely clear. The 'S' may derive from the Project 'S' designation, the aim of which was to produce what is essentially a sports variant of the Citroën DS, and the 'M' perhaps refers to Maserati, hence SM is often assumed to stand for "Systeme Maserati" or "Sports Maserati". Another common alternative is Série Maserati, but others have suggested it is short for 'Sa Majesté' (Her Majesty in French), which aligns with the common DS model's nickname 'La déesse' (The Goddess).
The SM was Citroën's flagship vehicle, competing with other high-performance GTs of the time from manufacturers such as Jaguar, Lotus, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo and Porsche. France had not had a production vehicle in this segment after World War II, except for the export oriented Chrysler V8 engine Facel Vega in the late 1950s. The thriving French luxury car industry was decimated by post-World War II puissance fiscale regulation, which has hamstrung French manufacturers for decades.
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