A Citroën lineup without at least one car sporting the hydropneumatic suspension system is like spelling Citroën without the diaeresis. You can get away with it, but something is clearly missing.
Sources with Reuters say that distinctive feature from the brand is about to go away, as PSA Peugeot-Citroën looks to slash costs. The current-generation C5 sedan will reportedly be the last of the brand’s models to use the Hydractive 3+ system that’s a descendant of the hydropneumatic setup that debuted on the 1955 Citroën DS.
In short, the hydropneumatic suspension on the DS used hydraulics to suspend the car on balls of nitrogen, allowing for self-leveling when fully-loaded or to raise it for various conditions, while still providing a super-smooth ride. Versions of the setup with the company’s patents appeared on models from Merecdes-Benz, Maserati and Rolls-Royce, among other Citroën products.
Subsequent systems introduced on the CX, XM and C6 models advanced the system with variable power steering and electronic road sensors, but the hydropneumatic system gained fame in 1962 when General Charles de Gaulle’s DS had two of its tires blown out in an assassination attempt, but was still able to be driven away because of the self-leveling feature.
The highly complex system, however, has made it a costly option on the C5, a mainstream, midsize car whose demand has basically evaporated anyway. Going forward, PSA is likely to utilize systems such as adaptive dampers and sophisticated shocks to improve ride and handling characteristics on its more expensive models, relegating advanced suspension systems to expensive luxury vehicles.
But the hydropneumatic suspension system will likely always be associated with Citroëns from their most quirky era, and as a sign that the cars were so far ahead of their time. Unlike the swiveling headlights that have become a common feature on even mainstream cars, Citroen’s amazing suspension innovation is now going to be remembered most as that weird feature on their DS.
For another look at the DS in action, take a look at this silent video from 1960-or-so below.