Citron and Car History The unique and quirky styling associated with Citron can be traced back to the requirements of the car design, creative engineering and sensible solutions that have repeatedly questioned conventional notions of how a car should look and behave. It is the emergence of the French-maker’s style that has seen creations with distinctive radiator grilles, odd rooflines and sleekly-shaped bodies, and the trademarked headlamp arrangements.
Throughout its history Citron has manufactured a wide variety of vehicles including low-cost family cars, over-the-counter commercial vehicles, high-sided rural runabouts, large luxury limousines, well-equipped executive cars and aerodynamic grand tourers. Few of Citron’s models were ever purely practical, as they often incorporated the latest technical innovations that were new to the automotive world. Here are ten of the most influential models that helped to establish Citron’s reputation for comfort, innovative packaging, style and technological advancement during successive generations.
1. Traction Avant
Traction Avant 3-volumes, 4-doors saloon (produced from 1934 to 1957) The Traction Avant was the car that changed the direction of the modern car when it made its debut front-wheel drive and uni-body or monocoque, as it was then called construction was being used in production on a big scale for the first time, and the result was a pairing that offered significant advantages in stability, packaging and road manners over most other cars of the period.
Traction Avant Innovation Highlights:
- Produced from 1934 to 1957
- Front-wheel drive technology
- Pioneering monocoque body construction
- Roomy four-door saloon interior
- Major European automotive icon
By combining advanced handling characteristics with a spacious interior, the Traction Avant delivered both practicality and improved road manners. Its widespread popularity across Europe helped establish it as an enduring symbol of 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s motoring, including the period of post-war recovery. The model’s distinctive body structure and technical importance also made it easy for collectors and enthusiasts to recognize. Today, the Traction Avant remains an important landmark in the development of front-wheel-drive family automobiles and represents one of Citroën’s earliest major engineering breakthroughs.
2. 2CV
Built between 1948 and 1990, the 2CV was conceived as an affordable, rugged people’s car designed particularly for rural France. Its simple two-door saloon configuration focused heavily on practical utility, low weight, economical ownership, and straightforward engineering. Instead of relying on unnecessary complexity, the 2CV was designed to provide useful transportation for people who needed an inexpensive vehicle capable of handling difficult everyday conditions.
2CV Practicality Highlights:
- Built from 1948 to 1990
- Affordable rural people’s car
- Extremely lightweight construction
- Long-travel suspension system
- Simple maintenance-focused engineering
The 2CV’s long-travel suspension and straightforward mechanical components made it particularly capable on rough country roads while also keeping maintenance relatively easy. Its low ownership costs helped it remain useful for a wide range of drivers throughout its exceptionally long production run. Over more than four decades, its unusual profile and functional design attracted a huge following around the world. What began as a humble and practical workhorse eventually became a beloved cult classic, appreciated for its simplicity, character, and unmistakable Citroën personality.
3. DS
Built from 1955 through 1975, the DS was a four-door luxury sedan that managed to marry futuristic styling and design with revolutionary automotive technology in a package that stood apart from the vehicles of the time. The DS would long be remembered for its dramatic styling, a distinctive combination of automotive technology that was largely in a class by itself. More than a family car, the DS was both an automobile and an engineering statement.
DS Technology Highlights:
- Launched in 1955
- Produced through 1975
- Futuristic aerodynamic body
- Hydropneumatics self-levelling suspension
- Power steering technology
One of the DS’s most famous features was its hydropneumatics self-levelling suspension, which was combined with power steering and a highly streamlined aerodynamic body. These technologies contributed to exceptional ride comfort and effortless high-speed cruising. The model quickly became associated with technical sophistication, luxury, and daring design. Its combination of comfort and innovation helped redefine expectations for executive cars and established the DS as a benchmark for creative automotive engineering. Even today, it remains one of Citroën’s most recognizable examples of mid-century technical ambition.
4. ID
Produced between 1957 and 1975, the ID was a four-door saloon, built lower down the range than the luxurious DS. It was designed to offer the revolutionary Citron suspension system to a broader range of family car buyers who wanted the stylish, comfortable ride of the DS without the added extravagance of all the luxuries. The ID played an important part in introducing greater numbers of car buyers to Citron’s revolutionary engineering.
ID Comfort Highlights:
- Produced from 1957 to 1975
- Positioned below the DS
- Four-door family saloon
- Hydropneumatics suspension retained
- More affordable equipment levels
The ID retained the important mechanical benefits of the hydropneumatics suspension system and the graceful aerodynamic bodywork associated with the DS. At the same time, it used simplified equipment and more affordable interior finishes to reduce production and purchase costs. This approach gave a wider audience access to superior ride comfort without requiring buyers to pay for every top-tier luxury feature. The ID remains an excellent example of how Citroën adapted advanced technology for broader everyday use while maintaining its focus on comfort and innovative engineering.
5. Ami 6
The Ami 6 was produced from 1961 to 1969 and proved to be a bizarre small four-door saloon designed to give the driver and passengers more room than the standard 2CV. The most obvious design feature was the angle of the rear window which gave the car a distinctive profile and quickly differentiated the model from family saloons with a more conventional shape. Citron was not averse to playing with shapes but did not lose sight of the purpose of the car.
Ami 6 Design Highlights:
- Produced from 1961 to 1969
- Compact four-door saloon
- Reverse-raked rear window
- Frugal mechanical engineering
- Improved passenger comfort
Beneath its eccentric exterior, the Ami 6 used economical engineering and focused on keeping running costs accessible. It offered practical transportation for buyers who wanted more cabin comfort while still maintaining affordable motoring. The model appealed particularly to drivers who valued individuality and character rather than conventional styling. In this way, the Ami 6 bridged the gap between the basic utility of the 2CV and the greater space and comfort associated with larger family saloons, making it an important part of Citroën’s compact-car development during the 1960s.
6. Ami 8
The Ami 8 was produced between 1969-78. It was a very natural progression of Citron’s range of small family cars. Although it kept the identical four-door saloon layout and body shape, Citron removed the odd reverse-sloped rear window from the Ami 6 and created a more conventional sloping rear shape and rear window. This gave the car a less unusual appearance, but one that still maintained the practicality and economy.
Ami 8 Evolution Highlights:
- Produced from 1969 to 1978
- Four-door compact saloon
- Conventional sloping rear window
- Low ownership costs
- Improved cabin refinement
The revised profile was more visually sophisticated but still delivered the low running costs and everyday practicality, advertised by Citron as ‘A car you use like a car’. The Ami 8 also delivered cabin comfort improvements and mechanical refinement in a family car package designed for utilitarian use. Through a combination of relative simplicity and conscious efforts to develop useable comfort, the model was faithful to Citron’s design and engineering mark of approach to family vehicles. It is a key step between 1960s style and engineering and 1970s.
7. Dyane
The Dyane, built from 1967 to 1983, was a clever two-door hatchback, bridging the ultra-basic 2CV and the roomier, more developed Ami models. It updated the simple 2CV platform with a new body that had more flowing styling, yet retained the highly adaptable hatchback rear end, giving Citron a way to maintain the simplicity and value of its smaller model while this concept evolved to suit new customer demands.
Dyane Versatility Highlights:
- Produced from 1967 to 1983
- Two-door hatchback design
- Based on 2CV framework
- Practical rear hatch
- Simple maintenance approach
The hatchback format made accessing the luggage and loading was a much more flexible option in the Dyane which made the family car more appealing for changing tastes. While taking on a much more contemporary look and offering a far more practical solution, it still retained the low-cost, no-frills rugged motoring and simple to service ideas inherent in the 2CV. This mix proved popular on the majority of the road networks in Europe and proved that cheap and cheerful motoring could change to suit the lifestyles of the times.
8. GS
Produced between 1970 and 1986, the GS compact hatchback proved what family motoring could be. One of the key attributes in the GS’s appeal was Citron’s hydropneumatics self-levelling suspension the company’s legendary ride-comfort technology finally proved that it could be sold to more people in a smaller package. So, the GS offered smooth-riding and good-road-holding qualities, although this was not the biggest luxury saloon out there.
GS Engineering Highlights:
- Produced from 1970 to 1986
- Compact hatchback configuration
- Hydropneumatics self-levelling suspension
- Sleek aerodynamic body
- Efficient engine choices
In addition to the state-of-the-art suspension, the GS had svelte body styling and frugal engines, all of which distinguished the Citroën from the average family hauler. The engineering and in particular its ride comfort was widely admired across Europe and the GS provided a refined and well-respected alternative to more traditional saloons for discerning customers. The GS proved that the attributes of refined ride and technically advanced engineering need not be the preserve of high-value executive cars: in a small car it became an accolade to Citron’s mastery of packaging, aerodynamic styling and technical engineering.
9. GSA
Built from 1979 to 1986, the GSA arrived as a comprehensive facelift and modernization of the successful GS platform. It retained the versatile compact hatchback shape but introduced a more futuristic and highly ergonomic dashboard along with various mechanical refinements. These changes helped update the GS concept for the 1980s while preserving the engineering characteristics that had made its predecessor distinctive.
GSA Modernization Highlights:
- Built from 1979 to 1986
- Updated GS platform
- Versatile compact hatchback
- Futuristic ergonomic dashboard
- Refined mechanical features
The GSA expanded on the clever packaging of the GS, providing families with useful interior space and the smooth ride associated with hydropneumatics suspension. Updated controls and cabin features also contributed to a more comfortable and engaging experience for both drivers and passengers, particularly during longer journeys. By carrying advanced suspension technology and practical design into the 1980s, the GSA demonstrated Citroën’s continued commitment to unconventional engineering. Its ergonomic interior and high-tech comfort helped make it a distinctive everyday family vehicle.
10. CX
As the flagship Citron executive saloon for the years 1974 to 1991, the CX was Citron’s expression of its ideas about aerodynamics, comfort and grand touring potential. Its body shape was sleek and futuristic-looking, and it used aerodynamic design principles to be comfortable at high speeds. As the previous models before it, the Citron CX used hydropneumatics suspension and was particularly smooth to drive across rough road surfaces.
CX Touring Highlights:
- Flagship executive saloon
- Produced from 1974 to 1991
- Streamlined aerodynamic body
- Hydropneumatics suspension technology
- Spacious luxury interior
The CX, for example, was futuristically styled on a large, cavernous, rear wheel drive, executive-sized platform, with a smooth and aerodynamically slick ride, comfortable at speed. The floating ride that was so unique to the CX and that marked Citron as a progressive and iconoclastic marque contributed to makes Citron a late 20th century classic car marque. Over the lifespan of the ten models in this gallery, Citron transformed transportation by taking a practical yet unorthodox approach to packaging, aerodynamics, styling, and the comfort of pavement-impressed conveyance. Starting with the Traction Avant and 2CV, and continuing through the G and GSA to the CX, Citron’s unorthodox shapes, packaging, suspension, comfort, and aerodynamics made Citron a distinctive marque.
