Events
DS Automobiles at the RETROMOBILE 2025 show:
a tribute to the 70th anniversary of the DS
As a partner to Rétromobile 2025, DS Automobiles celebrated the 70 years of an icon. The enthusiasts were able to admire the DS Balloons of 1959 resurrected by the students of the GARAC, surrounded by historical models. The Brand regularly exhibits its concepts or street cars at Rétromobile. This year, the French Première of DS N°8 symbolizes the link between heritage and present.
The DS, a timeless work of art.
Unveiled on October 6, 1955, the DS is a concentration of innovations, with its hydropneumatic suspension technology. In 1967, it adopted the swivelling headlamps as standard on the Prestige, Pallas and Cabriolet versions. The DS has been the symbol of excellence for several heads of state.
Semiotician Roland Barthes is the best man to describe it in Mythologies, published in 1957:
“Obviously fallen from the sky, (...) a superlative object”.
The DS has also made its mark on the big screen, with appearances in The Samurai (1967) or Back to the Future 2 (1989) by Steven Spielberg. The flying DS in Fantomas se déchaîne (1965) even inspired the designers of DS DESIGN STUDIO, who imagined its modern version in 2023, to celebrate the exhibition «On the road with Louis de Funès» at the National Automobile Museum in Mulhouse.
A wheel-free, fully-faired DS, placed on a central pedestral, won the Industrial Art Award at the 1957 Milan Triennale. In the same spirit, the DS 19 vertical Totem Pole of the Paris Motor Show in 1962, was lent by the museum of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the exhibition at Rétromobile.
The original DS continues to inspire artists. The public thus discovered an unprecedented contemporary sculpture suggesting a DS draped aluminum copy, the work of the artist Frédéric Girard, co-created with the DS DESIGN STUDIO. A commemorative coin was also issued by the Monnaie de Paris to celebrate the 70th anniversary of his birth.
“Flaminio BERTONI was a sculptor, and the DS is a work of art. It represents avant-garde, efficiency, but also French savoir-faire and elegance.”
Thierry METROZ, Design Director of DS Automobiles.
The 1959 DS Balloons at the heart of the exhibition
In a space conceived as a showcase, illuminated by the chandeliers of Régis MATHIEU, visitors were able to discover the iconic 1959 DS Balloons, star of the show.
This unique model was designed by Claude PUECH for an advertising campaign. The orange balloons symbolize the spheres of the hydropneumatic suspension. The vintage photo gives the illusion that the car is floating on a lake, reflecting the comfort of the famous suspension.
The faithful reconstitution of the DS Balloons was carried out by students from the National School of Automobile and Mobility Professions, GARAC. Using the colour “Tortoiseshell Blonde” (Ecaille Blonde) of the body and “Carrara White” of the roof.
“We are no longer counting the hours of work on this project. It was a challenge for our students to get it done in just 6 months. Our objective was to carry out a technically compliant reconstruction, following the advice given by the Citroën Peugeot DS Adventure, and to be faithful to the aesthetics of this extraordinary vehicle.”
Laurent ROUX General Director of GARAC.
Around this resurrected DS Balloons, a dozen historical models were presented to the public, including the DS 19 sedan and convertible, DS 21 sedan Pallas and prestige, and DS 23 sedan Pallas. Rare models and a speedform were also exhibited.
When heritage inspires the future
The new DS N°8, the Brand’s flagship model, was presented for the first time in France, opposite a 1969 DS 21 Pallas. A nod to the filiation, these two models presented a Crystal Pearl livery and an extended bi-tone treatment, with the hood and the pavilion painted in Black.
This staging epitomizes the bridge between the brand’s heritage and its current models.
The brand regularly exhibits its creations at the Rétromobile show.
- In 2023, the DS E-TENSE PERFORMANCE concept was exhibited alongside the SM PROTOTYPE.
- In 2020, SM was honored for its 50th anniversary. This event led to an internal design competition within DS DESIGN STUDIO. From the drawing to the concept, there is only one step, as shown by the SM TRIBUTE Concept, revealed at the end of 2024.
- In 2017, the DS E-TENSE concept was used to accompany SM and DS collections.
- In 2016, the exhibition brought together the new DS 3 with five prestigious historical DS and SM.
Our strong heritage sets us apart from our competitors. The avant-garde and elegance of the original DS and SM inspire us in creating our future models. They embody the art of French travel. »
Thierry METROZ, Design Director at DS Automobiles.
