Citroen reveals quirky new DS sedan

Published Dec 20, 2013

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The Citroën DS nameplate has an illustrious history and the French brand is hoping to capitalise on this with a modern range of DS-branded cars.

The latest in this premium-end assault is the DS 5LS sedan, which is the first modern four-door to wear the iconic badge.

Yet at this stage it remains unclear whether the DS 5LS has any globe-trotting ambitions as Citroën is touting it as a vehicle for the Chinese market and it's also set to be built there, at the firm's Shenzhen plant.

At 4.7 metres, the 5LS is slightly longer than a BMW 3 Series and matches it in width, while power comes from Peugeot's 1.6-litre direct injection turbopetrol engine, offering two power levels: 120kW and 147kW. Both are mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox.

While nowhere near as quirky as the DS of yore, the 5LS does move the modern DS line-up into new territory with its front end inspired by the recent Numero 9 and Wild Rubis concept cars. The talking point here is its sculpted grille that runs into boomerang-shaped lights and Citroën says these 'DS Wings' are a nod to the original DS of 1955.

The 5LS plays the prestigious game inside, with a cabin clad in high-quality leather, metal and wood, while also retaining the 'watch strap' seat design found on other modern DS models.

Many Chinese owners like to ride in the back and to keep them cosy, Citroën stretched the wheelbase to 2.71-metres to optimise cabin space and inclined the rear seatbacks at 29 degrees.

Feature indulgence comes in the form of massaging front seats, an air ioniser (for obvious reasons), a complete range of multimedia systems, reverse camera and blind spot monitoring.

To keep the DS label more exclusive, it's sold as a standalone brand in China (through 50 DS Stores) and the line-up is set to be expanded next year with the release of an SUV model.

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