DS 4. French supermodel
The DS 4 is a five-door hatchback, a premium compact car, classified by the developers as Premium C. This emphasizes not only a certain elitism of the model, but also its evolution beyond the segment, since the new DS 4 is a creative combination of a compact car and an SUV that looks like a real French supermodel.
The most beautiful Citroën
The Citroën DS 4 appeared in 2010 and was immediately voted the most beautiful car of 2011 in a survey of Internet users in 62 countries. The Citroën DS 4 won the Most Beautiful Car of the Year Award at the sixth International Automobile Festival. The German magazine Auto Bild and its partner magazines throughout Europe awarded it the first design prize in the Design Award competition. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that it was chosen as a flagship of the new premium brand DS, which was announced in August 2015.
The first generation
As a separate creation of the premium brand DS, the first DS 4 was introduced in 2015. Right at the time of the presentation, the DS 4 differed from the most beautiful Citroën only in terms of its exterior. But the car underwent a restyling almost immediately, after which it turned into a completely different car. The newcomer has moved from the C-segment to the Premium C segment. The signature Citroën radiator grille was replaced with an original DS Wings grille. The interior has been upgraded with higher quality door panels and a panoramic windshield that provides a 45-degree upward view for greater visibility.
The new DS 4 was in line with the overall concept of the brand: an aesthetically pleasing modern car with excellent technical characteristics, a super-model in the world of high-end automotive fashion that is not exhausted by popular diets, but is sporty, athletic and sleek.
The following gasoline engines were available:
- 1.2-liter engine with 96 kW (131 hp) and 230 Nm of torque;
- 1.6-liter engine with 121 kW (165 hp) and 240 Nm, both paired with a 6-speed gearbox;
- 1.6-liter engine with 155 kW (211 hp) and 285 Nm of torque.
Plus, there were three diesel engines:
- 1.6-liter engine with 88 kW (120 hp) and 300 Nm paired with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission;
- 2-liter engine with 110 kW (150 hp) and 370 Nm paired with a 6-speed manual transmission;
- 2-liter engine with 132 kW (179 hp) and 400 Nm of torque paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The second generation
It was released in 2021. While introducing the new DS 4, Thierry Metroz, DS Automobiles Design Director, explained: ‘Before even drawing the first pencil line, we worked with our engineers for two years to model the technical platform. When we started the creative process, our room for maneuver for rolling out a new concept was remarkable. The line is athletic, very muscular, compact and sat on very large wheels. It turns out to be aerodynamic, efficient, and charismatic all at once’.
The dominant design quality is elegance, which is determined by exceptionally precise and smooth body lines, a really graceful outline of the rear end (a rarity in the automotive world), and an exceptionally harmonious front end. In terms of powertrain, the 2021/2022 DS 4 comes with 3 PureTech 8AT gasoline engines with 130 hp, 181 hp and 225 hp, a 1.5L BlueHDi 8AT diesel engine with 130 hp and a 1.6L PureTech E-Tense PHEV 8AT hybrid gasoline engine (225 hp).
The new DS 4 is ‘aerodynamic, efficient, and charismatic all at once’
The inner world of a real supermodel must match the external impeccability. Well, the French managed to create a stunningly beautiful interior. It is spacious, comfortable and ergonomic. The interior is made in compliance with the concept of ‘complete tranquility’. Control and entertainment in the passenger compartment are provided by the fully digital DS SMART TOUCH system. Particular attention is paid to the form and function of the refrigerated massage seats, which are designed as a single, anatomically curved, continuous structure along the entire length. The acoustic atmosphere is provided by the combination of the FOCAL ELECTRA sound system with acoustic glass. The air cleaning efficiency can be evaluated from the information on the central control monitor. Overall, the 2021/2022 DS 4 features a number of the most advanced automotive comfort and safety technologies available today.
