Motorhub was at the official reveal of DS Automobiles new DS 4 compact SUV today. The luxury brand was once ‘one’ of four brands at the French giant PSA group, but since the latest merger, DS now finds itself having to carve out a niche as part of the 14 brand Stellantis group. So what is the new car like and will it be able to justify its existence as a brand?
Built on a modified version of the famed EMP2 platform (PSA), the DS4 will come as a 225hp PHEV (E-Tense – 50km EV range) and also with conventional petrol and diesel engines. DS 4 has a compact length of 4.40 metres, it is 1.47m tall and is 1.83m wide. There will be three model styles; DS 4, DS 4 Cross (more SUV-like) and a sportier looking version called DS 4 Performance Line. DS has been fighting hard to establish itself as not just a flash Citroen – but a premium brand in its own right. With DS styling is key and the exterior and beautifully sculpted interior appear to do enough to live up to the premium status claim. The car will have a distinctive light signature that will help deliver enough on street bling that the premium SUV sector demands.
Clever matrix lighting and an abundance of body creases and nice touches like flush door handles that pop out as you approach all help give the DS 4’s exterior an air of sophistication. Inside the dash layout and materials used – including hand stitched leather certainly take the car out of the mainstream and more upmarket. 25kgs of recycled materials are used but all out of sight. Soft zones feature, and the car promises to deliver a tactile experience. The dash features flush screens and DS has even done away with visible air vents by incorporating airflow seamlessly into the dash structure – although there are vents on either front door.
Marion David, Product Director, DS Automobiles: “DS 4 was conceived to redefine the outline of the Premium C segment. It’s aimed at customers attracted by two body shapes: the new aspirational Coupé-SUV and the traditional compact hatchback. At every stage of its design, the idea of appealing to these two segments drove our decisions.”
Thierry Metroz – Design Director, DS Automobiles: “Even before drawing the first pencil line, we worked for two years with our engineers shaping the technical platform. When we began the creative process, the room for manoeuvre we had in devising a new concept was incredible. Inspired by the DS AERO SPORT LOUNGE concept, the silhouette is unique in the segment with proportions that have never been seen before. The outline is athletic, very muscular, compact and sits on very large wheels. It’s turned out to be aerodynamic, efficient and charismatic all at once.”
The DS 4 will be tech filled. A host of cloud connected features were mentioned and a clever camera-based suspension set up too! (We’ll have to wait and see how it rides on its range topping 20 inch wheels). The DS 4 will be on sale at the start of 2022 in Ireland. The DS 7 and DS 3 models will be on sale shortly in Ireland, followed by DS 9 later this year.
