My dad bought an XM 2.0 16 valve in January of 2000 and only parted with it late last year and I always maintain it was the most comfortable, smooth car I've ever sat in and never once gave my dad even the slightest trouble. Very sad this technology wasn't emulated or adapted by other manufacturers, it truly transforms a cars ride and handling for the better.
@@WorivpuqloDMogh The 'big' failing of Cit system, initially, was that those spheres had a relatively short life and some what frequent internal diaphragm failures. The ordinal units, typically, had a 2 to 3 year life span before either having to be replaced or re-charged - not something Cit recommended nor provided equipment to do so. Over the years better materials became available - addressed the failure problems to a great extent and did extend usable life considerably. In the US the current cost of LHM based units run in the $60 to $80 range and takes about from a 1/2 hour to an hour or so to do all 4 wheels. Depends if one has access to a lift or not.
@@Sandra-mj4kc - Yes - Citroen sold the DS here from 56 to 73, SM 70-73, 2CV 56-73. Andre Pol sold CX in the USA from some time. We have 5 - 2 D's, 2CV, XM and AX. And many owners imported cars from Europe.
Hydro-pneumatic suspension being shelved is to the automotive industry what concorde being grounded was to the aviation industry. One of the greatest innovations to never catch on. I guess in modern times everything is designed to fail as they want us to buy a new car every 3 years.
Everything is led to the chopping block of the dollar, thats the real reason! In times like these, where profit margins are getting slimmer and slimmer, the cost/benefit ratio gets more priority than whats cool and innovative! Sadly but understandably, i mean you can innovate a company to death, just look Saab!
From 1954 to 2018 almost 7 million Citroëns were sold with hydropneumatic suspension almost two million of the DS over 1.2 million CXs and over two million GS/GSAs. Obviously without those sales figures it wouldn't have lasted in production for 66 years now would it???
@@Gaphalor Citroën was far more innovative then SAAB was...on the car side... Granted Citroën never made aircraft but a pre Great War company André Citroën owned made the steering gear for the TITANIC
Citroen's engineering as featured in the 1955 DS19 was proclaimed by many auto writers of that era to be 20 years ahead of its time . On reflection and looking at today's cars I think the world hasn't caught up with it yet.
only little steps are appreciated, bigger steps are refused by the most of us. This is because we don't know about it, which makes fear. Citroën did not play the right advertisement, and hided the simple workings. And now we understand not even all of it, one must have had one in order to find out how good it works. :-)
@@Gaphalor , it isn't becouse of the brand, which has sold millions of cars, but the system of protecting the inventions it makes. Generally spoken, this keeps the worldwide development on a hold. Mercedes has used the hydropneumatic suspension in one of its most luxury cars, but had to pay much because of the license..and did not want to connect it's brand with Citroën. Paris-Dakar trucks have used the same system, and successful too, but had to alter a bit to make it free to use. Today even tomatoes are licensed and keeps the free development at bay. The hydropneumatic system, was developed without interference of sales, which gave the technicians endless freedom to create the best.( In war time) They had the pressures on board (in the car), and worked out all other possibilities like disk brakes, weight compensation, anti-dive suspension, anti-lean in corners, pneumatic steering, gear change, door openers, window openers, and even window wiper engines! But there is more; the DS had the steering-point in the middle of the wheel, not outside of it like today is done which caused less friction. The brake disks where placed close to the gearbox, which made the wheel movements very light and the road holding perfect! All things done by electricity today where already done with pneumatics, easy to adjust and never unreliable. Porsche might have made the electric 'tip-tronic' for semy-automatic gear change, but my experience showed me, it isn't as good and smooth as the DS 19 already 50 years ago had, and the friction time was adjustable to your personal behaviour too, you could not feel it and your passengers did not shake their heads if you changed the gear... There is much, much more to explain about this technical jump they made, but we have lost it for ever. The shame is on Mercedes, when they announced they had something new for their clients....turning headlights..to keep you safe..?!? Cheers Gaphalor! :-)
@@ThomiX0.0 wow thanks for the insight. You are right, I didnt thought about the licence! But I also think that this sophisticated suspension is probably too expensive for "normal/cheaper" cars, because the average buyer of said cars doesnt pay 5-7k more for a better Suspension, while in luxurious vehicles these costs are a rounding error, which is why Rolls and Merc used it in their premium ones.. Like Saab, too much innovation put into a normal car will either make the car not profitable anymore or too expensive for your target group (sadly) Have a good one
@@Gaphalor , the real problem for Citroën is not the license, they made it themselves. After my adventure with the DS, I have used the BX (not expensive) the Xantia (not expensive) and C5 (not expensive) and the system worked perfect. But when the factory had been taken by the PSA group, they weren't allowed to continue their own program, the basic frame should be used by Peugeot and Citroën, which than caused the downfall of hydropneumatic. Loyal users did loose the companies specialty, and went astray...which is to see on sales today..and young riders do not know how perfect it could be.. Citroën did keep the suspension for themselves, refused to cooperate with others, and let customers buy new bulbs which wasn't needed! They drowned in their own pit, and lost everything...and so did we. But hè, the memory is great. :-)
@obimk1104 , which to me would be a great new experience! I just had 2CV, AMI, DS20 Pallas, BX Toulouse, Xantia Station, C5 and just purchased a 20 year OLD,brand new C5 (2004) with hydractive3. This old lady is going to have 'comfort- balls' installed this summer. It makes her float again, :-) Do you still have it?
@@omepeet2006 Better disapear now and remain with a great history than watch them how they build tractors, ugly low budget plastic tractors.. This lady, Linda Jackson, destroyed in a few years all this great history of building innovation. Hope, one day, I will come back at Citroen after my C5 2013 HP.
One of the Fiat cars is now just a rebadged Citroen Ami. Stellantis seems like a company who is runned by Dutch investors, with no kind of innovation left once Fiat-Chrysler and Peugeot merged.
I rode in a Citroen when I was 17. It was incredible. It was the most comfortable car I have ever been in. Once you have been in a Citroen you will never forget the memorable ride.
I totally agree with you, been in a 2CV 13 years ago on a camping when I was about 8 and I have been in a DS when I was around 14, both incredibly comfy and memorable, especially the gliding ride in the DS was unlike I had ever felt before.
I have the honor and the pleasure of driving a Citroen with this wonderful technology, a Citroen C5, and I enjoy every kilometer driven in this car. Superb!
The Citroen hidropneumatic suspension system is the best suspension system in the world. In the first ‘60 years, my parents and I we Made a long yourney from Italy to capetown. Our car was a beautiful Citroen DS 21 Break. We blew out a tire many times but no damages at all in 18000 km!!
Now it's all over. The hydropneumatic suspension was the last relict of Citroën golden years. My favourite Carmaker is definitively dead. As i read that the last C5 with HP was build on 02-06-17 i had really to cry. Such a genial invention thrown on the scrapyard of technical history. My best wishes and best regards to all Citroën HP-Cars Drivers. You all (me too, i have 2 BX) drive GREAT cars with a soul and big history. Years ahead of their time. Here in Germany Citroën had in the 80s the marketing claim "Die Kraft der Kreativität" - The power of creativity. Nothing of this creativity is left over. A shame. Greetings from Germany, Paul
Paul Phillip Hedderich. Hydropneumatic suspension lives on McLaren 720 and P1 as well as the rear of Rolls Royce I believe. Hopefully someone will bring it back for normal cars people can afford one day.
TRUTH SEEKER yea actually the factory making the components will not close because they still have to make parts for Rolls Royce suspension. Although they are very secretive about it, it's Citroen suspension, but for marketing purposes they will never admit it.
Emanuel Gug Yes Hydropneumatic suspension is only for the mega rich today with new cars anyway...There seems to be more and more money no object cars on the market as a result of many more very rich people who are riding the globalist push
Those engineers even developed a window-whipperengine on hydronic fluid. They could open doors, changed seat set-ups and counter-react the roll in corners way before Volvo did. Horizontal levelling, brake force levelling, gear change movements, clutch sensitivity, no Tow or camber for the wheels, disk brakes attached to the engine block, steer following lights , nose dive levelling and much much more. And all this in 1950, and mechanically functioning, no electronics needed. When engineers were free to develop cars, and are not restricted by a sales department, we would finally get cars we really want.
I catched a Citroën Xantia and restored it by myself with new hydropneumatic suspension. I never seen that and i had a lot of modern véhicule before. Now i driving a cloud.
@@bjofuruh i had a CX 2500 GTI: never problems with hydraupneumatic during more than 500 000km, except sphere changes all 7-8 years...this system was use on the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow and Silver Spirit: i think not that RR use the "worst suspension" for he's ultra luxury cars...
@@bjofuruh I would like to know which other suspension you had before to be compared with and who is an imbecile who gave you thumb up? I had two XM Y3 (2.1 TD & 2.0i) and currently XM Y4 T.C.T which will stay with me, till Jesus invite me to coffee and whiskey. If you had maintain it properly, changing the LHM oil and spheres on time, you wouldn't have any problem as I never had. Besides, why would you drive it for 11 f...n years if the suspension was the worst one? Get lost mate.
My first car 50 years ago was an Aussie assembled ID19. I have been hooked on Citroens ever since, including DS Super, DS21, DS23, GS, CX PRESTIGE, Xantia ... Fabulous... And my 3 new 2CV6s also had amazing ride, handling, comfort and braking. Nothing beats a big hydropneumatic Citroen for long distance high speed flying on mediocre Aussie country roads. Even did the Oodnadatta Track in the Far Outback in a 16 year old Xantia Turbo diesel getting 5.5 litres per 100kms in supreme comfort where ever other vehicle was a 4WD... incredible space and importantly great dust sealing... Brilliant and reliable.
Oui citroen a eu une grande période de réussite grâce à cette suspension. Vos commentaires prouvent que ça a bien marquer l’histoire. Dommage que les américains ont refuser cette technologie sur leurs sols (jalousie ou protectionnisme ? ....).
Biggest issue with the activa was on roundabouts when people had no idea you were at 60 and would pull out on you that's when those incredible breaks kicked in and saved your arse. My activa (the one I actually used) was this the best car I've ever driven, I drove it straight after a year with V6 exclusive, in perfect conditions pushing it the activa would get me to work 4 minutes faster than the v6 driven the same way and that was only down to handling (the drive was 30 miles mixed conditions my Passat is 15 mins slower than the v6 to give you an idea what 4 minutes difference was). I blew the top water hose (the car at this point was 10 and had 130k on the clock) after full throttle for 30 seccond and the car drove another 5 miles to my parents with no water in the block and no engine damage (new hose and the car did another 50k before I scrapped it because it wasn't economical). When I ran activanet we had 3 activas with us they were dynoed at the French car show in 2005 all of them were over 220bhp stock so Citroen lied about the 150bhp they were meant to make I am guessing so that they could sell the v6. I wish I had kept one of my activa's I had 4 in total, typically I think the one I broke for parts was actually the best example I just didn't like the dark red that it was preferring my silver n reg that I put sparcos and harnesses in and the light met red that I gave to a friend because he wanted one so much and he sold on eBay and was broken for its engine. The strangest thing about the activa system was it would wiggle at rest if the lhm tank was under filled. This was because the pressure to it wasn't enough at idle with out a full tank. And if you let it go any lower you would then find that the pas failed and you needed to be superman to turn the cars steering wheel. Citroen need to spin off this side of their company they have fans like Dyson, people will buy these cars but you need to produce interesting cars that are dynamic yet comfortable, you use to be able to complete with Audi now you can't compete with seat or Skoda (same company i know) imho your still beating fiat and that about it. Nothing moves you like a Citroen (use to).
There will never be anything like the 19s and 21s and 23s of the sixties and seventies. Enjoyed every minute earning a living working on those wonderful cars.
Two Xantias and one GS, the suspension was the icing on the cake and despite some challenges made these cars so special. Miss them all and was shocked when the decision to axe Hydropneumatic was made.
As someone who has a Citroen in the Family themselves and who genuinly likes the old ones a very big ton, almost as big as the DS is long, i want to own a C6 one day. Ive always liked the C6 for its strange looks, and it honestly deserves way more love.
All new cars today should have Hydropneumatic suspension..people just dont know how good it is and are only interested in interior features like bluetooth, lane change warning etc etc...I got around in a DS Citroen for 30 years and I miss it every time I hit a bump in my modern car. Manufacturers need to up their game, chassis technology in many cars isnt far removed from Model T fords.
Citroen was an amazing car with technology light years ahead of it's time. True innovators! Many companies have used the hydropneumatic suspension under license from Citroen like the Lexus LX, Bentley, Rolls Royce.
From cars to yachts to many other technologies........the French have long been great innovators. I admire the way they can think outside of the box......
Ein bischen traurig bin ich ja schon das dies alles jetzt zu ende sein soll......diese Technik hatte mich seit über 30 Jahre sicher über die Schlaglöcher der Welt begleitet Danke Citroen
We were a Citroën family HERE IN THE U.S. ! The folks would take us to the drive-in movies, a blanket on the roof of a DS with my brother and I during intermission ! Dad would love to retract, "drop" the car and my sibling and I would rock it to the amusement of our fellow movie goers . Dad dated my mother in one and much later in life a couple of SMs, one auto , the other a 5 speed were the daily drivers.....Boy , were the contactors (ignition points) expensive (before electronic ignition)~$300 ! Truly , the car ahead of its time is still a jewel today and , yes , it is a shame the current management has quite cheapened the branding in dropping the features synonymous in its success . Thanks for this great compilation !
At the age of 12 I had a drive with my uncle in a DS and it was the best ride I have ever experienced that car still looks fabulous, pleasevCitroen become adventurous again especially with the new PSA stable.
Oh how I love our CX and especially my dads and my Xantia V6 ACTIVA(s). No one, really no one will be as fast around corners as you are, ever. (Ate my last tires in ~2000km, lol) And they're also so reliable. Over 500 000km with still the first engine, first clutch, first gearbox on the V6 ACTIVA of my dad.
@@MrJonas7 We changed it lately. Not because it was worn down or broken but because we did a lot of things on the car and since the engine was already out of the car it would've been stupid not to change it. It looked like it worked, quite normal. I've seen clutches with just 30000km on them that looked way worse. Clutches are normally relatively sturdy but if one doesn't know how to engage it properly it can be destroyed within seconds.
@@ahoorakia if you say so... I can only tell you how it is. Or do you really think I need to brag anonymously about a fucking clutch on the Internet...? If yes you're just seriously challenged.
I still drive the dream in my 2015 C5 Exclusive Tourer. Amazing and delightful accompanied by sizzling acceleration. When I park my C5 it is a privilege to glance back and behold my beautiful example of fine French engineering and elegance. I still enjoy it.
I owned 17 cars of mixed European and Japanese heritage. My 1975 Citroen GS, with its combination of hydropneumatic suspension, air cooling, superb aerodynamics and reliability put it on the top of my list. Citroen used to rule, past tense...
Problem is they didn't rule because people are ejuts, they never managed to establish themselves as a cutting edge luxurious brand, a premium choice which they very much were, but they didn't charge a premium and made a range of wacky vehicles, that lack of image prevented them from ever taking off in the mainstream market with their incredible cars. People need to be manipulated with good marketing, they're far too dim to see whats actually good on their own, its just what they're told enough is good. Now the chevrons are Peugeot 2.0
Nice film montage. Well done! Hydropmeumatic Citroens are sublime. I have owned many over the years and nothing on earth drives like them. I can put my GS Pallas round bends just as fast, and in some cases faster than my Alfa 159 which is very much set up to be the drivers car. For long distance cruising, I loved my Xantia Exclusive with Hydractive. Best of both worlds. Fantastic long distance cruiser. The miles just melted away in that. However my favourites will always be the BX and GS that's why I still have and regularly drive one of each!
GSBX1220 1 had 3 bx's in the family and yep utterly faultless really from new to well over 150k, the mk1 bx may of been a family car but it was something special as well, a real loss the direction they took.
A Citroën,com o modelo DS 21 Pallas,lançou um carro que a maioria do publico podia comprar e 50 anos na frente de qualquer outro carro no mundo! Eu tive um em1972,senão me falha a memória,que até hoje seria um carro imbatível em tecnologia. Quem teve um desses,nunca mais hoje compra um moderno,porque simplesmente está regredindo. QUE PENA !!
My first choice was Mercedes, but on the end I finished with my best friend C5 2002.I am in love for the last 14years,no way I can sell it! Citroen forevere!!!!
Ouais, la France éternelle tu parles... Cette vidéo montre juste comment les dirigeants Français, ici les boss de PSA, sont en train de la foutre en l'air ta France éternelle. Et ça fait mal au cul nom de dieu. Les cons. Ah les sales cons.
I am the proud owner of a Citroen Xantia II Activa V6 from 2000, and was the most amazing car I ever drive! Not only the engine has a gorgeous sound, but the suspension is totally out of this world! Active suspension plus hydropneumatic... its like driving a supercar but with a budget and the maintenance of an regular car. And with some few tweaks, the engine pulls over 220HP and most of the "expensive and luxury" cars here un south america can beat me in the highway :D Im really in love with this car. Great Video man!, i totally agree with you, its a shame that Citroen decided to end the development of such a great suspension system.
Please keep your love for humans only, and enjoy your car every moment! the hydrolic suspencion does not need 'development' as you mentioned, they know all about it, and tested many more car related issues with it. The system is even used in the Paris-Dakar with trucks!
I had a citroen c5 estate for 15 years and it is by fair the most comfortable and useful car ive ever owned. I now drive a Ford mondeo estate and its like driving a brick in comparison. gonna buy a van,
I had a C5 estate for a while. Load it up. Tow a caravan. Every task made easy. Great car. My dad had a cx. Longest car in the world, as a child. And so futuristic.
I've always had a love of the classic hydropneumatic citroens, from the original TA onwards. Funnily enough, I ended up buying a car that wasn't Citroen but had many of the features albeit implemented differently: I have an old Mercedes E-class, W211. The Citroen-like features are positive-pressure braking (the short-lived SBC system), it has headlamps that steer, and it has a pneumatic (although not oleo-pneumatic) suspension system that allows ride height to be changed, an excellent feature for getting up rough unmade driveways but also being able to hunker down for high-speed cruising. I really want an SM eventually... you need deep pockets to keep one in prime condition though.
Rolls Royce have used this suspension system for many years. They manufacture the components to their own higher specifications under a licence of Citroen patents.
Many manufacturers used parts from hydropneumatic suspension or brakes with pressure reservoir similar to citroen. Toyota , Mercedes, Maseratti, Audi, porsche, bmw,. And non car manufacturers, like military.. S-Tank, VAB, Challenger 2.. or JCB Fastrac machines..
of course they use, hydropneumatic pressure suply sphere for brakes, or for leveling, or full suspension :) Some cars with HPS Audi A8 D11 (Audi V8 Quattro), D2 (Audi A8), Typ 44 a C4BMW rad 7 E32 - 735 iL, 740iL a 750iLBMW rad 5 (E34) - Touring 525i a 530iBMW rad 7 (E38) - 740 iL a 750iLRolls-Royce Silver ShadowBentley T1/T2Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9Mercedes-Benz W 116 - 1975 do 1980 Mercedes-Benz W 126 - 1979 do 1991Maserati Quattroporte II.Porsche 911LBerliet nákladné vojenské vozidláPeugeot 405 4x4 Toyota LandCruiser Toyota AHC system
here is toyota ahc sphere..nearly the same as C5 www.landcruiserclub.net/community/attachments/dsc03617-jpg.75542/ you can also see a multi ply membrane like citroen.. maybe the same manufacturer
Shad That is interesting! I didnt know Toyota had a self levelling active ride height control suspension on their landcruisers, you are right it is very similiar to a Citroen system, thanks for letting me know. Just goes to show major manufactureres can do it when they want, I just wish they would use it on all their cars.
I´m a 60 years old and I had a lot cars, including a lot Citroens, but the C5 that I have today is the best car that I had in my life. I will still with my C5 for life.
I toured around europe with a cheap C5 estate that i bought, pulling a caravan. I laughed when i could just load it up and it would handle great. Fantastic car. My dad had a CX in the 80's. Smoothest motorway car ever, and so futuristic as a child
I have this suspension in my Rolls Royce Silver Wrath 1977 It glides over speed humps as if they do not exist !! Would make the perfect get away car !!!
i have a Silver Shadow II (same as the Wraith but normal wheelbase) year 1979: the ride is extremly smooth even only the rear wheel are fitted with hydraupneumatic suspension :only the first Shadow use it on 4 wheels, but the RR is much heawyer (2100kg) as a CX (1400kg), and RR see that only the rear wheels (like the Citroën traction 15) is ennough for best comfort...
Wow it looks like the French manufacturer was really something in the past. This footage shows how they were top of their game back then. Nowadays the French luxury cars aren't half as impressive globally.
The main problem in France is : the car makers never bothered to build great engines like the rest of the world did, namely : V8s and V12s with massive power, that's what always prevented French cars to make big news. Today it's all 1,6 L with a turbo. Peugeot hasn't anything (petrol) in their range more than this capacity. Volvo also is unfortunately taking this path now (that's what they dropped the V8 supercar races in Australia this year).
julosx also the French cars fail to introduce ground breaking technology like their German and British counterparts. The hydropneumatic suspension was a great achievement back then but now they are just dragging their past glory...
The French DID introduce ground breaking technology as far back as 1933 with the Traction Avant - Citroën again : this model combined front wheel drive, monocoque body, "floating" engine, torsion bar suspension, getting rid of all the archaisms like the scale frame and blade springs. Remember they are among the earliest car makers. And hydropneumatique suspension indeed. My guess is there's not enough things left uninvented to create entirely new cars these days unless you get rid of the wheels themselves. The problem Citroën is going through these last 20 years or so lies in the control Peugeot and its choices exerts over Citroën. Around 1998, the brand experimented a hybrid car based on the 2-liter Xsara. It was developed independently and featured the same system as Toyota in its hybrid models like the Prius. It just worked that well. Why didn't they bring it to the market - well before the Prius made it ? Because Peugeot was obsessed with diesel and afraid to have to drop it down at a time where they were investing huge sums of money on since a petrol+electric engine would have entirely ashamed the HDI motors. As a result, Toyota who dared bringing hybrids on the market took over.
julosx These days all technology means for cars is the autonomous driving in conjunction with the driver assistance and safety features (active and passive). The French cars simply lack that high tech feel and the prestige the rival European brands like Mercedes, audi etc bring to the customer. I have some hopes with the latest DS7 SUV (even if DS is a separate brand from Citroën). This car seems competitive, promises convenient technology, looks stylish and seems to have the typical French or Citroën DNA (at least on paper). It is yet to hit the market (although it has already been put in use for French president) so it still has to prove itself in real world but if it does its a worthy addition to the current automotive world.
our current family car is a C5 Exclusive Tourer with HP suspension and I'm absolutely obsessed with it. a friend of mine got me in to Citroën's and heck, now my family owns one!
My late Dad bought the first launched bx with the rolling drum sped and I think it also had a rocker switch for the indicators, it was the 1.9 diesel in dark burgundy pain work amazing comfort ,economy and he let me drive it sometimes. He changed it after 3 years for a new bx same engine and ran that for 6 years then swapped it for a zantia.
Una grande e originale innovazione tecnica quella di Citroen,poi vorrei anche citare il contributo di un grande stilista scultore come Bertoni.Bene,la C6 me la ricordo,a me non dispiaceva,(anche se non potevo acquistarla) e forse è stata l' ultima Citroen a montare queste sospensioni; peccato che non ha avuto il riscontro di pubblico adeguato,qui in Italia guardando ai numeri di vendita,ad es.ci fu un anno in cui ne vendettero solo duecento! Peccato,lo dico da appassionato di auto,ma purtroppo quando si entra in settori Premium è difficile fare concorrenza ai marchi Tedeschi: comunque mi ha fatto piacere vedere questo video 👍
I'm American I think the citroen is the most strangest weirdest most creative and stylish cars on the planet I like the cars because its thinking out side the box in the car industry. In the late 80s I drove a new model for awhile. It was one of the 1st that year in the new York city area
6:55 i would buy this car without much thought even today. It looks GREAT and features most advanced Citroen suspension ever made (even more advanced than that from C6)
Interesting video. I owned 3 x Citroen XM's in the '90''s and early 00's and they were utterly brilliant! Their brilliance led me to buy the first of the C5's which, while the suspension was still excellent, the build quality was shocking. Now, without hydraulic suspension, Citroen's serve no purpose. These days, I drive air sprung Land Rovers and it's the nearest I am ever likely to get to Citroen's wonderful hydraulics.
05:35 “I’ve had my ups and downs. My fair share of bumpy roads and heavy winds. That’s what made me what I am today. Now I drive here before you. What you see is a system crafted to perfection. A set of suspensions engineered to defy the laws of physics. And a stability to deliver the most epic of driving comfort.”
My first and the only one Citroen I've ever owned was Xsara Picasso. Fantastic family minivan. Loved it Nowadays driving peugeot, but I AM considering my great Citroen return
Ошибся веткой чувак, тут не про ширпотреб, а про настоящий Ситроен. Тебя могло бы немного спасти лишь наличие дизеля, т.к. Ситроен должен быть на шидре и на дизеле.
@Astro Nomie Mr. Citroen died in 1935. The company had plenty of soul at that point. It's what happened after the DS that is so troubling, especially in the last 20 years. They even stopped making that famous suspension!
I am an owner of a Citroen c5 2.0 2002 and I love it. It's got the smoothest ride ever. I was horrified to find out that they stopped the hydropneumatic suspension but for those who didn't know...They have better now! Citroen have now got progressive hydraulic cushions under their advanced comfort program. I am yet to try it but everything I've seen shows that hydropneumatic has a worthy challenger!
Sad to say,but it's not even a slight challenge for the Hydropneumatic :/ The only benefit from this new suspension is the great comfort which the HP suspension already delivered greatly...The benefits of being able to raise/lower Your car are no longer there,and not only that...But I hope they re-introduce it one day. Maybe in 2054,100 Years after the 'DS' present they might produce a few DS's with the unique suspension that no other brand has,just to remind the people that it existed ^_^
There is some models i skipped, SM, M35, type H. And there is much more, i did videos about others and other car makers, but it was not very succesfull so it ended in trash. I had all this cars and wanted to do reviews.. but now they are sold :)
After watching this i want to become CEO of citroen and restore hydropneumatic suspension for production, making Citroen great again :)
Me to
Agreed!
Absolutely
first of all you had to kick out f****g Peugeot... but you can count on me too! ;)
Me too
My dad bought an XM 2.0 16 valve in January of 2000 and only parted with it late last year and I always maintain it was the most comfortable, smooth car I've ever sat in and never once gave my dad even the slightest trouble. Very sad this technology wasn't emulated or adapted by other manufacturers, it truly transforms a cars ride and handling for the better.
No springs and shocks wearing out. If it fails just replace the sphere
Technology was stoped by greed of chief stockholders of auto industry.
Mercedes does the abc system very similar to the Citroen one but hyper complicated and way more expensive than the Citroen.
@@WorivpuqloDMogh The 'big' failing of Cit system, initially, was that those spheres had a relatively short life and some what frequent internal diaphragm failures. The ordinal units, typically, had a 2 to 3 year life span before either having to be replaced or re-charged - not something Cit recommended nor provided equipment to do so. Over the years better materials became available - addressed the failure problems to a great extent and did extend usable life considerably. In the US the current cost of LHM based units run in the $60 to $80 range and takes about from a 1/2 hour to an hour or so to do all 4 wheels. Depends if one has access to a lift or not.
@@Sandra-mj4kc - Yes - Citroen sold the DS here from 56 to 73, SM 70-73, 2CV 56-73. Andre Pol sold CX in the USA from some time. We have 5 - 2 D's, 2CV, XM and AX. And many owners imported cars from Europe.
Hydro-pneumatic suspension being shelved is to the automotive industry what concorde being grounded was to the aviation industry. One of the greatest innovations to never catch on.
I guess in modern times everything is designed to fail as they want us to buy a new car every 3 years.
Everything is led to the chopping block of the dollar, thats the real reason! In times like these, where profit margins are getting slimmer and slimmer, the cost/benefit ratio gets more priority than whats cool and innovative! Sadly but understandably, i mean you can innovate a company to death, just look Saab!
@@Gaphalor Well I think you can also "bore" a company, or even an entire industry to death if you stop innovation
From 1954 to 2018 almost 7 million Citroëns were sold with hydropneumatic suspension almost two million of the DS over 1.2 million CXs and over two million GS/GSAs. Obviously without those sales figures it wouldn't have lasted in production for 66 years now would it???
@@Gaphalor Citroën was far more innovative then SAAB was...on the car side... Granted Citroën never made aircraft but a pre Great War company André Citroën owned made the steering gear for the TITANIC
Citroen's engineering as featured in the 1955 DS19 was proclaimed by many auto writers of that era to be 20 years ahead of its time . On reflection and looking at today's cars I think the world hasn't caught up with it yet.
only little steps are appreciated, bigger steps are refused by the most of us.
This is because we don't know about it, which makes fear.
Citroën did not play the right advertisement, and hided the simple workings.
And now we understand not even all of it, one must have had one in order to find out how good it works. :-)
@@ThomiX0.0 The tech was crazy, but citroen never was a popular brand, same tech in a different brand and it might be in every car now!
@@Gaphalor , it isn't becouse of the brand, which has sold millions of cars, but the system of protecting the inventions it makes.
Generally spoken, this keeps the worldwide development on a hold.
Mercedes has used the hydropneumatic suspension in one of its most luxury cars, but had to pay much because of the license..and did not want to connect it's brand with Citroën.
Paris-Dakar trucks have used the same system, and successful too, but had to alter a bit to make it free to use.
Today even tomatoes are licensed and keeps the free development at bay.
The hydropneumatic system, was developed without interference of sales, which gave the technicians endless freedom to create the best.( In war time)
They had the pressures on board (in the car), and worked out all other possibilities like disk brakes, weight compensation, anti-dive suspension, anti-lean in corners, pneumatic steering, gear change, door openers, window openers, and even window wiper engines!
But there is more; the DS had the steering-point in the middle of the wheel, not outside of it like today is done which caused less friction.
The brake disks where placed close to the gearbox, which made the wheel movements very light and the road holding perfect!
All things done by electricity today where already done with pneumatics, easy to adjust and never unreliable.
Porsche might have made the electric 'tip-tronic' for semy-automatic gear change, but my experience showed me, it isn't as good and smooth as the DS 19 already 50 years ago had, and the friction time was adjustable to your personal behaviour too, you could not feel it and your passengers did not shake their heads if you changed the gear...
There is much, much more to explain about this technical jump they made, but we have lost it for ever.
The shame is on Mercedes, when they announced they had something new for their clients....turning headlights..to keep you safe..?!?
Cheers Gaphalor! :-)
@@ThomiX0.0 wow thanks for the insight. You are right, I didnt thought about the licence! But I also think that this sophisticated suspension is probably too expensive for "normal/cheaper" cars, because the average buyer of said cars doesnt pay 5-7k more for a better Suspension, while in luxurious vehicles these costs are a rounding error, which is why Rolls and Merc used it in their premium ones..
Like Saab, too much innovation put into a normal car will either make the car not profitable anymore or too expensive for your target group (sadly)
Have a good one
@@Gaphalor , the real problem for Citroën is not the license, they made it themselves.
After my adventure with the DS, I have used the BX (not expensive) the Xantia (not expensive) and C5 (not expensive) and the system worked perfect.
But when the factory had been taken by the PSA group, they weren't allowed to continue their own program, the basic frame should be used by Peugeot and Citroën, which than caused the downfall of hydropneumatic.
Loyal users did loose the companies specialty, and went astray...which is to see on sales today..and young riders do not know how perfect it could be..
Citroën did keep the suspension for themselves, refused to cooperate with others, and let customers buy new bulbs which wasn't needed!
They drowned in their own pit, and lost everything...and so did we.
But hè, the memory is great.
:-)
Driving the old DS, means enjoy every second of it, day in day out!!!
@obimk1104 , which to me would be a great new experience! I just had 2CV, AMI, DS20 Pallas, BX Toulouse, Xantia Station, C5 and just purchased a 20 year OLD,brand new C5 (2004) with hydractive3.
This old lady is going to have 'comfort- balls' installed this summer.
It makes her float again, :-)
Do you still have it?
I totally agree with you, once upon a time Citroen was a leader in car technology, now they just sell rebadged cheap Peugeots. What a shame...
Well then, let's stop buying Citroën and in less than five years "Citroën" will be a cherished memory of a long forgotten past...
@@omepeet2006 Better disapear now and remain with a great history than watch them how they build tractors, ugly low budget plastic tractors.. This lady, Linda Jackson, destroyed in a few years all this great history of building innovation. Hope, one day, I will come back at Citroen after my C5 2013 HP.
One of the Fiat cars is now just a rebadged Citroen Ami. Stellantis seems like a company who is runned by Dutch investors, with no kind of innovation left once Fiat-Chrysler and Peugeot merged.
I rode in a Citroen when I was 17. It was incredible. It was the most comfortable car I have ever been in. Once you have been in a Citroen you will never forget the memorable ride.
kermitefrog64 except if it is a 2007 c3
I totally agree with you, been in a 2CV 13 years ago on a camping when I was about 8 and I have been in a DS when I was around 14, both incredibly comfy and memorable, especially the gliding ride in the DS was unlike I had ever felt before.
True....until something goes wrong with it.
Elroy Fudbucker ds was very reliable with the suspension
@kermitefrog64 Which one?
I have the honor and the pleasure of driving a Citroen with this wonderful technology, a Citroen C5, and I enjoy every kilometer driven in this car. Superb!
Owning a C6 has been in the back of my mind ever since I parked next to one one day, now it's definately on my bucket list
Definitely go for it, they are great cars cheap and not too old, they can be driven daily😃💪
@@budalenakvadrat8635 if only I can find a nice petrol one cuz I live in a low emissions zone 😅
@@rubenbraekman4515 oh, yeah makes sense to go for a petrol then. I wish you the best of luck finding one😉
The C6 asks for a professional dealer, if not ..better leave it.
The DS was so far ahead of its time in 1955.
The Citroen hidropneumatic suspension system is the best suspension system in the world.
In the first ‘60 years, my parents and I we Made a long yourney from Italy to capetown. Our car was a beautiful Citroen DS 21 Break. We blew out a tire many times but no damages at all in 18000 km!!
Now it's all over. The hydropneumatic suspension was the last relict of Citroën golden years. My favourite Carmaker is definitively dead. As i read that the last C5 with HP was build on 02-06-17 i had really to cry. Such a genial invention thrown on the scrapyard of technical history. My best wishes and best regards to all Citroën HP-Cars Drivers. You all (me too, i have 2 BX) drive GREAT cars with a soul and big history. Years ahead of their time. Here in Germany Citroën had in the 80s the marketing claim "Die Kraft der Kreativität" - The power of creativity. Nothing of this creativity is left over. A shame.
Greetings from Germany,
Paul
Paul Phillip Hedderich. Hydropneumatic suspension lives on McLaren 720 and P1 as well as the rear of Rolls Royce I believe. Hopefully someone will bring it back for normal cars people can afford one day.
TRUTH SEEKER yea actually the factory making the components will not close because they still have to make parts for Rolls Royce suspension.
Although they are very secretive about it, it's Citroen suspension, but for marketing purposes they will never admit it.
Emanuel Gug Yes Hydropneumatic suspension is only for the mega rich today with new cars anyway...There seems to be more and more money no object cars on the market as a result of many more very rich people who are riding the globalist push
DS7 Crossback has active suspension
C5 Aircross has progressive hydraulic suspension
Not so dead ;)
Geremy Padoanello..that is great but still not the same.
Best suspension ever and the icon of Citroen's cutting edge creativity. RIP Citroen.
Those engineers even developed a window-whipperengine on hydronic fluid.
They could open doors, changed seat set-ups and counter-react the roll in corners way before Volvo did.
Horizontal levelling, brake force levelling, gear change movements, clutch sensitivity, no Tow or camber for the wheels, disk brakes attached to the engine block, steer following lights , nose dive levelling and much much more.
And all this in 1950, and mechanically functioning, no electronics needed.
When engineers were free to develop cars, and are not restricted by a sales department, we would finally get cars we really want.
My first car was a DS23 EFI Automatique from 1971... I've also owned a 1973 GS and a 1993 XM in my days of motoring
Merci monsieur Paul Mages concepteur de cette géniale suspension et de l'hydraulique en général sur les Citroën.
I catched a Citroën Xantia and restored it by myself with new hydropneumatic suspension. I never seen that and i had a lot of modern véhicule before. Now i driving a cloud.
Probably the best suspension system ever, and the only reason for buying a citroen, has gone. RIP
Увы, это так, настоящих citroen больше не делают :(
The worst suspension system ever. I had a Citroeen XM for 11 years. It was a hydropneumatic nightmare. Never again.
@@bjofuruh i had a CX 2500 GTI: never problems with hydraupneumatic during more than 500 000km, except sphere changes all 7-8 years...this system was use on the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow and Silver Spirit: i think not that RR use the "worst suspension" for he's ultra luxury cars...
Sad.😢
@@bjofuruh I would like to know which other suspension you had before to be compared with and who is an imbecile who gave you thumb up?
I had two XM Y3 (2.1 TD & 2.0i) and currently XM Y4 T.C.T which will stay with me, till Jesus invite me to coffee and whiskey.
If you had maintain it properly, changing the LHM oil and spheres on time, you wouldn't have any problem as I never had.
Besides, why would you drive it for 11 f...n years if the suspension was the worst one?
Get lost mate.
My first car 50 years ago was an Aussie assembled ID19. I have been hooked on Citroens ever since, including DS Super, DS21, DS23, GS, CX PRESTIGE, Xantia ... Fabulous... And my 3 new 2CV6s also had amazing ride, handling, comfort and braking.
Nothing beats a big hydropneumatic Citroen for long distance high speed flying on mediocre Aussie country roads.
Even did the Oodnadatta Track in the Far Outback in a 16 year old Xantia Turbo diesel getting 5.5 litres per 100kms in supreme comfort where ever other vehicle was a 4WD... incredible space and importantly great dust sealing... Brilliant and reliable.
I own a 2008 C5 Exclusive. Best car I have owned. The suspension, the 2.7V6 Bi Turbo Diesel. The comfort, quietness. Unbeatable…..
Ive bought à 2010 2.0l 140hp version of it, its so comfy and reliable. Id love to ride it everywhere i have to drive to !
Был 2006 года 2.0 140. По дурости продал и потом взял exclusive 2006 3.0v6
Oui citroen a eu une grande période de réussite grâce à cette suspension. Vos commentaires prouvent que ça a bien marquer l’histoire. Dommage que les américains ont refuser cette technologie sur leurs sols (jalousie ou protectionnisme ? ....).
Biggest issue with the activa was on roundabouts when people had no idea you were at 60 and would pull out on you that's when those incredible breaks kicked in and saved your arse.
My activa (the one I actually used) was this the best car I've ever driven, I drove it straight after a year with V6 exclusive, in perfect conditions pushing it the activa would get me to work 4 minutes faster than the v6 driven the same way and that was only down to handling (the drive was 30 miles mixed conditions my Passat is 15 mins slower than the v6 to give you an idea what 4 minutes difference was).
I blew the top water hose (the car at this point was 10 and had 130k on the clock) after full throttle for 30 seccond and the car drove another 5 miles to my parents with no water in the block and no engine damage (new hose and the car did another 50k before I scrapped it because it wasn't economical).
When I ran activanet we had 3 activas with us they were dynoed at the French car show in 2005 all of them were over 220bhp stock so Citroen lied about the 150bhp they were meant to make I am guessing so that they could sell the v6.
I wish I had kept one of my activa's I had 4 in total, typically I think the one I broke for parts was actually the best example I just didn't like the dark red that it was preferring my silver n reg that I put sparcos and harnesses in and the light met red that I gave to a friend because he wanted one so much and he sold on eBay and was broken for its engine.
The strangest thing about the activa system was it would wiggle at rest if the lhm tank was under filled. This was because the pressure to it wasn't enough at idle with out a full tank. And if you let it go any lower you would then find that the pas failed and you needed to be superman to turn the cars steering wheel.
Citroen need to spin off this side of their company they have fans like Dyson, people will buy these cars but you need to produce interesting cars that are dynamic yet comfortable, you use to be able to complete with Audi now you can't compete with seat or Skoda (same company i know) imho your still beating fiat and that about it. Nothing moves you like a Citroen (use to).
There will never be anything like the 19s and 21s and 23s of the sixties and seventies. Enjoyed every minute earning a living working on those wonderful cars.
Two Xantias and one GS, the suspension was the icing on the cake and despite some challenges made these cars so special. Miss them all and was shocked when the decision to axe Hydropneumatic was made.
my family owned a Citroen C5 estate 2005 and it was one of the best cars we ever had!
Citroen Xantia, my first car, I will never forget my first time driving this Cloud Walker !!!!!
I love these automobiles!
I had a Citröen BX 16 TRS and a Citröen XM 2.0 Turbo CT and I miss them a lot!
Citroën marketing department for the last 40 years: "For the new commercial, we want COMPUTER ANIMATED HYDRAULIC LINES AND COMPUTERS AND STUFF!"
As someone who has a Citroen in the Family themselves and who genuinly likes the old ones a very big ton, almost as big as the DS is long, i want to own a C6 one day.
Ive always liked the C6 for its strange looks, and it honestly deserves way more love.
All new cars today should have Hydropneumatic suspension..people just dont know how good it is and are only interested in interior features like bluetooth, lane change warning etc etc...I got around in a DS Citroen for 30 years and I miss it every time I hit a bump in my modern car. Manufacturers need to up their game, chassis technology in many cars isnt far removed from Model T fords.
Meanwhile, there's always some pickups around, still with their live rear axle and blade springs. Well. 👎
julosx Yes and hatchbacks with drum rear brakes and a beam axle..not what I imagined driving in 2017 when you could buy a Citroen DS in 1955
+TRUTH SEEKER What about mercedes air suspension?
Adnan Jusic yes its not bad but still quite along way off what is possible with todays technology. Have a look at Citroen c6 suspension
is it less compicated/more reliable that citroen`s one?
Citroen was an amazing car with technology light years ahead of it's time. True innovators! Many companies have used the hydropneumatic suspension under license from Citroen like the Lexus LX, Bentley, Rolls Royce.
I believe a Lexus had air suspension
From cars to yachts to many other technologies........the French have long been great innovators. I admire the way they can think outside of the box......
Too bad that quality is mostly poor.
@@AdrianoCROST
Most
Not all
:)
When i read your comment, i'm proud to be French
@@AdrianoCROST
Renaults have top quality cars even better than germans
@@salahgh3081 Where are they, word needs to see them ?!
Ein bischen traurig bin ich ja schon das dies alles jetzt zu ende sein soll......diese Technik hatte mich seit über 30 Jahre sicher über die Schlaglöcher der Welt begleitet Danke Citroen
We were a Citroën family HERE IN THE U.S. !
The folks would take us to the drive-in movies, a blanket on the roof of a DS with my brother and I during intermission !
Dad would love to retract, "drop" the car and my sibling and I would rock it to the amusement of our fellow movie goers .
Dad dated my mother in one and much later in life a couple of SMs, one auto , the other a 5 speed were the daily drivers.....Boy , were the contactors (ignition points) expensive (before electronic ignition)~$300 !
Truly , the car ahead of its time is still a jewel today and , yes , it is a shame the current management has quite cheapened the branding in dropping the features synonymous in its success .
Thanks for this great compilation !
At the age of 12 I had a drive with my uncle in a DS and it was the best ride I have ever experienced that car still looks fabulous, pleasevCitroen become adventurous again especially with the new PSA stable.
Oh how I love our CX and especially my dads and my Xantia V6 ACTIVA(s). No one, really no one will be as fast around corners as you are, ever. (Ate my last tires in ~2000km, lol)
And they're also so reliable. Over 500 000km with still the first engine, first clutch, first gearbox on the V6 ACTIVA of my dad.
I would really love to see a clutch after 500000 km...
@@MrJonas7 We changed it lately. Not because it was worn down or broken but because we did a lot of things on the car and since the engine was already out of the car it would've been stupid not to change it.
It looked like it worked, quite normal. I've seen clutches with just 30000km on them that looked way worse. Clutches are normally relatively sturdy but if one doesn't know how to engage it properly it can be destroyed within seconds.
@@HerrSchmitti That's why I wonder how it could've survived for so long. Perhaps long distances? But great it did. I'm happy for you. :)
OK that was cute, but no clutch last 500,000 KM!!
@@ahoorakia if you say so... I can only tell you how it is. Or do you really think I need to brag anonymously about a fucking clutch on the Internet...? If yes you're just seriously challenged.
I still drive the dream in my 2015 C5 Exclusive Tourer. Amazing and delightful accompanied by sizzling acceleration. When I park my C5 it is a privilege to glance back and behold my beautiful example of fine French engineering and elegance. I still enjoy it.
I owned 17 cars of mixed European and Japanese heritage. My 1975 Citroen GS, with its combination of hydropneumatic suspension, air cooling, superb aerodynamics and reliability put it on the top of my list. Citroen used to rule, past tense...
Problem is they didn't rule because people are ejuts, they never managed to establish themselves as a cutting edge luxurious brand, a premium choice which they very much were, but they didn't charge a premium and made a range of wacky vehicles, that lack of image prevented them from ever taking off in the mainstream market with their incredible cars. People need to be manipulated with good marketing, they're far too dim to see whats actually good on their own, its just what they're told enough is good. Now the chevrons are Peugeot 2.0
Nice film montage. Well done! Hydropmeumatic Citroens are sublime. I have owned many over the years and nothing on earth drives like them. I can put my GS Pallas round bends just as fast, and in some cases faster than my Alfa 159 which is very much set up to be the drivers car. For long distance cruising, I loved my Xantia Exclusive with Hydractive. Best of both worlds. Fantastic long distance cruiser. The miles just melted away in that. However my favourites will always be the BX and GS that's why I still have and regularly drive one of each!
GSBX1220 1 had 3 bx's in the family and yep utterly faultless really from new to well over 150k, the mk1 bx may of been a family car but it was something special as well, a real loss the direction they took.
A Citroën,com o modelo DS 21 Pallas,lançou um carro que a maioria do publico podia comprar e 50 anos na frente de qualquer outro carro no mundo!
Eu tive um em1972,senão me falha a memória,que até hoje seria um carro imbatível em tecnologia.
Quem teve um desses,nunca mais hoje compra um moderno,porque simplesmente está regredindo. QUE PENA !!
Citroen made ALWAYS something SPECIAL...starting with the Traction Avant...and so on!!!...no one can take that away from them!!!.
Back in Citroens golden era, if aliens came to earth, they would be driving Citroens.
my dad still drives one today
@@tijnkemna8920 Is he an alien tho?😳😳😳😳
This car was too good to be true, but it's true
I like the way you think
I am an alien. You are dead right.
My first choice was Mercedes, but on the end I finished with my best friend C5 2002.I am in love for the last 14years,no way I can sell it! Citroen forevere!!!!
I had BX19 and BX16 ... never forget this drive-feeling ... RIP
This guy is a 80's synthwave fan, love it ;)
2stroke2smoke do you know what the tune is at 6:55
whats the tune? I need it for research purposes :)
OGRE - Negotiation's Over
Really nice 80s fashioned tune. Perfect for a night ride in a BX S1🤗.
@@Berchol wow thanks man just posted a question here on what that track is called!
Merci pour cette vidéo qui montre la haute technologie Citroën et qui met en avant la France éternelle
Ouais, la France éternelle tu parles... Cette vidéo montre juste comment les dirigeants Français, ici les boss de PSA, sont en train de la foutre en l'air ta France éternelle.
Et ça fait mal au cul nom de dieu. Les cons. Ah les sales cons.
and now i want a Citroen DS, or BX, or C6 or maybe even XM
I am the proud owner of a Citroen Xantia II Activa V6 from 2000, and was the most amazing car I ever drive! Not only the engine has a gorgeous sound, but the suspension is totally out of this world! Active suspension plus hydropneumatic... its like driving a supercar but with a budget and the maintenance of an regular car. And with some few tweaks, the engine pulls over 220HP and most of the "expensive and luxury" cars here un south america can beat me in the highway :D Im really in love with this car. Great Video man!, i totally agree with you, its a shame that Citroen decided to end the development of such a great suspension system.
Citroën
is Peugeot since '76. This system is a heritage from DS.
OH yessss, I love the activa and am currently saving up for it
Você é de qual país amigo? Também sou da América do Sul. É um carro sensacional, mas difícil de encontrar aqui no Brasil hoje. Saudações!
Please keep your love for humans only, and enjoy your car every moment!
the hydrolic suspencion does not need 'development' as you mentioned, they know all about it, and tested many more car related issues with it.
The system is even used in the Paris-Dakar with trucks!
I had a citroen c5 estate for 15 years and it is by fair the most comfortable and useful car ive ever owned. I now drive a Ford mondeo estate and its like driving a brick in comparison. gonna buy a van,
I had a C5 estate for a while.
Load it up. Tow a caravan. Every task made easy.
Great car.
My dad had a cx. Longest car in the world, as a child. And so futuristic.
I've always had a love of the classic hydropneumatic citroens, from the original TA onwards. Funnily enough, I ended up buying a car that wasn't Citroen but had many of the features albeit implemented differently: I have an old Mercedes E-class, W211. The Citroen-like features are positive-pressure braking (the short-lived SBC system), it has headlamps that steer, and it has a pneumatic (although not oleo-pneumatic) suspension system that allows ride height to be changed, an excellent feature for getting up rough unmade driveways but also being able to hunker down for high-speed cruising. I really want an SM eventually... you need deep pockets to keep one in prime condition though.
I have had CX, BX, Xantia and now C5 hydro from 2011. I am very sad the hydropneumatic area is over.
Citroën was crasy back then.....it was just like a car from the future
I love citroen.
Citroen is the greatest brand for me, I used vw, audi and skoda, also dacia and nothing compares to citroen. Citroen is really the best....!! :)
Crescit Sub Pondere Virtus Isn’t Dacia better??
They had me with that irresistible electronic synth beats
SAIL
Rolls Royce have used this suspension system for many years. They manufacture the components to their own higher specifications under a licence of Citroen patents.
Many manufacturers used parts from hydropneumatic suspension or brakes with pressure reservoir similar to citroen. Toyota , Mercedes, Maseratti, Audi, porsche, bmw,. And non car manufacturers, like military.. S-Tank, VAB, Challenger 2.. or JCB Fastrac machines..
Shad, Toyota? Porsche? BMW? which models? Im not aware of any of these using any Citroen technology..
of course they use, hydropneumatic pressure suply sphere for brakes, or for leveling, or full suspension
:) Some cars with HPS
Audi A8 D11 (Audi V8 Quattro), D2 (Audi A8), Typ 44 a C4BMW rad 7 E32 - 735 iL, 740iL a 750iLBMW rad 5 (E34) - Touring 525i a 530iBMW rad 7 (E38) - 740 iL a 750iLRolls-Royce Silver ShadowBentley T1/T2Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9Mercedes-Benz W 116 - 1975 do 1980 Mercedes-Benz W 126 - 1979 do 1991Maserati Quattroporte II.Porsche 911LBerliet nákladné vojenské vozidláPeugeot 405 4x4 Toyota LandCruiser Toyota AHC system
here is toyota ahc sphere..nearly the same as C5 www.landcruiserclub.net/community/attachments/dsc03617-jpg.75542/ you can also see a multi ply membrane like citroen.. maybe the same manufacturer
Shad That is interesting! I didnt know Toyota had a self levelling active ride height control suspension on their landcruisers, you are right it is very similiar to a Citroen system, thanks for letting me know. Just goes to show major manufactureres can do it when they want, I just wish they would use it on all their cars.
Citroën siempre a la vanguardia de la tecnologia automotriz, vive la France!!!🇫🇷🔧🚗😉
EM PARTICULAR PRA MIM A CITROEN É A MELHOR MARCA DE VEÍCULOS QUE JA CONHECI. PARABÉNS CITROEN DO BRASIL!
My c5 from 2003 has done 442 000km and counting! Best ride you can get for 1000€
Um brasileiro apaixonado pelas inovações da Citroen.
La DS 20 est la première voiture dans laquelle je sois monté. J'étais encore dans le ventre de ma mère. 💕🇨🇵
Citroen has always been uber cool. Love it.
i have citroen c2 very good car
I´m a 60 years old and I had a lot cars, including a lot Citroens, but the C5 that I have today is the best car that I had in my life. I will still with my C5 for life.
I toured around europe with a cheap C5 estate that i bought, pulling a caravan. I laughed when i could just load it up and it would handle great.
Fantastic car.
My dad had a CX in the 80's. Smoothest motorway car ever, and so futuristic as a child
I have this suspension in my
Rolls Royce Silver Wrath 1977
It glides over speed humps as if they do not exist !!
Would make the perfect get away car !!!
i have a Silver Shadow II (same as the Wraith but normal wheelbase) year 1979: the ride is extremly smooth even only the rear wheel are fitted with hydraupneumatic suspension :only the first Shadow use it on 4 wheels, but the RR is much heawyer (2100kg) as a CX (1400kg), and RR see that only the rear wheels (like the Citroën traction 15) is ennough for best comfort...
Super awesome feeling ride
C5 the best car I ever had!!
2.2HDi Hydractive 3 Exclusive. Big Sclap!
Love my two Xantias, one limousine and one break (station wagon). Will never need anything better, hope they last forever...
Wow it looks like the French manufacturer was really something in the past. This footage shows how they were top of their game back then. Nowadays the French luxury cars aren't half as impressive globally.
The main problem in France is : the car makers never bothered to build great engines like the rest of the world did, namely : V8s and V12s with massive power, that's what always prevented French cars to make big news. Today it's all 1,6 L with a turbo. Peugeot hasn't anything (petrol) in their range more than this capacity. Volvo also is unfortunately taking this path now (that's what they dropped the V8 supercar races in Australia this year).
julosx also the French cars fail to introduce ground breaking technology like their German and British counterparts. The hydropneumatic suspension was a great achievement back then but now they are just dragging their past glory...
The French DID introduce ground breaking technology as far back as 1933 with the Traction Avant - Citroën again : this model combined front wheel drive, monocoque body, "floating" engine, torsion bar suspension, getting rid of all the archaisms like the scale frame and blade springs. Remember they are among the earliest car makers. And hydropneumatique suspension indeed. My guess is there's not enough things left uninvented to create entirely new cars these days unless you get rid of the wheels themselves.
The problem Citroën is going through these last 20 years or so lies in the control Peugeot and its choices exerts over Citroën. Around 1998, the brand experimented a hybrid car based on the 2-liter Xsara. It was developed independently and featured the same system as Toyota in its hybrid models like the Prius. It just worked that well. Why didn't they bring it to the market - well before the Prius made it ? Because Peugeot was obsessed with diesel and afraid to have to drop it down at a time where they were investing huge sums of money on since a petrol+electric engine would have entirely ashamed the HDI motors. As a result, Toyota who dared bringing hybrids on the market took over.
julosx These days all technology means for cars is the autonomous driving in conjunction with the driver assistance and safety features (active and passive). The French cars simply lack that high tech feel and the prestige the rival European brands like Mercedes, audi etc bring to the customer. I have some hopes with the latest DS7 SUV (even if DS is a separate brand from Citroën). This car seems competitive, promises convenient technology, looks stylish and seems to have the typical French or Citroën DNA (at least on paper). It is yet to hit the market (although it has already been put in use for French president) so it still has to prove itself in real world but if it does its a worthy addition to the current automotive world.
Not only the french. It's very hard to keep up with German competition. Not only in the luxury sector these days. They're taking over every segment.
our current family car is a C5 Exclusive Tourer with HP suspension and I'm absolutely obsessed with it. a friend of mine got me in to Citroën's and heck, now my family owns one!
Beauty plus comfort=CITROEN
I have just bought a BX just for the whole fact it has hydro pneumatic suspension, I can't wait to get it delivered
Good choice ! I love my GS and CX Break.
That's why I love Citroen ;)
My late Dad bought the first launched bx with the rolling drum sped and I think it also had a rocker switch for the indicators, it was the 1.9 diesel in dark burgundy pain work amazing comfort ,economy and he let me drive it sometimes.
He changed it after 3 years for a new bx same engine and ran that for 6 years then swapped it for a zantia.
Una grande e originale innovazione tecnica quella di Citroen,poi vorrei anche citare il contributo di un grande stilista scultore come Bertoni.Bene,la C6 me la ricordo,a me non dispiaceva,(anche se non potevo acquistarla) e forse è stata l' ultima Citroen a montare queste sospensioni; peccato che non ha avuto il riscontro di pubblico adeguato,qui in Italia guardando ai numeri di vendita,ad es.ci fu un anno in cui ne vendettero solo duecento! Peccato,lo dico da appassionato di auto,ma purtroppo quando si entra in settori Premium è difficile fare concorrenza ai marchi Tedeschi: comunque mi ha fatto piacere vedere questo video 👍
This Citroen suspension is a masterpiece❤️❤️❤️
This suspension offered comfort that you could get only on luxury cars that only millionaires could afford. No wonder the market didn't like it.
i miss my car BX 16 TRS..........i miss so much.........
I'm American I think the citroen is the most strangest weirdest most creative and stylish cars on the planet I like the cars because its thinking out side the box in the car industry. In the late 80s I drove a new model for awhile. It was one of the 1st that year in the new York city area
Hydro Citroens would be well suited to American roads I think. I miss my Xantia although sadly not my C5.
Foda demais!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 citroen sempre a frente do seu tempo!
Бомба! Моя любимая марка автомобиля! А гидроподвеска - это фантастика! Браво французским инженерам!
the marketing team of Citroen was outstanding!
a fish hanging from a balloon, now that is unique, and a bit odd
No its not. If was good the hydropneumatic cars still exists, the brand dont no how to explain the quality of their suspension to the world.
kesini gegara ridwan hanif.. jadi kepengen tau kecanggihan hydropneumatic suspension citroen..
Sama
Здорово. Спасибо за видео.
My father had citroen bx and I can say, changing the tire was so easy, you needed a bar nothing else, no jack.
No hydro nowadays. RIP Citroen.
6:55 i would buy this car without much thought even today. It looks GREAT and features most advanced Citroen suspension ever made (even more advanced than that from C6)
even today the 2cv is a marvel of modernity.
Tony Fleetwood you mean the ds right? The 2cv is very barebones and old
but still more advanced than modern cars...take the interlinked suspension system for instance.
I bought C5 1.6 HDI 2006 yesterday and i have to say it's great. Not to powerful but comfort is fantastic.It's a beautiful car too
Im imagine how cool it's that when 60's
DS19 launched in 1955!!! Three decades and more ahead of the British motor industry.
Interesting video. I owned 3 x Citroen XM's in the '90''s and early 00's and they were utterly brilliant! Their brilliance led me to buy the first of the C5's which, while the suspension was still excellent, the build quality was shocking.
Now, without hydraulic suspension, Citroen's serve no purpose.
These days, I drive air sprung Land Rovers and it's the nearest I am ever likely to get to Citroen's wonderful hydraulics.
05:35
“I’ve had my ups and downs. My fair share of bumpy roads and heavy winds.
That’s what made me what I am today. Now I drive here before you.
What you see is a system crafted to perfection. A set of suspensions engineered to defy the laws of physics.
And a stability to deliver the most epic of driving comfort.”
Nothing moved you like a Citroën. Hopefully it's coming again!
"had a front blowout on the freeway and didn't know until I smelled it"
My first and the only one Citroen I've ever owned was Xsara Picasso. Fantastic family minivan. Loved it
Nowadays driving peugeot, but I AM considering my great Citroen return
1300000 all world!
Ошибся веткой чувак, тут не про ширпотреб, а про настоящий Ситроен. Тебя могло бы немного спасти лишь наличие дизеля, т.к. Ситроен должен быть на шидре и на дизеле.
Interestingly I liked the musics.
Citroen ist immer noch eine innovative Automarke. Mir gefallen die Modelle der 70/80er sehr gut! Hatte selbst C4 und C5.
I like your description. Spot-on! Citroen management should be imprisoned for some of their decisions.
Yes, lock these ignorant idiots away for EVER!!!! They intetionally destroyed the Citroen brand... shame!
$$$ unfortunately
@Astro Nomie Mr. Citroen died in 1935. The company had plenty of soul at that point. It's what happened after the DS that is so troubling, especially in the last 20 years. They even stopped making that famous suspension!
I am an owner of a Citroen c5 2.0 2002 and I love it. It's got the smoothest ride ever. I was horrified to find out that they stopped the hydropneumatic suspension but for those who didn't know...They have better now! Citroen have now got progressive hydraulic cushions under their advanced comfort program. I am yet to try it but everything I've seen shows that hydropneumatic has a worthy challenger!
Sad to say,but it's not even a slight challenge for the Hydropneumatic :/ The only benefit from this new suspension is the great comfort which the HP suspension already delivered greatly...The benefits of being able to raise/lower Your car are no longer there,and not only that...But I hope they re-introduce it one day. Maybe in 2054,100 Years after the 'DS' present they might produce a few DS's with the unique suspension that no other brand has,just to remind the people that it existed ^_^
Citroen Activa (1) is Amazing!
I love how you went on and on about other models and basically said "and then there is this" about c5 mk1. thanks
There is some models i skipped, SM, M35, type H. And there is much more, i did videos about others and other car makers, but it was not very succesfull so it ended in trash. I had all this cars and wanted to do reviews.. but now they are sold :)
Citroën has become a normal carmaker now, like any other. They have thrown their crownjewels on the scarpyard, indeed.
They need to bring it back