One of the most fun thought exercises as a fan of automotive design (or as an amateur or professional designer) is to imagine what a classic car or iconic design would look like if it still existed in modern times. That’s exactly the idea behind the DS Automobiles brand’s latest concept car. Called the SM Tribute, this gorgeous coupe is inspired by the 1970’s Citroën SM, and the design team worked as if the car had remained in production over the past five decades.
The project dates back to 2020, when DS’ Paris design studio held an internal competition to create a reinterpretation of the SM. A number of sketches were shared to the brand’s social channels, some overtly retro and others totally futuristic, with fans able to vote for their favorite design proposals. Design director Thierry Metroz says, “our community sent us several strong messages during this sketch sharing; the first was that it was very attached to the iconic models from our heritage. The second was that it didn’t want the original design to be spoilt.” Following that feedback, the final show car was developed.
Partially thanks to its much bigger doors and 22-inch wheels versus the original SM’s comparatively puny 15s, the SM Tribute seems a lot larger than the classic model at first, but its overall length and height have increased by mere centimeters. The biggest change is in the width, which has increased by five and a half inches. DS nailed the overall proportions, maintaining the SM’s pointy nose and long hood, distinctive greenhouse and rear window shapes, rakish profile and narrow kamm-back tail. The satin Gold Leaf paint is a remix of a color introduced on the ’71 SM, and it’s combined with clever usage of a special black that helps break up the design and add tension.
Despite using a Maserati-sourced V6 engine, the original SM had no traditional front grille, instead featuring a wide glass section behind which the headlights and license plate were mounted. On the Tribute, that element is a screen with three-dimensional jewel-like light elements that DS says meet at a point like a ship’s bow. Beneath that panel and the black bumper element are subtle vertical intake strakes that are a nod to the old car’s lower grille, with a cool SM badge at the corner.
Y-shaped running lights that follow the shape of the “grille” panel leads into a crisp crease that flow all the way to the rear end, with a black section creating the floating look of the rear quarter panel. Most of the tail is finished in black, though the rear window surround is gold, with more subtle creases that nicely catch the light. The lower diffuser echoes the angle of the tailgate, matching the kicked-up side skirt. It’s all just really well done.
My favorite design element is easily the rear wheel arches. Like on the ’70s SM, the Tribute has partially covered rear wheels, but with a fantastic upper cutout that reveals the top of the wheel and tire, created by a thin wraparound segmented taillight line. That hard line then flows into a soft crease along the doors, and it runs parallel to the top of the lower opening, which has edges that match the shape of the original SM’s wheel fairing. DS says the Tribute’s rear arch has “removable parts,” but the images don’t show what those look like.
DS only released renderings of the interior — it seems this show car doesn’t have one yet — but it looks phenomenal. The instrument panel follows the same shape as the classic SM, with oval dials projected onto a curved trim panel instead of using a screen. Rising up from the center console is a thin, curved, transparent infotainment screen that has a crystal-like shifter and other switches embedded into it. The rectangular steering wheel has its own transparent panel for controlling things like volume, too. Interior designer Luc Quirin says the Tribute’s infotainment solutions are “more immersive while being less restrictive for the driver and occupants.”
Ivory leather and Alcantara is used throughout, and the sculptural seats have horizontal cushions that are like the original car’s. Inspired by “decorative arts,” the leather door panels have laser-engraved patterns that look like a sun, accented by pearl detailing. One of the most intriguing elements is the cylindrical storage compartment at knee-level. DS says the Tribute’s interior was designed to “accommodate an almost infinite range of finishes and materials” — I’d love to see one with a full green cabin.
What DS hasn’t talked about is what powers the SM Tribute. Surely it would have a fully electric powertrain, maybe the Formula E–derived dual-motor setup from the DS E-Tense Performance concept? Though I don’t think a car like the SM Tribute really needs that full 815 horsepower. DS also doesn’t say what platform the Tribute would theoretically use, but if I had to guess it would be one of the STLA variants.
While the SM Tribute is strictly a concept, Metroz says it will influence future DS production models, and that the company is serious about honoring its heritage. “We are working on the genes of our iconic models to fuel our research into the shape of future models that will come along at the end of the decade,” said Metroz, “we want to nurture our legacy through our icons which are the DS and SM. We draw our commitment to avant-garde design from it. As it is not our habit to disconnect from our other work, we have included a lot of details about what DS Automobiles models and our future projects are.” DS is working on at least two new production EVs, one a traditional crossover and the other a fastback replacement for the DS9. If those cars have even a bit of the SM Tribute’s magic, I can’t wait to see them.
