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Citroen SM
One of the coolest looking, most exclusive Citroen cars they ever produced was the gorgeous SM. Citroen presented it in 1970, and this elegant coupe had some interesting features. In fact, when Citroen introduced it to the public, it made the competition look and feel outdated. In the late ‘60s, Citroen was flushed with cash. Through various stock market transactions, the company became the owner of the famous Italian sports car manufacturer, Maserati.
Citroen`s management thought it would be great if they could use Maserati’s powerful engines and sports car know-how to produce a luxurious, fast coupe with Citroen’s signature design and style. Ant that is exactly how the Citroen SM was born. The aesthetics were clearly French with a hydro-pneumatic self-leveling suspension and front-wheel drive. But instead of an underpowered four-cylinder engine, it had a 2.7-liter V6 by Maserati, which provided enough power for a lively performance.
Citroen marketed the SM in the U.S, and in fact, they sold more of them in America than in Europe. In the USA, the SM competed with the Mercedes SLC or Cadillac Eldorado in the personal luxury segment. Soon, American car buyers praised its ride quality, smooth engine, and style. Unfortunately, the oil crisis and economic recession killed the model. Citroen ceased production in 1974 after they made more than 12,000 of them.