Citroën launched the Citroën DS in 1955, famed for hydropneumatic self-levelling suspension.
The DS debuted at the 1955 Paris Motor Show and immediately attracted enormous attention for its streamlined body, advanced suspension and unusual interior controls. Its name is a French pun: “DS” is pronounced like “déesse,” meaning “goddess.”
The car’s hydropneumatic system used pressurised fluid and gas spheres to control suspension, braking and—on many versions—clutch and gear-changing functions. This gave the DS a remarkably smooth ride and allowed it to maintain a constant height despite changing loads.
The DS was produced from 1955 to 1975, with more than 1.4 million examples built when related ID models are included. A common mix-up is treating the DS as a separate manufacturer; DS Automobiles became a distinct Stellantis brand decades later, while the original DS was a Citroën model.