Citroen SM Coupé by Frua – 1972
Marca : Citröen
Modello : SM
Anno : 1973
Telaio N. : 101
Motore N. : —
Esemplari prodotti : one-off
Designer : pietro frua
Progettista : Jean Cadiou, giulio alfieri, paul magès
Motore : 6 cilindri a V di 90°
Cilindrata : 2.670 cc
Distribuzione : DOHC
Valvole Cilindro : 2
Alimentazione : Iniezione elettronica Bosch D-Jetronic
Potenza : 178 CV a 5.500 giri
Top speed Km/h : 228
Auction Result
2012 – Monaco – Bonhams – unsold
Using Citröen SM mechanical components, this unique prototype was created by the Italian Carrozzeria Frua in 1971 and first displayed at the Geneva Salon in March 1972. At that time Citroën owned Maserati and this Frua-styled ‘concept car' looks remarkably similar to the Maserati Khamsin. The latter was first seen as a prototype displayed by Carrozzeria bertone at the 1972 Turin Auto Show, and debuted as a Maserati production model at the Paris Motor Show in 1973. A conventional front engine/rear-wheel-drive design, the Khamsin was powered by a V8 whereas the Citröen SM employed front-wheel drive and a 90-degree Maserati V6 engine. The Frua-styled SM may owe its existence to proposals for a front-wheel-drive Maserati sports car, and although the Italian company would go on to use the Citröen-inspired V6 engine it would be in the mid-engined Merak.
Citröen had bought Maserati in 1968, principally to acquire the latter's engine technology for its new top-of-the-range Gran Turismo coupé, and the Italian firm responded to the brief with remarkable speed with a four-cam 90-degree V6. Introduced in 1970, the SM (Série Maserati) combined Maserati's engine know-how with Citröen's advanced chassis technology, featuring DS-style hydro-pneumatic self-levelling suspension, power-assisted all-round disc brakes, self-centring steering and steered headlamps. After some juggling of engine dimensions, a capacity of 2,670cc was settled on for a power output of 170bhp. Citröen was the world leader in passenger car aerodynamics at the time, the SM's class-leading drag coefficient enabling it to reach 140mph, making it the fastest front-wheel-drive car ever at that time. The model was prematurely axed in 1975 following Citröen's acquisition by Peugeot.
Following its debut at Geneva in '72, the Frua Citröen SM was shown there again the following year and also at the International Motor Show in Barcelona, Spain.