DS debuts new DS4 but it’s off the cards for Aus

FRENCH premium marque DS has unveiled the latest addition to its expanding line-up with the new DS4 set to wade into battle against established Euro C-segment offerings like the Audi Q3, BMW 1 Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class, however it is almost certain to be denied an Australian launch.

According to a spokesperson from Inchcape, the local distributor of Peugeot and Citroen, the DS brand is not part of its portfolio nor are there any plans to add it in the near future despite it being a luxury off-shoot of Citroen.

Bridging the gap between traditional hatchbacks and compact SUVs, the DS 4 will be offered in Europe and other international markets – Asia, South America and Africa – in three distinct flavours (DS4, DS4 Cross and DS4 Performance Line), all flaunting the brand’s signature bold design language.

Said by designers to have been inspired by the DS Aero Sport Lounge concept, the DS 4 measures 4400mm long, 1830mm wide and 1470mm tall with a sloping roofline and some extra ground clearance (not specified) to help it worry the high-riding Q3, X1 and GLA as well as the aforementioned hatches.

The front fascia is ruled by the familiarly shaped and prominently mounted black radiator grille, flanked at the top by a set of narrow matrix LED headlamps from which stem large L-shaped daytime running lights.

Below the grille is a wide, thin lower intake kicking out with the rest of the bumper to help give the impression of an integrated splitter.

Large alloy wheels (up to 20-inch) dominate the side profile with the flanks of the car featuring plenty of sculpted contours and character lines, culminating in a wide set of hips and angular rear end.

At the back we find a curvaceous tailgate adorned with ultra-slim tail-lights, more contour lines and integrated dual exhaust tips.

Under the bonnet resides a 168kW plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system based around a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired to a lithium-ion battery of undisclosed size.

Overall DS is claiming an all-electric range “of more than 50km” but it has not stipulated any kind of fuel consumption figure.

Traditional internal combustion engine options will follow the PHEV in the near future with power ranging from 97kW to 168kW for the petrol mills while a 97kW diesel will also be available.

Standard equipment highlights across the range includes the aforementioned matrix LED headlights, leather or Alcantara upholstery, 14-speaker Focal Electra sound system, air purification system, 19 or 20-inch alloy wheels, head-up display, 10-inch infotainment touchscreen with voice and gesture control, adaptive cruise control, predictive suspension and DS Night Vision.

DS Automobiles product director Marion David said the DS4 was “conceived to redefine the outline of the premium C segment” and straddle the gap between coupe-style SUVs and traditional compact hatches.

“At every stage of its design, the idea of appealing to these two segments drove our decisions,” she said.