In April 1934, Citroën unveiled the 7A, a car that would go on to make motoring history with a series of innovations including front-wheel drive, or Traction Avant in French, which was a groundbreaking development in its time.
The new model shook the automotive world—which consisted almost entirely of rear-wheel-drive vehicles—with its low center of gravity, all steel monocoque body, light weight and early incorporation of aerodynamics. As a result, the front-wheel-drive Traction Avant boasted standard-setting characteristics for handling and road holding.
Citroën is celebrating 80 years of the Traction Avant in 2014 with a series of events dedicated to the famous model, including displays at the June Autodrome Heritage Festival at Montlhéry, as well as Le Mans in August and Epoqu’Auto, in Lyon, in September.
