To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the brand, DS Automobiles has unveiled the SM Tribute concept that looks to the future by drawing inspiration from the past.
The DS Automobiles SM Tribute concept takes the iconic styling of the original SM that was sold from 1970 to 1975 and updates it for the 22nd century. This means a dramatically long hood and body lines that taper toward the rear, finishing in an almost boattail-like appearance. The face of the SM Tribute features an updated take on the original car’s glass front, nonw with intricate LED lighting details and the DS logo front and center. A slight kick-up in the rear haunches also references the original SM, though it’s more subtle here thanks to the contrasting black bodywork that somewhat conceals the shape.
Massive 22″ wheels feature a handsome, though surprisingly muted, 5-spoke design that wouldn’t look out of place on a DS vehicle currently on sale. Of course, the rear wheel features a partial shroud as a nod to the original SM’s fully enclosed rear wheel arrangement. It’s an interesting way to update the styling cue and make sure this new concept doesn’t give off first-gen Honda Insight vibes (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
Work on this new concept began in 2020 with a series of sketches produced for an internal competition held within the brand’s design department. While a production version of this concept is highly unlikely, the brand’s design director, Theirry Metroz, mentioned, “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,” so expect to see at least a few of the design features on this concept to make their way to actual production DS vehicles in the future.
Inside, the DS Automobiles SM Tribute concept continues the retro-future space-age theme of the exterior, most notably with seats that mimic the ribbed versions in the original SM. Drivers will find an extremely rectangular steering wheel with a transparent display in the center, while sweeping driver and central infotainment displays, also partially transparent, grace the cabin with a light, elegant look. Door panels featuring a sunburst design and strategically placed ambient lighting enhance the already stunning interior into something truly one-of-a-kind, just like the original.
Being mostly a styling exercise, DS didn’t mention the SM Tribute concept’s powertrain, though it’s likely to be something electric in the imaginations of the vehicle’s designers. The original SM made do with a 2.7-lt Maserati V6.
The DS brand launched ten years ago as Citroen’s luxury arm and has since become part of the much larger Stellantis Group. It will certainly be interesting to see what the future of the DS brand holds.
