After 60 years, Citroën's legendary hydraulic suspension has reached the end of the road. In case you're unaware, it debuted on the iconic DS in 1955.
The development means little to the North American market, as the French marque exited four decades ago. But its demise marks a significant milestone for the company once defined by the "magic carpet" ride quality conveyed by the system's hydraulic pump and nitrogen-filled pneumatic spheres.
The move is clearly designed to help the company's bottom line, as modern alternatives like MagneRide's adaptive suspension technology—available on everything from Mustangs to Ferraris—is significantly cheaper to employ. That's what we'll likely see on the next-generation DS, which Citroën is launching as a distinct luxury brand. The final cars to use the hydraulic system will be the company's current-generation C5.
For many enthusiasts, the technology's exit marks a bittersweet footnote in automotive history, and highlights that the incredible advances in performance, safety and efficiency we've seen can sometimes mean modern cars have less unique personalities.
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