Citroen Visa dashboard - photo

[Christophe Mineau]

Yes, the Visa was the ugliest thing that designers have ever created at Citroen's, but it's just a sign of the time, it was the early 80s.
I remember the commercials at the French TV at that time, selling the merits of the innovative "satellite" controls around the driving wheel....

But do not be mistaken, Citroen is a great brand and one of the inventors of lots of principles still in use all around the world in today's cars.

For instance they introduced the herring bone gears which became their logo through the ages :



André Citröen was at the time a french equivalent to Henri Ford, he introduced lots of innovations in the factories and work organisation.
He also was one of the first to invest in massive advertising :


Citroen has always been a source of innovation, and sometimes they failed, like with the Wankel rotative motor, they lost a lot of money on that route .

The brand has had some really famous models that last for a very long time (@nova_robotics the 2CV familly was able to be started by crank, which was a a great thing in some circumstances)

The "Traction" (one of the first mass product car with front-wheel drive, independent suspension and monocoque body)


The popular and long lasting "2 CV - Deux chevaux" (the one with the crank)


The DS (Charles De Gaulle's car)


The "Type H" utility van (very popular)


Less famous but remarkable the SM, this one reached 325km/h !



Nowadays, Citroën is still well alive and offers cars with innovative designs, in particular through its derivative brand 'DS automobiles'.

@marksbug , I have this one , was it the same you rented ?