SM
Introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1970, the Citroën SM was a French four-seat grand touring coupé developed around Maserati power. It combined a body styled by Robert Opron with hydropneumatic suspension, DIRAVI self-centering steering and a 2.7-liter V6 supplied by Maserati. The SM was not designed as a simple sports car: its mission was to combine high-speed touring with exceptional ride comfort and stability. Front-wheel drive, extensive hydraulic systems and a very low, aerodynamic body gave it a character unlike most contemporary coupés. Its engineering also placed Citroën’s advanced chassis technology alongside an Italian-derived engine, reflecting the company’s control of Maserati at the time. In the ScanRacer library, the model is represented by the “Base” version for 1970, the first year of production.
Variants by year
1970
Model summary
Data from the ScanRacer library, organized to compare versions quickly.
Model introduction
Introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1970, the Citroën SM was a French four-seat grand touring coupé developed around Maserati power. It combined a body styled by Robert Opron with hydropneumatic suspension, DIRAVI self-centering steering and a 2.7-liter V6 supplied by Maserati. The SM was not designed as a simple sports car: its mission was to combine high-speed touring with exceptional ride comfort and stability. Front-wheel drive, extensive hydraulic systems and a very low, aerodynamic body gave it a character unlike most contemporary coupés. Its engineering also placed Citroën’s advanced chassis technology alongside an Italian-derived engine, reflecting the company’s control of Maserati at the time. In the ScanRacer library, the model is represented by the “Base” version for 1970, the first year of production.
History
The SM grew out of Citroën’s ambition to build a car that could apply its front-wheel-drive expertise to a more powerful and prestigious grand tourer than the DS. Citroën’s acquisition of Maserati in 1968 provided access to a compact, high-performance engine partner. The resulting car used a 2,670 cc Maserati 90-degree V6 in a four-seat coupé. It was officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1970 and entered production during that year. The SM carried over important Citroën principles, including hydropneumatic suspension and a powered steering system with variable assistance and automatic self-centering. Robert Opron’s bodywork featured a long bonnet, a fastback tail and a distinctive partially enclosed front end. Its lighting layout and aerodynamic shape made the car’s engineering unusually visible from the outside. The model earned significant recognition in the United States, where Motor Trend named it Car of the Year for 1972. It also competed in rallying and won the 1971 Rallye du Maroc. Nevertheless, its high price, technical complexity and the early-1970s oil crisis restricted demand. Production ended in 1975, during a difficult period for Citroën that included the company’s transfer under Peugeot control in 1974.
Generations
The Citroën SM does not divide into successive generations in the usual automotive sense. It was a single model produced from 1970 to 1975, with changes to its engine, transmission, equipment and market specification over time. This distinction matters: a carbureted SM and a fuel-injected SM are different versions of the same coupé, not separate generations. The earliest 1970 cars belong to the model’s initial production phase. They use the 2.7-liter Maserati V6 with carburetors and a five-speed manual gearbox. The defining SM formula was already in place: hydropneumatic suspension, front-wheel drive, DIRAVI steering and a four-seat grand touring body. The range later evolved through the introduction of electronic fuel injection on selected versions, together with different engine capacities depending on the market and production period. Automatic transmissions were also offered, while North American cars received exterior changes intended to meet local regulations, particularly around the headlamps. These alterations represent production and market adaptations rather than a formal new generation. For the ScanRacer catalogue represented here, coverage is limited to the “Base” version listed for 1970. It should therefore be read as an entry for the SM’s first configuration, without attributing later developments to this specific model-year record.
Key differences
The key distinction for this entry is its position in the production timeline. The “Base” version listed by ScanRacer is a 1970 model, corresponding to the SM’s launch phase. It should not be treated as equivalent to later fuel-injected cars, automatic-transmission versions or export models adapted to specific regulations. SM changes mainly involved the engine’s fuel system, transmission, equipment and market-specific compliance details. The underlying formula remained consistent: a four-seat coupé with a Maserati engine, front-wheel drive, hydropneumatic suspension and Citroën’s distinctive powered steering system. Because the supplied “Base” record does not include a more detailed period specification, assigning it a precise output figure, trim level or equipment list would go beyond the confirmed evidence. The most reliable editorial distinction is therefore between the initial 1970 configuration and the versions introduced during the model’s later production years.
Photo recognition
A Citroën SM is first identified by its very low, elongated profile, long bonnet, rear-set cabin and fastback tail. Its front end is especially distinctive: a wide central section incorporates the headlamps behind a streamlined treatment, while the front wheels are visually extended by bodywork or wheel-cover elements depending on specification. Robert Opron’s design prioritizes aerodynamic efficiency and long-distance speed over the proportions of a conventional sports coupé. At the rear, the hatchback layout and steeply sloping glass emphasize its grand touring purpose. The cabin commonly features rounded or oval instruments, a single-spoke steering wheel and a dashboard with strongly individual Citroën detailing. The Maserati-sourced V6 is a major mechanical clue, although it may not be obvious on a modified or restored car. Identification should also account for market differences and later alterations. Exposed round headlamps usually indicate North American specification, whereas European cars are associated with the more familiar streamlined, partially enclosed front treatment. A 1970 example may also differ in small details from later SMs, so the year and market should be confirmed before assigning a precise version.
Important versions
The key early configuration is the 1970 carbureted SM, corresponding to the “Base” entry covered here. It introduced the coupé with Maserati’s 2.7-liter V6, a five-speed manual gearbox and Citroën’s hydraulic systems. Electronic fuel-injection versions were an important later development and are documented on cars from subsequent production years. They should not automatically be assigned to a 1970 example. Automatic-transmission cars formed another production variation, while North American models can be identified by their headlamp arrangement and other regulatory changes. The SM also appeared in competition derivatives and special conversions, but these should not be confused with ordinary series-production versions. For the 1970 model year, the safest description is therefore an early carbureted launch-period SM, without importing specifications that were introduced later in the model’s career.
References
- O ousado Citroën SM: conforto, beleza e muita eficiênciaStellantis Media / Citroën
- Citroën SM: Vor 40 Jahren endete die Produktion der Stil-IkoneStellantis Media / Citroën
- CITROËN Type SB Série S « SM »Musée de l'automobile Henri Malartre
- Citroën SM - 1973Lane Motor Museum
- Citroën SM: The 1972 Motor Trend Car of the YearMotorTrend
- https://www.citroenet.org.uk/passenger-cars/michelin/sm/sm-21.htmlcitroenet.org.uk
- https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/car-brochures/citroen-sm.htmoldclassiccar.co.uk
- https://www.carandclassic.com/buyer-guides/citroen-sm-models-and-specscarandclassic.com
Frequently asked questions
- What years was the Citroën SM produced?
- ScanRacer's referenced versions cover 1970.
- How many Citroën SM examples are documented on ScanRacer?
- 3 published scans from 3 members, with the latest photo added in August 2026.