Perhaps if DS does make the SM Tribute into a concept car, it could be sold in Malaysia
The DS Automobiles community’s feedback has been heeded, leading the DS DESIGN STUDIO PARIS team to develop a modern interpretation of the iconic SM model as if it had evolved over the last fifty years. Introduced in the early 1970s, the SM was a symbol of French automotive innovation.
It featured Robert Opron’s sleek, aerodynamic design and a powerful V6 engine that provided exceptional performance. The SM’s standout feature was its hydropneumatic suspension, inherited from the DS model, which offered unparalleled driving comfort and handling. Today, the SM is a collector’s dream, celebrated for its unique blend of comfort, performance, and innovation.
Moreover, the SM’s interior was equally remarkable, combining high-quality materials with meticulous craftsmanship. Its dashboard, circular instruments, and distinctive steering wheel combined functionality with aesthetic appeal. For its time, the SM was well-equipped, featuring air conditioning and power-assisted steering, adding to its reputation as a luxurious grand tourer.
Frédéric Soubirou, DS Automobiles Head of Exterior Design, noted that the design of the new SM Tribute drew inspiration from various SM models, including prototypes and presidential versions. The original SM’s sense of lightness and dynamism is mirrored in the SM Tribute’s sleek, muscular profile, highlighted by a prominent front end and a long bonnet.
The SM Tribute also incorporates modern design elements while paying homage to its predecessor. The exterior features an extended bi-tone finish, reinterpreting the 1971 Gold Leaf colour with a satin varnish and handmade patina, alongside a specially coloured black.
On top of that, this colour scheme bridges the 1930s concours d’elegance era, the iconic 1970s SM, and contemporary DS designs. The new model also updates the SM’s distinctive glass front section with a 3D screen that lights up, framed by a signature light setup reminiscent of the original.
The profile maintains the SM’s characteristic lines, with enhancements to its width and a reduction in ground clearance, while large 22-inch wheels with aerodynamic inserts add to its presence. Inside, the SM Tribute reimagines the 1970s design with modern touches.
The dashboard and instrument layout echo the original, but now feature projection displays and a curved screen console connected to a steer-by-wire steering wheel. The interior, upholstered in ivory leather and Alcantara, continues the SM’s signature style, with new elements like laser-engraved door panels reflecting decorative art trends.
