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May 10, 2022
Voted the World's Most Beautiful Car – The DS 4 Arrives in Japan | DS AUTOMOBILES
DS 4 | The DS 4
New DS 4 Unveiled at the French Ambassador's Residence
Stellantis Japan announced on April 28th the "DS 4," the fourth model in the DS Automobiles lineup, a hatchback that has now gone on sale.
Text & Photographs by HARA Akira
Three Powertrain Options
Hearing the name "DS" likely brings to mind for many the avant-garde and distinctively designed "DS 23" from the 1960s-70s, equipped with hydropneumatic suspension, or its more affordable sibling, the "ID 19."
These vehicles were not only equipped with numerous innovative technologies such as the hydropneumatic system, which controlled not only the suspension but also power steering and brakes through the same hydraulic circuit, front-wheel drive (Traction Avant), and swiveling headlights that followed the steering, but their unique exterior, with its aerodynamically optimized, low, tapering rear, still looks avant-garde today. Well-maintained examples still trade hands for considerable sums.
As you know, DS, with such a history, is now part of Stellantis, a global automotive manufacturing giant. This report covers the unveiling event of the latest model, the "DS 4," held on April 28th at the official residence of the French Ambassador in Minato-ku, Tokyo.
The DS 4 measures 4,415mm in length, 1,830mm in width, and 1,495mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,680mm. It utilizes the third-generation EMP2 (Efficient Modular Platform 2) platform.
Three powertrain options are available. The model displayed in the garden of the residence, in "Blanc Nacre" (White), is equipped with a PureTech 1.2-liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine producing a maximum output of 130ps, 230Nm of torque, and a fuel efficiency of 17.7 km/L (WLTC). The "Noir Perla Nera" (Black) model at the entrance features a BlueHDi 1.5-liter 4-cylinder diesel engine with 130ps, 300Nm of torque, and 21.2 km/L fuel efficiency. The "Cristal Pearl" model positioned in front of the entrance is equipped with an E-TENSE plug-in hybrid system, combining a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine (180ps/300Nm) with a 110ps/320Nm front electric motor, delivering a total system output of 225ps/360Nm (manufacturer's stated figures).
The E-TENSE features dedicated badges front and rear. Its 12.4kWh lithium-ion battery, located beneath the trunk floor, allows for an electric-only range of 56km (WLTC). Full charging is estimated to take 4 hours with a standard 3kW (200V) charger, or 2 hours with a 6kW (200V) wallbox charger.
There are four drive modes: "Electric Mode" for pure electric driving, "Hybrid Mode" utilizing both engine and motor, "Comfort Mode" which activates the "DS Active Suspension" – a system that scans the road ahead with a camera to instantly optimize damper settings – while driving in hybrid mode, and "Sport Mode" for maximum power delivery.