Citroen DS

Citroen DS: generations compared: what actually changed

Arithmetic across the model: power rises from 75 hp to 141 hp (+66 hp, +88%). Specific output rises from 39.2 hp/L (75 / 1.911) to 63.9 hp/L on the 2.2 AT 139 hp (139 / 2.175). Weight per horsepower falls from 15.33 kg/hp to 8.16 kg/hp (1150 / 141). Kerb weight, tank and clearance do not move, so every extra horsepower is a lighter load on the same 1150 kg.

1 generation (1955–1973) has 2 versions, both named 1.9 MT, both 1911 cm³, Carburetor, Manual 4, Drum / Drum. The only measured splits are compression 7.5 vs 8.5, power 75 hp vs 83 hp, torque 137 Nm (rpm not measured) vs 142 Nm at 3500 rpm. Top speed is not measured on both.

1 generation, restyling 1 (1963–1968) has 9 versions. Displacement grows from 1911 to 1985 and 2175 cm³. Peak power in this block is 109 hp (80 kW) on every 2.2 MT and 2.2 AT. Brakes split the same names: some 1.9 MT, 2.0 MT, 2.2 MT and 2.2 AT cars keep Drum / Drum; others take Disc / Drum. Top speed appears only on the 2.2 cars that quote 165 km/h; it is not measured on the 1.9 MT and 2.0 MT rows.

1 generation, restyling 2 (1968–1976) has 7 versions and is the only block with 2347 cm³, a 5-speed Manual, Distributed injection (multi-point) and a measured top speed above 165 km/h. Peak output is 141 hp / 104 kW / 201 Nm. Front brakes are Disc on all seven; rear remains Drum. Suspension is Independent hydropneumatic front and rear on every Citroen DS in this file.

Arithmetic across the model: power rises from 75 hp to 141 hp (+66 hp, +88%). Specific output rises from 39.2 hp/L (75 / 1.911) to 63.9 hp/L on the 2.2 AT 139 hp (139 / 2.175). Weight per horsepower falls from 15.33 kg/hp to 8.16 kg/hp (1150 / 141). Kerb weight, tank and clearance do not move, so every extra horsepower is a lighter load on the same 1150 kg.

Engines and specs

Use the names exactly as listed. Where two rows share a name, the split is horsepower, feed, torque rpm or front brakes.

Bore × stroke is 78 × 100 on every 1911 cm³ engine, 86 × 85.5 on every 1985 cm³, 90 × 85.5 on every 2175 cm³, 93.5 × 85.5 on every 2347 cm³. Compression is 7.5 only on the 1.9 MT 75 hp; 8.5 on the 1.9 MT 83 hp rows; 9 only on the 2.2 AT 139 hp; 8.75 on the rest.

Performance and economy (mpg)

0–100 km/h is not measured on all 18 versions. Fuel consumption city, highway and mixed is not measured on all 18. CO2 and eco class are not measured. You cannot rank these cars on mpg from this file.

Top speed is the only performance figure that exists, and only on some rows:

• 165 km/h: restyling 1 2.2 AT 109 hp (both brake variants), restyling 1 2.2 MT 109 hp with 173 Nm at 3000 rpm (both Disc and Drum fronts), restyling 2 2.2 AT 115 hp.
• 170 km/h: restyling 2 2.2 AT 139 hp — +5 km/h versus the 115 hp 2.2 AT for +24 hp and +25 Nm.
• 172 km/h: restyling 2 2.4 MT 124 hp.
• 175 km/h: restyling 2 2.4 AT 141 hp.
• 180 km/h: restyling 2 2.4 MT 141 hp — the catalogue maximum, +5 km/h versus the same 141 hp as 2.4 AT, +15 km/h versus the 2.2 AT 115 hp, +8 km/h versus the carbureted 2.4 MT 124 hp.

Top speed is not measured on: both 1 generation 1.9 MT cars; restyling 1 1.9 MT and 2.0 MT (all four); restyling 1 2.2 MT with 173 Nm at 4000 rpm; restyling 2 2.2 MT 115 hp; restyling 2 2.0 MT 108 hp. A missing top speed is not a slower car; it is an unmeasured one.

Dimensions and weight

Kerb weight is 1150 kg on every version. Gross weight is not measured. Ground clearance is 150 mm. Tank is 65 L. Wheel sizes are not measured. Body is Cabrio throughout. Nothing in the chassis numbers differentiates a “small” DS from a “large” DS: if you want a lighter car, this catalogue does not list one.

What does change is how that 1150 kg sits on the engine:

• 1.9 MT 75 hp: 15.33 kg/hp
• 1.9 MT 83 hp: 13.86 kg/hp (1.47 kg/hp less)
• 2.0 MT 90 hp: 12.78 kg/hp
• 2.2 109 hp: 10.55 kg/hp
• 2.0 MT 108 hp (restyling 2): 10.65 kg/hp
• 2.2 115 hp: 10.00 kg/hp
• 2.4 MT 124 hp: 9.27 kg/hp
• 2.2 AT 139 hp: 8.27 kg/hp
• 2.4 MT / 2.4 AT 141 hp: 8.16 kg/hp — 7.17 kg/hp less than the 75 hp 1.9 MT

Which version to choose

Buy the 2.4 MT 141 hp (restyling 2) if the goal is the highest measured speed and the densest power on a Manual. It is 141 hp / 201 Nm / 180 km/h / 5 gears / Distributed injection (multi-point) / 60.1 hp/L / 8.16 kg/hp. Versus the carbureted 2.4 MT 124 hp on the same 2347 cm³ and the same 5-speed Manual, you gain 17 hp (+13.7%), 14 Nm and 8 km/h. Versus the 2.4 AT 141 hp, engine figures match (141 hp, 201 Nm, same injection); the Automatic 3 is 5 km/h slower at 175 km/h. That 5 km/h is the measured cost of the Automatic at this displacement.

Buy the 2.4 AT 141 hp if you want that same 141 hp / 201 Nm engine with Automatic 3. It is the only Automatic at the power ceiling. It is 6 hp and 5 Nm above the 2.2 AT 139 hp, +7 km/h (175 vs 168 is not in the data — 175 vs 170), and +10 km/h versus the 2.2 AT 115 hp (175 vs 165).

Buy the 2.2 AT 139 hp if you want Automatic without stepping to 2347 cm³. Same 2175 cm³ as the 2.2 AT 115 hp, but Distributed injection (multi-point) instead of Carburetor, compression 9 instead of 8.75, 139 hp instead of 115 (+24 hp, +20.9%), 196 Nm instead of 171 (+25 Nm), 63.9 hp/L — the highest specific output in the file — and 170 km/h instead of 165. The extra displacement of the 2.4 AT 141 hp buys only 2 hp and 5 Nm over this 2.2 AT, plus 5 km/h. On paper, the 139 hp 2.2 AT is the efficient Automatic choice: 24 hp for staying at 2175 cm³, then only 2 hp more for the extra 172 cm³.

Buy a 2.2 MT or 2.2 AT 115 hp (restyling 2) if you want Carburetor and the later chassis numbers (Disc front, 1968–1976) without injection. Both make 115 hp / 171 Nm from 2175 cm³. The 2.2 AT 115 hp is measured at 165 km/h; the 2.2 MT 115 hp top speed is not measured, so you cannot claim the Manual is faster. Versus restyling 1 2.2 MT / 2.2 AT 109 hp, restyling 2 adds 6 hp and, on the MT, moves peak torque from 173 Nm at 3000 or 4000 rpm to 171 Nm at 4000 rpm — 2 Nm less, later in the rev range.

Buy the 2.0 MT 108 hp (restyling 2) if you want the later 1985 cm³ engine. Against restyling 1 2.0 MT 90 hp on the same 1985 cm³, that is +18 hp (+20%), +7 Nm (152 vs 145), peak power at 5750 rpm instead of 5250, torque at 4000 rpm instead of 3500. Specific output goes from 45.3 to 54.4 hp/L. Top speed remains not measured on both 2.0 MT generations. Versus restyling 2 2.2 MT 115 hp, you give up 7 hp and 19 Nm and 190 cm³ for a smaller carbureted four.

Buy restyling 1 2.2 MT 109 hp or 2.2 AT 109 hp if you want 2175 cm³ before 1968. All of these are 109 hp / 80 kW @ 5500 rpm, 173 Nm, Carburetor, 8.75 compression. Distinguish them:

• 2.2 AT 109 hp, Drum / Drum, 173 Nm @ 3000, 165 km/h
• 2.2 AT 109 hp, Disc / Drum, 173 Nm @ 3000, 165 km/h — same engine numbers; the difference is front Disc versus Drum
• 2.2 MT 109 hp, Drum / Drum, 173 Nm @ 4000, top speed not measured
• 2.2 MT 109 hp, Disc / Drum, 173 Nm @ 3000, 165 km/h
• 2.2 MT 109 hp, Drum / Drum, 173 Nm @ 3000, 165 km/h

If you want a Manual and a quoted 165 km/h, take a 2.2 MT with torque at 3000 rpm. If you want Disc fronts in this generation, take the Disc / Drum 2.2 MT or 2.2 AT. The 2.2 MT with 173 Nm at 4000 rpm is the odd one: torque peak is 1000 rpm higher and speed is not measured.

Buy restyling 1 2.0 MT 90 hp when 1985 cm³ is enough and 109 hp is not required. Versus 1.9 MT 83 hp that is +7 hp, +3 Nm, +74 cm³, peak power 750 rpm higher (5250 vs 4500). Versus restyling 2 2.0 MT 108 hp, you are 18 hp and 7 Nm behind on the same capacity. Pick Drum / Drum or Disc / Drum — engine figures match.

Buy a 1.9 MT 83 hp (original generation or restyling 1) if you want the smaller 1911 cm³ with the higher compression of this pair (8.5). Versus the 1.9 MT 75 hp that is +8 hp (+10.7%), +5 Nm, compression 8.5 vs 7.5, and torque rpm becomes 3500 instead of not measured. Weight per horsepower improves by 1.47 kg/hp. Restyling 1 duplicates this 83 hp engine with two brake packs; 1 generation only lists Drum / Drum.

Buy the 1.9 MT 75 hp only if you specifically want the lowest output and lowest compression in the catalogue. It is 75 hp / 55 kW, 137 Nm, cr 7.5, 39.2 hp/L, 15.33 kg/hp. Everything else in the file is stronger on the same 1150 kg. Top speed not measured.

Skip ranking by fuel economy, 0–100, wheels, gross weight or eco class — those values are not measured. Skip ranking by kerb weight, tank or clearance — they are identical. The live axes are power, torque, displacement, injection versus Carburetor, Manual 4 vs Manual 5 vs Automatic 3, front Disc vs Drum, and the handful of top speeds.

Order of measured punch, restyling 2 first: 2.4 MT 141 hp (180 km/h) → 2.4 AT 141 hp (175) → 2.2 AT 139 hp (170) → 2.4 MT 124 hp (172, more speed than the 139 hp Automatic on a Manual 5) → 2.2 AT 115 hp and the 109 hp 2.2 cars at 165 km/h. The 2.4 MT 124 hp sitting above the 2.2 AT 139 hp on top speed (172 vs 170) is a 2 km/h gap with 15 hp less — the 5-speed Manual is the plausible mechanical difference the numbers allow you to name; 0–100 remains not measured, so it is not a sprint ranking.