DS Automobiles unveils the N°4 - a premium electric hatchback with a touch of French flair

DS Automobiles just pulled the covers off its latest creation, the DS N°4. This new model enters the busy premium compact hatchback world, bringing a unique blend of French design smarts, fancy features, and a strong push into electric power. It's designed for buyers who want a car that looks sharp, drives well, and packs the latest technology, especially when it comes to electric vehicles.

The DS N°4 stands out right away with its fresh face. The front looks flatter and wider than previous DS models, featuring a bold black grille with tiny details. It gets a new light setup inspired by earlier concept cars, with lights that stretch out from the sides and meet up in the middle at a lit-up DS logo. The hood even stretches a bit further forward, sitting slightly over the grille, which adds to that wide look. This new front design, including those striking lights, will show up on all future DS models, no matter what engine they have. For the fancier ÉTOILE version, the car gets special DS MATRIX LED VISION headlights that can change patterns based on driving conditions.

Size-wise, the DS N°4 measures 173.23 inches long, 73.62 inches wide, and 57.87 inches tall. These numbers give it a shape that looks both sporty and elegant on the road. The sides are smooth but have strong lines, and the door handles sit flush with the body, keeping things looking clean. Standard models get 19-inch wheels, but you can get even bigger 20-inch ones on the plug-in hybrid version. The roof looks like it's floating and can be painted black separately from the rest of the car, making the shape look even more dynamic as it slopes down towards the back.

Around the back, DS designers created another unique light signature. The taillights use LEDs and have a "Dark Chrome" finish with a pattern that catches the light. These lights are connected by a dark strip across the back, making the car look wide from behind. The back also shows off strong lines and curves, highlighted by a shiny black piece near the rear windows with the DS Automobiles name on it.

The new all-electric N°4 E-TENSE comes with a motor making 213 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque. That's enough for the new hatchback to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 7.7 seconds. This electric version can travel up to 280 miles on a single charge based on the WLTP test cycle, and it gets its power from a battery with a usable capacity of 58.3 kWh. To keep things running smoothly and efficiently, especially in cold weather, it has a new heat pump system with bigger parts for heating and cooling the cabin and battery.

DS also tweaked the N°4 E-TENSE's shape to help it cut through the air better. They lowered the car by 10 mm and added some small, hidden parts to the grille to make it more efficient. When it comes to charging, the N°4 E-TENSE has an 11 kW charger built-in for charging at home or public AC chargers. If you can find a faster DC charger, it can handle up to 120 kW. At a fast charger like that, you can add about 62 miles of range in just 11 minutes, or go from a 20% charge to 80% in about 30 minutes.

Inside, DS focused on making the cabin feel special, mixing fancy touches with easy-to-use technology. They used design ideas from fine watches, like a pattern called "Clous de Paris" on some inserts. The driver looks at a new 10.25-inch high-definition screen that shows driving info, plus DS also offers a head-up display. In the middle of the dashboard, there's another 10-inch touchscreen for the DS IRIS SYSTEM, which is the car's main control center for entertainment, navigation, and settings.

The N°4 also has clever hidden air vents that keep the dashboard looking smooth and clean while still directing air effectively. Depending on which version and options you pick, the inside can feature high-quality materials like special fabrics, Alcantara, or even Nappa leather with detailed stitching. The seats are designed to be comfortable and supportive, and on leather versions, you can even get heating, cooling, and massage functions. There's decent space for everyone inside, and the car has several storage spots.

Trunk space changes depending on which powertrain you choose. The regular hybrid has a generous 15.2 ft³. The plug-in hybrid has 12.7 ft³, and the new 100% electric N°4 E-TENSE offers 13.8 ft³. The trunk opening is quite low, making it easier to load stuff, and you can even get a tailgate that opens by itself with a wave of your foot.

On the technology front, the new N°4 gets DS DRIVE ASSIST 2.0, which provides semi-autonomous driving features like helping change lanes on the highway and suggesting speeds based on road signs. It uses sensors to keep an eye on things around the car. There's also a system that watches the driver to check if they are paying attention or getting tired.

The N°4 E-TENSE comes with connected features specifically for electric driving. The navigation system can plan routes that include charging stops, figuring out where and for how long you need to charge based on traffic and how much energy the car is using. There's also an app to plan trips before you leave and features to get the battery ready for charging, especially in cold weather. The Vehicle to Load (V2L) capability means the car's battery can be used to power external devices if you have the right adapter – pretty handy if you need power away from home.

DS offers the N°4 in different flavors, including PALLAS and ÉTOILE, each with specific equipment and options. The PALLAS trim focuses on elegance with specific interior materials and a good list of standard features like dual-zone climate control, parking sensors, and a reversing camera. The ÉTOILE trim leans more towards dynamism and adds features like the DS MATRIX LED VISION headlights, powered front seats, and more advanced safety tech as standard. Both trims offer optional packs to add things like heated and massaging seats, a premium sound system, and advanced driver assistance features. Buyers can also pick from five exterior colors, including a new one called Cashmere, and different wheel designs tailored for the N°4 E-TENSE.

There is no word yet on prices or availability, but it won't be long before the new N°4 hits the showrooms. It will sit between the larger N°8 and the much smaller and older DS 3 E-Tense. We can expect to see it cost around $44,000 when it arrives later this year.

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