R1's fancy suspension has been outdone

[BigSkies]

I went to a "Cars & Coffee" event with my R1 last weekend. These events are fun. I enjoy showing people the R1, and seeing what other people bring.

I had one guy I'll call "Chris" come over from the classic cars section. Chris was a really nice guy, and very interested in the Rivian. He knew a little about Rivian, but wanted to sit in it, know what I liked about it, etc. He's the type of guy that just really likes cars.

I started showing talking about the suspension and how great it was, and Chris stopped me. He has something to show me.

We walked over to look at his 1972 Citroen DS 21. I sat in the car. He turned it on. Low and behold it had a hydraulic suspension. He raised and lowered the suspension with a foot-activated lever. I thought that was pretty cool. I hadn't realized the hydraulic suspension had been around that long.

Then came the kicker. He showed me how to change a spare in a DS 21. It's simple. You raise the suspension. Then you put a special jack-stand under it. Then you lower the suspension and the tire lifts itself off the ground. Here's a video. It was the simplest tire change I've ever seen.

I hung my head in shame. My Rivian had been outclassed. Not just by any car, but by a French car. From 1972.

Rivian: Please consider adding this as a capability to whatever Gen 3 R1 is coming. It's a matter of national pride. Our honor is at stake. Otherwise the French win.

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[Dark-Fx]

Rivian: Please consider adding this as a capability to whatever Gen 3 R1 is coming. It's a matter of national pride. Our honor is at stake Otherwise the French win.

I can do it without needing a jackstand

 

[KRIV_ian]

We had several Citroen cars in the late seventies and early eighties, and they all had hydropneumatic suspension. Was definitely cool at that time!

 

[DuncIT]

I hadn't realized the hydraulic suspension had been around that long.

Hydropneumatic, but yeah it was a staple of the French Citroen for many years. But there are others - notably the Tesla S & X both have pneumatic suspension. Half of the trucks on the interstate are "Air Ride Equipped" (pnuematic).

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Yah, well, look at Citroen now. Great ideas and commercial success are two different things.

 

[LivingInKaos]

I can do it without needing a jackstand

Rotations are a beotch that way though....

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Rotations are a beotch that way though....

Not if you have 5 tires.

 

[LivingInKaos]

Not if you have 5 tires.

Not many with the S do....

 

[azbill]

Louie Mattar could change a tire while driving. I have seen the car at the museum in Balboa Park.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/autom...op-in-his-fantastic-perpetual-motion-machine/

 

[ndmiller]

My father's favorite car. We drove the eastern states to every Citroen car club event in the 70s and 80's. Car was hit by police a half a dozen times over its life, having as many colors after being fixed and repainted. The leather seats were so nice compared to the other car....Volvo station wagon.

 

[the.phd]

Honestly this would be amazing. One jack and a puck, put it in tire change mode then select the tire.

 

[Dasoss]

I went to a "Cars & Coffee" event with my R1 last weekend. These events are fun. I enjoy showing people the R1, and seeing what other people bring.

I had one guy I'll call "Chris" come over from the classic cars section. Chris was a really nice guy, and very interested in the Rivian. He knew a little about Rivian, but wanted to sit in it, know what I liked about it, etc. He's the type of guy that just really likes cars.

I started showing talking about the suspension and how great it was, and Chris stopped me. He has something to show me.

We walked over to look at his 1972 Citroen DS 21. I sat in the car. He turned it on. Low and behold it had a hydraulic suspension. He raised and lowered the suspension with a foot-activated lever. I thought that was pretty cool. I hadn't realized the hydraulic suspension had been around that long.

Then came the kicker. He showed me how to change a spare in a DS 21. It's simple. You raise the suspension. Then you put a special jack-stand under it. Then you lower the suspension and the tire lifts itself off the ground. Here's a video. It was the simplest tire change I've ever seen.

I hung my head in shame. My Rivian had been outclassed. Not just by any car, but by a French car. From 1972.

Rivian: Please consider adding this as a capability to whatever Gen 3 R1 is coming. It's a matter of national pride. Our honor is at stake. Otherwise the French win.

As I recall, Citroen had high beam headlights that turned with the steering, too.

 

[elatrickWheels]

It was the Citroen SM that had the swiveling lights. Now my Audi e-tron has something similar. It’s a good feature.

 

[DuncIT]

Yah, well, look at Citroen now. Great ideas and commercial success are two different things.

Citroen is still successful abroad. Currently owned by Stellantis and making cars for the European and Asian markets.

 

[SwampNut]

So what actually happens if you put the truck in tallest setting, but a jackstand under it, and then hit the button to lower it?

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