DS4 promises an interesting alternative to the sea of hatchbacks; commanding driving position a major USP

Photos: Cycle & Carriage France Pte Ltd

 

The Citroën DS4 is the second member of the DS family.

The DS line itself was created to continue the legacy paved by Citroën classics such as the original DS, and the SM. The original DS, short form for 'Deesse' (which means Goddess in French), was named the ‘Most Beautiful Car of all time’.

Throughout the world, the DS has become iconic and was famous for being ahead of its time. Today, the DS line reflects French luxury with a hypnotic modern twist as it did in the 1950’s.

The new DS4 exudes a certain seductive style and beauty and it further cements Citroën’s ‘Créative Technologie’ ethos. It subscribes perfectly to the DS philosophy, by demonstrating bold decisions in terms of style, feel, design and refinement. It combines sophistication and refinement with a dynamic coupé-like body, creating exceptional versatility and day-to-day practicality within a compact design - the DS4 measures at 4.27m long, 1.81m wide and 1.53m tall.

Finely crafted to convey a prestigious presence both inside and out, DS4 offers meticulous detailing from carefully applied chrome touches to premium cabin materials — such as the finest quality Habana leather seats. A large panoramic windscreen, offering enhanced occupant visibility, illuminates the driver-focused cockpit, creating a bright and welcoming environment. For an added touch of luxury, it\'s equipped with high quality leather with a ‘Bracelet’ design on the seats, evoking the links of a watch strap.

Combining coupé style with 4 door practicality, the DS4 offers three full-sized rear seats, accessed by rear doors with hidden handles that are seamlessly integrated into the body’s flowing lines. The DS4 also benefits from a capacious 370-litre boot and a host of clever storage solutions.

It comes with a choice of two variants; both powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engines, they're mated to either a 6-speed Electronic Gearbox System (EGS) automatic (THP 155) or 6-speed manual transmission (THP 200). The THP 200 engine delivers flexible power delivery and performance thanks to its power output (197bhp) and plentiful torque (275Nm at 1,700rpm) but with a low CO2 emissions of just 149 g/km.

Compact and muscular, the DS signature on the bonnet is complemented by a striking LED light signature around the front fog lights (LEDs are illuminated both day and night). The car was designed from the start to have a reduced environmental footprint, especially evident in its construction - around 15% of the 200kg of plastic used in the DS4 vehicle is derived from ‘green materials'.

Another example of the tailored DS4 experience, drivers can select their own on-board ambience from four ranges of polyphonic sounds — Classic, Crystal Symphony, Jungle Fantasy & Urban Rhythmik — for alerts and reminders; select from three air-conditioning flow levels - soft, average & intense; and choose from an array of colours for the instrument panel - spanning from white to blue. Drivers can access all key driving and comfort controls - which are clearly visible and even backlit for night-time use - without taking their hands off the wheel.

For complete peace-of-mind, the DS4, which has achieved a 5-star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests, is also equipped with a range of safety-enhancing technologies: One example is the blind-spot monitoring system — based on the same technology as reversing parking sensors, the four ultrasound sensors alert the driver if a vehicle is in their blind spot ( an area stretching to around 5 meters behind the rear bumper and 3.5 m from each side of the car). The driver is alerted by means of a pictogram displayed in the wing mirrors.