DS WEEK in Paris – Celebrating 60 years of History

Launched in 1955, the DS is still one of the most popular French automotive icons of the 20th century.

Made popular by its commercial success, as well as its political career, particularly with General De Gaulle, its cinematic appearances and its sporting success, the DS made its mark on the lives of many people in France and spread French know-how around the world.
Building on this exceptional heritage, the ambition of the DS brand, created on June the 1st 2014, is to perpetuate the avant-garde spirit of this legendary car and allow the French vehicle market to reconnect with luxury. The DS brand therefore offers cars which stand out for their remarkable style, their technology, their dynamic comfort and their meticulous refinement.

DS EXHIBITION IN THE HEART OF PARIS…
In 2015, its launch year, the DS brand will be presenting to the public a fabulous exhibition in the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May: A place that echoes the announcement today by the brand which becomes sponsor of the Louvre Museum. The Louvre is a true standard of French culture abroad, with which the DS brand shares the same values that combine art, culture and excellence, and also the balance between history and modernity in the image of the famous Louvre Pyramid.

Designed in the style of a Haussmannian boulevard flanked by six shops and cars, the DS Exhibition will immerse the public in the world of DS for a journey through time from 1955 to the near future. Entry to the DS Exhibition is free and unrestricted. Events for children will be on offer as well as meetings with DS experts (particularly designers and saddlers from the brand’s Style Centre).
To prolong and share this fantastic experience, the DS Exhibition will also be connected. On arrival, all visitors will receive a device linked to the “MyDSweek” application allowing them to save their very own souvenirs by downloading content and photos of the event. They also have the option of sharing this on social networks.
To Follow the DS Week on Twitter :#OpenTheWay

THE DS EXHIBITION, A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME FROM 1955 TO THE NEAR FUTURE WITH…
• Cinema: DS takes centre stage! From the 1950s to the present day, cinema has been fond of the DS. Whether in the starring role or simply as an extra, the DS has appeared in numerous films and series, in France and abroad. Its unique style has inspired film-makers from André Hunebelle’s Fantômas se Déchaîne to The Mentalist with Simon Backer, via Steven Spielberg’s Back to the Future. Extracts from the DS’s film career will be screened.
• Photo gallery: Star for an evening, star for a day, star forever! Honoured by the most famous photographers as well as admiring and passionate amateurs, the DS conquered the world as soon as it was unveiled to the public in 1955.
Unusual, elegant, dynamic and refined, this exceptional automobile has been popular with statesmen, celebrities, film-makers and rally drivers… The Gallery presents a selection of its greatest images and visitors can also have the star experience thanks to the Studio Harcourt cabin installed for the occasion.
• Techno Lab: A range of connectivity options in tune with the digital world, efficient and high-performance engines, smart driving technology, 3D digital cluster display, dynamic and safe driving, spectacular headlights – DS experts work on all these aspects on a daily basis! The Techno Lab will give visitors a first-hand experience of the DS – a decidedly technological object!
• Design: It is difficult to talk about the DS without evoking its avant-garde design. Whether an original DS or one of the models in the current range, a DS is unlike anything else! From 1955, the DS stood out both for its new technologies and its revolutionary and elegant design.
• Sixty years on, the history of the DS continues. Numerous stylish designs exhibited in this shop will illustrate this.
• Workshop: Here, visitors will notice that the DS pays the closest attention to the refinement and detailing on its cars. They will discover the sources of inspiration for the DS, drawing on excellence in the fields of fine jewellery, saddlery, haute couture and world famous French expertise. Embroidery, metalwork, semi-aniline leather, incrusted jewellery, etc. The attention to detail, the choice of high-quality materials and the “bespoke” approach specific to the brand give it unique stylistic codes.
• DS Shop: Whether you are a fan of the DS or simply have an eye for design, in this shop you will find all the lifestyle products designed and created by the brand to extend the DS experience into daily life.
• DS in the street: Throughout the exhibition, the public will be able to discover or rediscover the vintage DS through five models on show, alongside the modern DS (including the DS 3, DS 3 CABRIO, DS 4, New DS 5). The future-focussed NUMERO 9 concept car will be another star of the show.

700 DS AT THE DS 60TH ANNIVERSARY INTERNATIONAL GATHERING
Saturday 23 May 2015 at the Linas-Montlhéry race track
This historic track outside Paris will host the largest annual and international meeting of of vintage DS. Organised by Le Monde de la DS (www.lemondedelads.com – an association created by the collectors’ clubs DS Club Révolution 55, Idéale DS France and DS ID Club de France) and supported by Amicale des Clubs Citroën France and Amicale Citroën Internationale as well as by the DS brand, this meeting is being specially organised to celebrate 60 years of this legendary car.
700 cars are expected, bringing 1,500 fans from more than 10 countries. Registration is still open for DS owners to enjoy an exceptional event. The meeting will also be open to the public from 10am to 6pm. Entry for over 12 year olds costs €15. The programme includes an elegance competition and demonstrations on the track.

Sunday 24 May, a procession of 600 DS through Paris
At 7am, 700 DS from Linas-Montlhéry will emerge from the Parc de Saint-Cloud and head for the Place de la Concorde in Paris. The procession will pass along the edge of the Seine by the Quai de Javel where this legendary car was born, before heading towards the Grand Palais where, on 6 October 1955, the DS was unveiled to the public at the Salon de Paris.
The highlight of the parade will no doubt be driving down one of the most beautiful avenues in the world, the Champs-Élysées. Finally, the procession will reach Place de la Concorde where it will remain for some of the day while Parisians and tourists take the opportunity to admire the cars.