February 10, 2008

Frederick Forsyth’s classic novel ‘The Day of the Jackal’ was inspired by the attempted assassination of French president Charles De Gaulle. At the time of the attempted assassination he was being chauffeured down the Avenue de la Liberation in his black Citroen DS. Twelve members of the Organisation armée secrète a terrorist organisation dedicated to preventing the independence of Algeria. The terrorists opened fire on the presidential vehicle but owing to a slight mix up most of their bullets hit the back of the car and merely blew the tyres out. This would have been enough to halt pretty well any other car on the road at the time but because of the Citroen’s unique hydropneumatic suspension, the car was able to continue to Villacoublay where a helicopter was waiting to take the De Gauilles to safety.

This classic tale of danger and espionage has lent the French presidents choice of car a sense of anticipation and mystery, the choice also gives the manufacturer a great piece of publicity and will help drive sales.

Nicolas Sarkozy has chosen Renault to make his new ‘Sarkomobile’. It’s going to be a hi tech vehicle, based on the Vel Satis model. The car will be have a longer wheel base than the production model and will have it’s interior fitted by designers who’s day job is fitting out private jets. The hi-tech vehicle will feature a communications system that will transform it from a mode of transport to a moving office.

The Vel Satis was launched in 2002 as the flagship of the Renault range, but has received largely indifferent reviews and UK sales have been subdued. The French car maker will no doubt see some valuable interest from this new endorsement and it’s rivals will keep a keen eye on the sales generated.

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