Those who love cars and French films will certainly remember the flying Citroen DS that was driven by the villain in the 1965 film “Fantomas Unleashed” starring Louis de Funès. In a surprise move, DS Automobiles published an official sketch with an imaginary modern version of it.
Don’t get your hopes up as this sketch was not intended to preview a future concept or production vehicle. Instead, it was created to highlight the opening of a new temporary exhibition called “On the Move with Louis de Funès”, which celebrates all the iconic cars used in the famous actor’s films. Still, the fact that the sketch was created by the DS Design Studio in Paris makes it quite interesting, as the latest example of the automaker’s evolved styling language.
Read: DS 4 And DS 7 Now Available In Fashion-Inspired Esprit De Voyage Special Editions
The low-slung model with a luxurious Grand Tourer bodystyle incorporates the wings and rear spoiler of the original, but everything else is different. The front end features a long hood with LED headlights housed in fender inserts and a sharp splitter below the covered grille with the DS emblem. The large-diameter multi-spoke alloy wheels look like turbines, while the size of the single door suggests it could open upwards. As for the surfacing, it sends Mazda vibes as is the case with the shape of the lighting units.
Thierry Metroz, DS Automobiles Design Director, said: “DS made history beyond the car industry. It is part of French heritage and as such, holds an important place in French cinema. We answered the request from the Louis de Funès Museum by designing a modern DS in tribute to the Fantomas DS. Geoffrey Rossillon, in the exterior design team led by Frédéric Soubirou, created the drawing.”
The premium Stellantis brand’s current flagship is the much more conservative DS 9. While DS Automobiles tries to remind everyone of the spirit of the original DS, we don’t expect a similar production offering anytime soon.
The flying car was not the only DS that appeared in Louis de Funès films, so there could be more classic beauties in the museum. Among the exhibits, there will be actual vehicles, posters, photos, and props from the films. For those interested, the exhibition held at the Musée National de l’Automobile in Mulhouse, France, will remain open until November 5, 2023
