Citroen DS News

Volkswagen has just ripped the covers from its retro-referencing ID Buzz people mover and van.The spunky all-electric bus is a modern take on the iconic Kombi (or Transporter, or Bulli, depending on where you're from) that made its debut in 1950.Volkswage

One of the rapidly emerging themes around CarsGuide is the rise of the electric car. And within that, there’s a healthy debate going on around the conversion of conventionally powered cars to electric operation.

Car dealer Alec Lowe's 1973 Citroen DS23 Pallas Prestige has come fresh from the paintshop to the showroom floor.The prime late classic has been selected from hundreds of entries to be among 98 displayed at the second annual RACV Motorclassica in Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building from October 21-23."I have even driven it, except to and from the paintshop and the workshop," says Lowe, 62. "It hasn't been seen anywhere before. This is its first time out."Lowe explains that the "Prestige" designation means it is a Special with a wind-up glass partition in the rear. The interior was built by Bugatti coach builders Henri Chapron of Paris for government and diplomatic use.This particular car was specially imported for use by the French ambassador to Australia who sold it to his secretary when he returned to France. She sold it to Lowe in 1995 for $7500."It was in pretty good condition, but we've done a total nut-and-bolt restoration from the ground up," he says. "If it hasn't been reconditioned, it's new."I wouldn't want to know what we've spent on it." It's insured for $50,000, but Lowe says the last Prestige model sold for $90,000 in Paris, unrestored."I'm hoping to take it back to France for a driving holiday and maybe sell it over there," he says. "I might get more for it in a left-hand-drive market."Lowe says he had no problem obtaining parts for the car or working on the front-drive vehicle. Nor should he as he started his career as a Citroen mechanic working with legendary endurance rally driver Jim Reddiex.He navigated for Reddiex in Repco round-Australia rallies in the 1970s and recalls one rally incident where they hit a tree and bent their CX machine into a banana shape, popping the windscreen."It was still driveable because all the mechanicals are up front, so we drove to the next stop holding the windscreen in place with our hands," he says. Lowe says the DS model was an innovative car when introduced in 1955 with a number of firsts throughout its model life, ending in 1975, including swivelling headlights that turn with the steering wheel."That's only been re-introduced in luxury models in the past decade and they don't turn as much as these. They almost go at right angles," he says.Other innovations included power disc brakes, hydropneumatic auto-leveling suspension with auto-leveling headlights, variable ground clearance, power rack-and-pinion steering and a lightweight fibreglass roof.It also featured a wider front track and different-sized wheels to counter the understeer effects of front-wheel-drive introduced in the Citroen Traction Avant in the 1930s.The DS has been named one of the coolest, beautiful and most influential cars of the last century.Citroen DS23 Pallas PrestigeYear: 1973Price New: $9000Price Now: about $90,000Engine: carbureted 2347cc 4-cylinderBody: 4-door sedanTransmission: 5-speed manualDid you know: The original 1955 DS was designed, not by car designers, but Italian sculptor Flaminio Bertoni and French aeronautical engineer Andre Lefebvre.Got a special car you'd like featured in Carsguide? Modern or classic we're interested in hearing your story. Please send a pic and brief info to mark.hinchliffe@carsguide.com.au

"It goes back to when we were kids," says Phoon, now the proud owner of a pair of the sleek French cars. "There was a family friend who had them and when we went out to dinner or somewhere else when it came time to leave we all used to want to go home in their car."To be honest, I think it was just that they were so different. They were like nothing we had ever seen before."There was to be a considerable hiatus between Phoon's childhood infatuation with the DS and actually getting one into his garage, but when push came to shove there was really only one car fate was going to send the way of the 43-year-old accountant."It was really quite a strange thing. In 2005 I decided I needed a hobby and I actually started looking for a Mini as that is what I learned to drive in. While cruising the net the Citroens started popping up ... that was that. I never actually went to look at a Mini."The car Phoon settled on was a 1974 DS23 non-Pallas automatic with airconditioning. "It is pretty asthmatic, to say the least, especially when you put the air-conditioning on, but the really funny thing is that if I had been buying it in 1974 it is probably exactly the specification I would have wanted."Phoon says that after finding the car it became a full-on obsession. "Within six months of getting the first car I had just gone completely nuts," Phoon says. "I went to Paris with a load of other Australian Citroen owners, joined the 50th birthday celebrations (for the DS in 2005), took part in the rally ... it was just fantastic."Having paid $15,000 for the car and spent, by his own estimation, a further $25,000 on lavishing anything on it that it needed, there came a point when there was nothing left to improve."I had done everything I could on the Blue car ... everything it needed it got. There was nothing left to fiddle with and I needed a project. That is when I got the second car in May."This time it was a 1972 DS21 Pallas fuel injected 5-speed manual.The DS was the result of an 18-year development program that culminated with the unveiling of the DS19 at the 1955 Paris Motor Show. On the first day more than 12,000 orders were taken and the DS's place in automotive folklore was assured.What really set the DS apart in its day and for some considerable time after was a raft of innovative safety and comfort features such as the hydropneumatic suspension, directional (swiveling) headlights, the single-spoke steering wheel, front disc brakes and differing front and rear track widths.At its peak, the Citroen DS was made in France, Britain, Australia, South Africa and the former Yugoslavia. A total of almost 1.5 million cars were made during its 20-year life with a peak of 103,633 sales in 1970."They are fascinating cars. Aesthetically, you can just sit and stare at them for hours and technically they have as much to give as you are willing to explore and then some," Phoon says. "They are really a car that rewards somebody who wants to put a lot into it."While there are only about 1000 registered Citroen DS left in Australia, Phoon says restoring and maintaining one is not a difficult task. "That is actually very easy. The Dutch are the biggest enthusiasts in the world and they have factories that reproduce just about anything you could want."It is also a huge advantage to be a member of the Citroen club. That is where you learn things and on the tech days there is always somebody leaning over your shoulder ready to offer advice."Citroen DS Years made: 1955-1975Number made: 1,455,746Price when new: approx $8000 (1974 DS23) Price now: $20-25,000 (concourse) 

Without saying so, the French are clearly eyeing the Mini as the main rival for its newest hatch. Its quirky styling, floating roof, `shark fin' B-pillar and inset LED lights in the front bumper scream the type of individuality made popular by BMW when it launched the new Mini. Like the Mini, DS3 buyers will also be able to personalise their cars with different exterior, roof and rearview mirror colours, as well as painted alloy wheels. This customization continues on the inside where buyers will be able to choose various interior trims and colours. Citroen says the DS3 is not only good looking but versatile. The dashboard is set high up to increase leg room and it says the slim-back seats and wagon-style rear free up room in the back. The car has a 285-litre boot with a 60/40 split-fold rear seat. Compared to the Mini, the DS3 is 251mm longer, 27mm wider and 53mm higher but shares the British car's engaging looks. The DS3 makes its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show and arrives here in the second half of next year. Pricing and specifications are yet to be finalized, but buyers can expect it land close to the Mini's $33,000 price point. Like the Mini, DS3 buyers will have a choice of turbo-diesel, as well as petrol four cylinder engines, driving the front wheels. In Europe the car will be available with two HDi turbo-diesels and three petrol engines that meet Euro V emission rules. The HDi engines develop 68kW and 82kW while the petrol models include a 70kW and 90kW VTi four, as well as a 112kW turbo petrol. The engines will be mated to five-speed and six-speed manuals with automatics to follow. The DS3 will also spawn a range of up-market models and will be followed by the DS4 and DS5. In a veiled poke at the Mini, Citroen Australia general manager, Miles Williams says the DS3 represents a fresh new approach to small cars. “Existing models in this new prestige sub-sector have put the emphasis on performance and lack that flexibility and versatility that DS3 provides,” he says.

Million dollar extravagance alongside budget buggies, runaway horsepower side-by-side with eco warriors. Its the eclectic mix that makes the Geneva one of the most anticipated events on the annual motor show circuit.As major car manufacturers battle for survival in the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression, its all spit, polish and business as usual inside the Palexpo complex in the world's banking capital.Bentley, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce and Maybach spruiked their million-dollar babies alongside a tiny Smart, Chrysler's European debut for its vision of an electric future and a full range of real-world hybrid and dual-fuel models.There were the wild and wacky concepts — fewer than in the halcyon days, an acknowledgement that times are tough — and a mix of models that will grace showrooms in the coming year.Also fighting for attention were the usual array of specialists like Brabus, Startech and Zagato adding even greater gloss and performance to mainstream models as well as tiny Euro operations producing outlandish stars of their own imagining — badges such as Sbarro, Gumpert, Spyker and Koenigsegg.So, what were the stars of the 2009 Geneva Show?Ask a hundred people and you will probably get 100 different answers, but from a purely personal point of view here is one version of a Top 10. Citroen DS Inside Concept: A concept in name only, the little Mini rival will spearhead Citroen's new DS naming convention when it launches next year. Sleek, stylish and boasting a hybrid-diesel powertrain, the DS (the manufacturer says that stands for different spirit) caught the eye and the imagination with emotional, if not styling, hints of the truly radical DS on the 1950s.Hyundai ix-onic concept: Gone are the days when you looked on a Korean concept with a sense of synmpathy. While the ix-onic is clearly an exaggeration of the marques next SUV generation there is enough about it to whet the appetite. As important as the styling is the news that the ix-onic carries DSG gearbox and stop/start eco-technology. Look for for it all in the next generation of Tucson compact SUV next year.Pagani Zonda Cinque: A personal favourite. Not so much a car as a piece of very, very fast art. The latest offering from designer Horatio Pagani uses the company's own bespoke carbon-titanium material to shape a truly gorgeous body — and it goes. Zero to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds and back to zero in 2.1. Enough sauid. Chevrolet Spark: Far more super-realistic than super-car, the little Spark is none-the-less an excellent example of its kind. Developed from the General Motors Beat concept shown in New York two years ago, the Spark is a bright rendition of a city car which, despite its name, is not electric nor even hybrid. On sale in Europe this year, don't be surprised if it comes under serious consideration for life with a Holden badge.Mercedes E-Class Coupe: The outstanding model from the new E-Class range. While the sedan version of the new generation E-Class had been seen in Detroit in January this was the Coupe's first outing — and well worth the wait. A really pretty rendition of a true coupe style.Audi TT RS: There was no shortage of new Audis in Geneva with the A5 and S5 Cabriolets on show but they were put in the shade by this hot version of the cool TT. What really sets this one apart is the use of a rorty 5-cylinder engine which is a hint to a wider future use of the powerplant behind the four-rings badge.Maybach Zeppelin: Outrageous, outlandish and unapologetically designed to shout "look what I've got that you don't", the latest Maybach earns its spot in the top 10 for offering a stone interior as an option. The high-tech process for bending Indian granite around complex surfaces is more Jetsons than Flintstones and about as left-field as anything seen in a production car. Aston Martin One-77: Another conspicuous statement of wealth, this super-exclusive super-car — only 77 are being made — exudes power and style. Everything about this car is special, right through to the unique 7.3-litre V12 massaged out of the company's standard 6.0-litre unit by Cosworth. It is believed at least one of these beauties is heading for Australia.Jaguar XFR: It has been a little while coming but Jaguar has put some real bite into its award-winning XF range with the arrival of the high-performance R version. Without over-burdoning the car with fancy, garish aero bits there is little doubt the XFR looks the biz. The 5.0-litre supercharged V8 under the bonnet doesn't hurt, either. Fiat 500C convertible: Not really a convertible in the contempory sense of the word, this latest rendition of the insufferably cute Fiat 500 is a must-have fashion accessory. The rollback sot top is true to the style of the original 1950s car with the centre of the roof rolling back to open the passengers to the skies without the complicated engineering of removing roof rails or C-pillars.

UPDATED - The Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (shown here) set a new world record for a car sold at auction on the 17th May 2009. 0714TR reached 12 million dollars US at RM Auctions Leggenda e Passione Ferrari auction in Maranello.  For me it’s the car in the photo gallery on the right. However the judgement of the most authoritative list of automotive experts ever assembled to make such a decision voted the Citroen DS21 to be the car. This panel included Gioretto Giugaro, Marcello Gandini and Gordon Murray, three of the most respected names in the industry and themselves responsible for such legendary cars as the Lamborghini Countach, Lancia Startos and McLaren F1.This past weekend at the Paris Retromobile, a Citroen DS Chapron Convertible sold at by auction by Bonhams  for just under A$650,000. The Chapron Convertible is the rarest and even more beautiful version of the DS21.Personally while I greatly admire the DS, it does not make my top ten list, which comprises;1.    1957 Ferrari 250 TR2.    Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spyder3.    1963 Ferrari 250GTO4.    Ferrari 246GT5.    Lamborghini Muira6.    Ferrari P47.    Ferrari 206SP8.    Mercedes 300SLR Coupe9.    Maserati 5000GT by Touring10.  Jaguar E-Type S111.  Ferrari 365GTB/4 DaytonaGiven my long term fascination with everything Ferrari I am interested to see how the auction of 0714TR will fare at Ferrari Leggenda e Passione in  Maranello, on 17 May 2009. This is the car that can (and should) break the current world sale record of $10.8m (currently A$16.6m) for the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder (s/n 2377GT) set at last year’s Ferrari Leggenda e Passione on 18 May 2008.The 1957 Pontoon Fender 250TR is one of the true legends of the Ferrari marque and generally considered one of the most desirable models by Ferrari cognoscenti. This particular example is unique and beautifully restored in its original black color scheme. Delivered to Piero Drogo; himself a substantial character within the history of Ferrari and extensively campaigned in races North and South America this car has the potential even in the current economic climate to blow the current record away.We will update you with the result in May. Rod Halligan

The famed DS was one, the 2CV another and the front-wheel-drive 1934 Traction Avant was something of an outstanding revelation in both looks and handling.Next month it will continue to entrench its reputation as a leading designer by unveiling the head-turning four-seater convertible concept called the C5 Airscape at the Frankfurt Motor Show.Citroen says the Airscape is effectively the spiritual successor to the DS Decapotable convertible that was built from 1958-73.Look closely, though, and you will see the new C5 sedan in the car's profile, and the front and rear design treatment.The concept has a carbon-fibre folding roof and striking styling and is crammed with innovative technology. It has a high waistline, ribbed panels, C6-style concave rear window and sleek, aerodynamic profile.The car is further enhanced by the 19-inch alloys, large air-intakes, twin chrome exhausts and long incisive headlights.The automatic folding roof has an integrated sunroof and textile lining and is designed to look and feel like a conventional canvas roof.Inside there is a sumptuous interior of dark-brown leather and chrome. The dashboard echoes modern-day Citroens and the fixed-centre steering wheel boss is taken from the C4.Citroen has also made sure the car not only looks good but is also a showcase for innovation.Fuel economy is managed by an UrbanHybrid system that includes a reversible alternator-starter and super capacitors.This system allows on-board equipment, such as the airconditioning and stereo, to be powered by energy recovered during braking and deceleration. Engine torque can be temporarily boosted when required.The UrbanHybrid system reduces CO2 emissions by 24g/km on the combined cycle. It also has stop-start technology that switches the engine off when the car is stationary, before starting it again once the accelerator is pressed.The efficient 155kW/440Nm 2.7-litre HDi V6 engine can run on bio-diesel.The engine is shared with other Citroen and Peugeot models as well as the Land Rover Discovery.In the Airscape the turbodiesel has a particulate filter, further minimising any environmental effect.The Airscape also has a traction control system called Snow Motion, which Citroen says delivers performance similar to that of a four-wheel-drive car.