Musing about automotive engineering with a French twist

As a passionate lover of French classic cars, I recently had the opportunity to visit the 雪铁龙 Conservatoire, and it was an unforgettable experience!

For any automotive enthusiast, this place is a must-visit as it brings together all the classic French cars that we all know and love, including the Traction, 2CV, AMI, GS, and SM. Of course, I might be a little biased, but to me, it's great to see and touch the work of ambitious engineering that has innovation deeply rooted in its DNA.

One of the reasons I'm such a big fan of Citroen is because of their ambitious engineering that has innovation deeply rooted in its DNA. It's amazing to see and touch the work of engineers who were not afraid to push the boundaries of what was possible in automotive design and technology.

One of the highlights of my visit was seeing and learning about the engineering behind the iconic Citroen DS. Some of you might know thay I'm restoring one of these for a way too long time but isn't it all albout the journey rather than the destination?

I couldn't help but imagine how wonderful it must have been to be part of the engineering team working on such a groundbreaking car. In the mid-50s, the engineering methods used for automotive development were quite different from what we have today. But even back then, the team behind the DS was pushing the boundaries of what was possible. They DS was 50 years ahead of its time. Some of the innovations that made it into the Citroen DS included:

• Hydropneumatic suspension: This was a system of hydraulic suspension that provided a smooth and comfortable ride. The suspension system was also self-leveling, which meant that the car remained level regardless of the load it was carrying.
• Power steering: The Citroen DS was one of the first cars to feature power steering, which made it much easier to maneuver.
• Disc brakes: The DS was also one of the first cars to feature disc brakes, which provided much better stopping power than traditional drum brakes.
• Aerodynamic design: The DS had a sleek and aerodynamic design that helped it to achieve better fuel efficiency and handling.
• Semi-automatic transmission: The DS was one of the first cars to feature a semi-automatic transmission, which made it much easier to drive in heavy traffic.

The stories of engineers like André Lefevre - head of engineering - and Paul Mages - the father of the hydraulic system- are fascinating. They faced numerous challenges during the development of the car, and it was only through their persistence and determination that the DS was eventually launched for production.

One of the highlights of my visit was being in front of one of the DS prototypes, number 31, and being allowed to take a closer a look underneath the bonnet. It was a great feeling to be so close to a car that made history for many families including mine!

As I reflected on my visit, I couldn't help but imagine what it would have been like if the Citroen engineers could have leveraged virtual engineering or more advanced #automotivetesting methods and technology.

With state-of-the-art #virtualengineering tools like Simcenter , they could have simulated the interplay of the whole hydraulic system incorporating subsystems like hydraulic suspension or steering by builing easy-to-understand physical models. Would this have made the DS even more avant-garde ? Would they have come up with other groundbreaking ideas? Would a DS be a more straightforward car to maintain or restore yet not loose any of her charm that works as an addictive drug for of its owners.

Would thermal or CFD simulation and advanced testing have solved issues with some innovations that didn't make it into the Citroen DS, such as the 6 cylinder flat boxer engine. This type of engine was considered for the DS, but ultimately it was not used due to concerns about its reliability and cooling management of the inner cylinders. Instead, the DS was powered by a series of inline-four engines based on the underblock of the Traction Avant which made the DS always a bit underpowered compared to competition.

It's however that drive for innovation and gamechanging mechatronics that Citroen and CTRL engineering - the engineering company I'm a proud employee of - have in common. It's reflected in our daily work while setting up plant models, validating control algorithms, or building complex test benches - like our recent project at KU Leuven Mecha(tro)nic System Dynamics (LMSD) - to frontload design and V&V processes resulting in shortened development cycles for a cutting edge automotive OEM and Tier1 community.

As I reflect on my visit to the Citroen Conservatoire, I can't help but think about the possibilities that lie ahead for me and the team in the automotive industry. It was a reminder of the importance of innovation and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in automotive design and technology. And with the help of cutting-edge virtual engineering tools, state of the art test benches and expert engineering support, we can jointly continue to make history in the automotive industry.

Let's push the boundaries of what's possible!

Best regards, Mathieu