xj4low
1023
27
4
Dec 7, 2025 7:27 AM
xj4low
1023
27
4
certainlynotaserialkiller
i had one with a 3.0 V6. it was a completly bonkers car. loved it.
GreaseMonkeyOfLove
The engine is literally put in backwards. French engineers are a different breed.
xj4low
And it's a Maserati motor on top of that. I didn't look close enough to see if it was the V6 2.6L or 3.0L model. It was at an Italian car show, sitting alone from all the Alfa's and the De Tomaso Panteras.
allenvasher3000
Apparently they're really good at nuclear engineering
xj4low
Just a few photos showing how complicated the 70's Hydropneumatic suspension was for this little French car. Looking at a shaft drive from the front of the motor over the top of the steering rack and drive to power the alternator, AC compressor, and hydropump for the suspension. It is technically counted as a mid-engine front wheel drive since the engine sat behind the front wheels.
cytherians
Wild how this lone Citroen showed up at an Italian car show. The SM is such a strange yet beautiful looking car. The DS looked so space-age for its time and the SM was an incredible step forward. I think it looks more futuristic than the CX.
I just wish they had better reliability. There's so many things to be mindful of to keep the car running smoothly.
joester101
This is the most beautiful car in the world! I Had a CX 25 GTi series I, it's a smaller decendent of the SM. But it was the best car I've ever driven.
2fligh2high
That is a fantastic car!
hushpuppyextraordinaire
French grandes?
GreaseMonkeyOfLove
Hydraulic accumulators for the suspension. (Rolls Royce used them for the brakes AND suspension)
TurnsOut42WasASlightMiscalculation
I used to own a Renault. I was occasionally reminded that the French are not known for their engineering prowess
Bladedrummer
And yet the Renault Megane held the fwd record at Nurburgring for many years... still 2nd fastest.
GussDeBlod
pre 2000 french cars are immortal, post 2000 are dead when coming out of the factory. Overall still better than any american car anyway. but tbf, I only bought japanese since the early 2000 XD
genericuser010180
Would like to mention 80s vintage Renault Alliance 👀
cytherians
The Germans learned a lot about reliability from the Japanese. Not quite as good, but some models ended up stellar performers. My old A3 from 2007 has been a reliability gem. Better than my previous Japanese cars. But I know it's a bit of an outlier.
certainlynotaserialkiller
they knew how to engineer, they just didnt knew how to build properly.
BodgeandScarper
The Peugeot 404 and 504 indicate otherwise...