De Dion-Bouton Type S History

As demand for more power grew, De Dion-Bouton introduced the Type S for 1903 — a two-cylinder, 1,728 cc car rated at 12 CV. It was the company's first true multi-cylinder offering and demonstrated that De Dion-Bouton intended to compete in the emerging medium-car segment, not merely supply engines to others.

The Type S was quickly followed in 1904 by the four-cylinder Type AD (2,545 cc, 15 CV) and the more powerful 24 CV Type AI, establishing a tiered range from light voiturettes to proper touring cars. This period, 1903–1904, represents De Dion-Bouton at its engineering peak — simultaneously the world's largest volume producer and a genuine innovator in multi-cylinder design.