There are few names in French automotive history that still carry the same almost mythical weight as the Citroën SM. Introduced in 1970, it was not simply another luxury coupe. It was a technological statement, a grand tourer that combined Robert Opron’s futuristic design with hydropneumatic suspension, advanced lighting, and a Maserati-sourced V6 at a time when few cars on the road felt as daring or as unusual. Even today, the SM remains one of the clearest symbols of what French carmakers could achieve when comfort, innovation, and style were pushed to their limit. DS Automobiles still sees that legacy as important, as shown by its official SM Tribute design study revealed in 2024.
That is what makes Eduardo Benz’s latest digital concept so interesting. Called the Citroën DS British Green, it is not an official production car but rather an independent design proposal imagining what a spiritual successor to the SM could look like in the modern era. And unlike so many luxury concept fantasies today, this one does not take the form of yet another SUV.
Instead, it imagines a proper five-door GT with shooting brake proportions, a low stance, wide shoulders, and the kind of silhouette that instantly separates it from the mainstream. Eduardo Benz Design presents it as a premium halo car that would sit in Porsche Panamera territory but with a distinctly French personality.
A Modern SM In Spirit Rather Than Copy
The exterior is where that idea comes through most clearly. Up front, the concept blends DS design language with Citroën heritage in a way that sounds risky on paper but works surprisingly well in execution. The face combines DS-style vertical lighting, a sculpted front fascia, and a closed textured grille carrying Citroën chevrons, while the DS badge sits farther back on the long hood.
From the side, the car takes on the clean, sweeping form of a fastback shooting brake, with flush door handles, a very short rear overhang, and a roofline that strongly echoes the original SM’s dramatic profile. Eduardo Benz’s own presentation even compares the proportions to a modern high-performance wagon like the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo.
The rear appears to be the strongest link to the original SM. The concept uses a large glass hatch as a direct nod to the 1970 car and then modernizes it with a full-width LED light bar and bold CITROËN lettering across the tail. It feels retro without slipping into costume design. That matters, because the original SM is too distinctive to survive a simple copy-and-paste revival. DS Automobiles made a similar point with its own SM Tribute, which treated the historic car as inspiration rather than something to be replicated panel by panel.
A French Luxury Cabin With Real Character
Inside, the concept avoids the sterile all-screen approach that has taken over much of the luxury market. Eduardo Benz imagines a cabin centered around a modern interpretation of Citroën’s classic single-spoke steering wheel, paired with rich brown leather, diamond stitching, and open-pore wood across the dashboard.
Digital displays are still present, but they are integrated more discreetly, serving the driver rather than dominating the entire interior. That approach gives the car a warmer, more distinctly French atmosphere than many German rivals now offer.
Why The Powertrain Idea Matters
The most intriguing part of the proposal may be what sits under the hood. Eduardo Benz does not imagine this car as a pure EV. Instead, the concept points toward a twin-turbo V6, likely in plug-in hybrid form, with total output above 500 horsepower. The most realistic Stellantis-based scenario mentioned by the studio is a 177 cubic inch V6 related to Alfa Romeo hardware, or something inspired by the Peugeot 9X8 racing program, combined with electric assistance. In other words, this would not be a French answer to the luxury EV crowd. It would be a French GT that still values mechanical drama, long-legged touring ability, and a sense of occasion.
That is why the British Green concept works as more than just a pretty rendering. It highlights a gap that still exists in the modern luxury market. DS Automobiles has design ambition and a heritage rich enough to support a real flagship, but it still lacks the one model that could truly redefine how the brand is perceived.
A five-door grand tourer with real comfort, distinctive French design, and a powerful hybrid V6 would do exactly that. This car does not exist, at least not beyond the digital world. But as a statement about what French luxury could be, it feels far more convincing than many concepts that come from actual production programs.
This article originally appeared on Autorepublika.com and has been republished with permission by Guessing Headlights. AI-assisted translation was used, followed by human editing and review.