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29 Jan 2018

FROM 7 TO 11 FEBRUARY 2018, DS AUTOMOBILES WILL BE REVIVING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN AT THE 43rd EDITION OF THE RÉTROMOBILE CLASSIC CARS SHOW.

At the forthcoming Rétromobile show, DS will be reliving the presidential election campaign that took place in France a year ago. The Presidential DS 7 CROSSBACK – an outstanding car specially designed for the 25th President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron – will feature at this major gathering of history and heritage enthusiasts. Alongside it will stand its acclaimed ancestors that carried French presidents from General de Gaulle to François Hollande, with the presidential versions of the DS 21, SM and DS 5. These outstanding ambassadors will celebrate a remarkable heritage that will also be promoted through other vehicles on display: a DS 21 Pallas, General de Gaulle’s personal car; the DS 19 of 1961, one of the last cars to adopt the original design of the DS of 1955; a DS Lorraine by prominent French coachbuilder Henri Chapron, which belonged to the French Senate’s president Alain Poher; and an SM of 1971, ordered by French singer and actress Line Renaud. Precious support from L’Amicale Citroën & DS France*, from DS and SM clubs**, and from DS Héritage*** has given visitors the chance to appreciate the first-class quality of French savoir-faire that is highly valued by DS Automobiles. From 7 to 11 February 2018, you can discover all this at Hall 1 of the Parc des Expositions at the Porte de Versailles in Paris.

FROM 7 TO 11 FEBRUARY 2018, DS AUTOMOBILES WILL BE REVIVING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN AT THE 43rd EDITION OF THE RÉTROMOBILE CLASSIC CARS SHOW.

Right from when it was founded, the French automotive brand DS has been rooted in the values of innovation, excellence and avant-gardism, embodied by its acclaimed inspiration: the DS 19. The DS 19 and its sister, the SM, together epitomise high-end French cars. By exhibiting the Presidential DS 7 CROSSBACK at the next edition of the Rétromobile show alongside exceptional DS and SM cars that have made their mark on our countrys history, we are underlining our attachment to the marriage of remarkable style and advanced technology; comfort and dynamism; high-quality materials and refinement. Both in the past and present, and for a long time to come”, explained Yves Bonnefont, Chief Executive Officer of DS Automobiles.

Every year, the Rétromobile show is the gathering that classic-car aficionados would do anything not to miss. From 7 to 11 February 2018, these enthusiasts will be in Hall 1 of the Parc des Expositions at the Porte de Versailles in Paris. There, in Hall 1, DS Automobiles will be sharing with the general public some of the finest products from its heritage. For the occasion, the brand has organised an exceptional rendez-vous where the Presidential DS 7 CROSSBACK will be displayed alongside the models that inspired it: the DS and SM cars that have transported French presidents. These legendary cars embody the avant-gardism and excellence of French savoir-faire. On the programme will be a trip through the past 60 years of France’s history, a story that continues into the present day. This journey will be enriched with encounters, passion and enlightened exchanges between club representatives, experts and laypeople.

THE PRESIDENTIAL DS 7 CROSSBACK:

THE FIRST SECOND-GENERATION PRESIDENTIAL DS

The Presidential DS 7 CROSSBACK is a remarkable car that was specially designed for the inauguration of the 25th President of France, Emmanuel Macron. On 14 May 2017, the Presidential DS 7 CROSSBACK marked history with its first-ever official outing: a ride along the Champs Elysées with the new French President on board.

In Ink Blue, the Presidential DS 7 CROSSBACK boasts exclusive finishings, with a bespoke open-top roof and themed features such as a flag-holder and “République Française” signatures on its sides.

The black Art Leather interior is enhanced with “Toile de Laque” trim designed and produced by renowned Parisian gilder, Atelier Maury. The door-mirror casings and 20-inch wheel rims sport subtle touches of gold, revealing French savoir-faire passed down by craftsmen over the centuries.

Resolutely tech-oriented, the Presidential DS 7 CROSSBACK also offers all the technological features of the standard version, such as: DS CONNECTED PILOT, which paves the way for autonomous driving; DS ACTIVE SCAN SUSPENSION, DS suspension for the 21st century; and DS NIGHT VISION, which brings remarkable visibility to night-driving.

The Presidential DS 7 CROSSBACK is the first second-generation presidential DS.

THE PRESIDENTIAL DS 7 CROSSBACK:

THE LATEST ADDITION TO AN EXCEPTIONAL LINEAGE

With the Presidential DS 7 CROSSBACK, DS Automobiles is honouring the tradition of the DS and SM cars that transported French presidents. At the Rétromobile show, with precious support from LAmicale Citroën & DS France*, from DS and SM clubs**, and from DS Héritage***, the DS brand is inviting visitors to step back in time with the help of exceptional cars brought together for the occasion.

Returning to the 1960s, a DS 19 Confort from June 1961 will remind visitors of the time when DS cars occupied the courts of the Elysée Palace, Hôtel Matignon and other ministries. The car on show was renovated in 2016 to reproduce its original state. It is one of the latest DS models produced based on the design of the DS of 1955, notably featuring air intakes on the front wings, commonly referred to as ailes cendriers(ashtray wings). Equipped with an 83hp engine that was new at that time, it sported a Helanca Blue interior.

The original DS car is still in people’s minds today yet there is no doubt that it is indissociable from one of its ambassadors in particular: General de Gaulle, the 18th French president and first president of the fifth French Republic. As soon as he was in power, in 1958, de Gaulle used the car for all his trips, both official and personal. However, it was a whole ten years later that a ceremonial DS limousine featured in the Elysée Palace car fleet: the Presidential DS 21 registered under 1PR75, PR standing for “Présidence de la République” (Presidency of the Republic). This outstanding car was delivered on 14 November 1968. One of its key specifications was for it to be longer than the Lincoln then used by the US president. It was 6.53m long and only just fitted into the largest garage of the Elysée Palace (6.87m).

In March 1969, the Presidential DS 21 was used during a visit from US president Richard Nixon. Nixon and French president Charles de Gaulle rode down the Champs Elysées on board the car together.

Designed by the Citroën design department and converted by coachbuilder Henri Chapron in Levallois-Perret, this unique DS model, produced based on a DS 21, featured luxurious equipment including a convex and inclined glass partition, entirely brown-leather upholstery, a folding seat for interpreters, power windows, air conditioning, direct and indirect lighting, an intercom, and a built-in minibar.

It was used by presidents Charles de Gaulle and Georges Pompidou until it was replaced in 1972 by two Presidential SM convertibles.

Launched in March 1970 at the Geneva Motor Show, the SM was the worthy successor to the DS. The SM epitomised the French tourer blending high performance and refinement.

Research that led to production of this large GT model was conducted based on DS cars. Beyond its V6 engine (Maserati), it included all the DNA of the DS, both technically and in terms of equipment, comfort, finishings and performance.

In 1971, during the term of 19th French president Georges Pompidou, the presidency ordered two exclusive four-door SM models with longer bodies and open-top roofs. Sporting a metallic “Black Tudor” Anthracite Grey body, they offered a natural-leather interior.

Produced by coachbuilder Henri Chapron, these Presidential SM models were equipped with a gearbox and cooling system for low-speed driving. Used for official ceremonies with foreign guests, they were paraded for the official visit of the Queen of England in May 1972.

These Presidential SM cars were also used by presidents Pompidou, Giscard d’Estaing, Mitterrand and Chirac. The latter used one for his inauguration on 17 May 1995.

It was not until 2012 that there came a new Presidential version of DS models: the DS 5. On 15 May 2012, François Hollande, the 24th French President, chose the DS 5 to greet the French population and the entire world during his inauguration.

Specially designed and produced for this historic event, which honours the election of a new president, this DS 5 is an open-top model equipped with Hybrid4 technology combining a diesel engine and an electric motor, providing four-wheel drive.

DS AND SM CARS:

AS UNIQUE AS THE PEOPLE THEY CARRIED

Apart from the presidents of the fifth French Republic, DS and SM cars seduced the world’s grandees. For this new edition of the Rétromobile show, DS Automobiles is also giving visitors the chance to discover three models that are as remarkable as their illustrious owners:

A DS 21 Pallas from 1969: General de Gaulles personal car. This vehicle was used by General de Gaulle from when he left the Elysée Palace up to his last days. The model bears the mark of this eminent figure, with a pocket beside the cabin’s engine box where the chauffeur’s revolver was stowed, a sun visor at the rear right side and an accessories compartment in the back of the front seats.

A DS Chapron Lorraineused by Alain Poher, President of the French Senate from 1968 to 1992. Also known for having overseen the interim period between the terms of two French presidents: Charles de Gaulle, following his resignation in 1969, and Georges Pompidou, upon his death in 1974, Alain Poher chose to use a DS converted by coachbuilder Henri Chapron, called “Lorraine”. Its raised roof and flat, shortened boot gave this DS saloon a surprising design, far removed from the original DS design by Flaminio Bertoni. This version, introduced in 1968, offered high-end equipment praised by state dignitaries, high-ranking civil servants and society’s grandees. Produced up to 1973, only 13 units were manufactured, coming out of the Chapron workshops in Levallois-Perret and making this exceptional car an exceptional DS.

The SM used by French singer and actress Line Renaud, the worlds ambassador of French elegance. At the start of the 1970s, Line Renaud, a major figure in French show business, was seduced by the avant-grade lines of the SM. She fell for a 1971 model with a carburettor, equipped with a 2,670cm3, 6-cylinder, 170hp Maserati engine at 5,500rpm. In Meije White, this SM originally came with air conditioning and a black-leather interior. A characteristic unique to this SM model was the vehicle’s rear seatbelts, which were completely new at the time.

From 7 to 11 February 2018, you can discover this car at the Rétromobile show!

*LAmicale Citroën & DS France. For over 30 years, L’Amicale Citroën & DS France has brought together 50 clubs representing 10,000 Citroën and DS collectors from 1919 to today, covering half-tracks, lorries and coaches, and including enthusiasts of objects, toys, miniatures, books and catalogues. Whatever Citroën club you run, L’Amicale Citroën & DS France is your single connection to the management teams of Automobiles Citroën, DS Automobiles, and L’Aventure Peugeot Citroën DS. L’Amicale Citroën & DS France provides your Citroën club with channels of communication to Citroën, DS Automobiles, Citroën Héritage, L’Aventure Peugeot Citroën DS, FFVE (France’s classic cars federation), the press, and organisers of events and trade fairs. L’Amicale Citroën & DS France also organises technical investigations into Citroën Classic spare parts, and maintenance and care of our vehicles. In a word: L’Amicale Citroën & DS France protects Citroën and DS heritage and promotes its image for the companies’ future… www.amicaledesclubscitroenetdsfrance.com

**DS and SM clubs at the Rétromobile 2018 show: Club Citroën France, DS ID Club de France, DS Club Révolution 55, Euro SM Club, Le Club PariDS.

***DS Héritage is one of the entities of L’Aventure Peugeot Citroën DS, a charitable association under the French law of 1901, whose purpose is to maintain, manage, develop and promote the heritage of PSA group brands. Working alongside clubs and collectors, DS Héritage focuses on the heritage of DS and SM. DS Héritage offers an exceptional collection of DS and SM vehicles at the Conservatoire Citroën in Aulnay-sous-Bois, France. www.laventurepeugeotcitroends.fr

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