The design is considered simply the best in the last century. This was the first car combining a favourable air resistance with elegance so skilfully, above all in series production. The initial name for this car was VGD, where VGD stands for: 'voiture grande diffusion', translated as a car with a large spread. Later on, the letters for the top model changed into 'DS'. In spoken language this resembles the French name for goddess, 'la déesse'. The professional world rather calls this car a 'Diva' than a goddess.
The company Citroën already had some tradition in introducing spectacular cars, but the ID version is definitely one of the most spectacular. The non visible technology was not spectacular though, as it was adapted from the Traction Avant. Including the backward step of a chassis-like framework, the predecessor had already put down. The hydro-pneumatics is not new for Citroën, too.
Besides the exciting design, the front and tail hood were manufactured from aluminum and the roof from GRP (glass fibre reinforced plastic). The ID is the first mass production car with disc brakes (in front). Disc brakes fit very well with hydraulic actuation, because of their small self reinforcements. The brake knob and above all its sensitive operation were extraordinary. After one year it was replaced again by a brake pedal. Later on, a central hydraulics operated semi-automatic was added.
The fascinating feature of the car was probably the combination of appearance and driving experience. The disguised rear wheels are uniquely stylish, fenders, which may be unscrewed with just one turn. Some details, for example the openings of the doors, or the first half transparent and later chromium-plated, conical turn signals at the end of the roof will probably remain unique. This Citroën carried the emotion of travelling comfort to a higher order. The passengers enjoyed the gentle and stress-free travelling with sufficient space in the interior. The instrument panel was manufactured from a relatively flexible plastic and also the single-armed steering wheel contributed to accident-safety, a topic which was just starting at that time.
Unfortunately, a high-quality car is frequently boring in terms of design, and vice versa. It seems as if the strength of the engineers would be sufficient only for excellent design OR excellent quality. The nickname 'diva' in this sense refers to the darker sides of being a diva. The car's complexity is one of the problems, especially in combination with inexperienced workshops and of course the treatment of the car. In France it was - at that time - a usual upper class car and it was often treated as such. Abroad there were DS-fans, who embedded their DS with roses. Like a real diva!

Further Informations

Citroën DS (Wikipedia)

cartecc.com Imprint Index