Citroen DS Inside Concept: Diesel Hybrid

Motoring Channel Staff - 6/February/2009

Paris, France – Citroen aficionados will be intrigued to know that the French car maker is reviving the DS name. 

Citroen says DS means 'different spirit'.

The French-made Mini Cooper rival is called the DS Inside Concept and is the precursor to the DS3, which will be the first of many new models to use the DS naming convention.

Other models to follow will include a Volkswagen Golf-sized DS4 and a mid-to-large-sized Honda Accord Euro rival to be named the DS5.

The Citroen DS is one of Europe's most famous cars, first seen in 1955 when it was hailed as a revolutionary, radical design. To this day it is often cited by many car designers as the most beautiful car of all time (see image right, below).

Citroen will use the new DS brand to take as a more upmarket, luxury line. 

With this new range it hopes to rival vehicles from BMW and other European prestige car makers, and the design of its first model, the DS3, will on display at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland.

The new design isn't as radical as the original 1955 DS model, but it is a good-looking French car. 

As you can see on the right-hand image column, Citroen has also designed what appears to a DS-themed iPhone-inspired gadget, which could be used to operate various car functions.

Measuring around 4.2 metres in length and boasting a diesel-electric powertrain with a 51kW (70hp) 1.4-litre HDi diesel, the new models are expected to include hybrid across the range when they are go on sale in Europe in 2010.

Here's the official press release:

CITROËN is today launching a new line of products to broaden its current range. The new line will consist of three new cars, positioned in the small, medium and large car segments, launched successively from 2010.

The first illustration of this new product line is the CITROËN DS INSIDE concept car. The concept car and vehicle line are characterised by forthright choices on styling, onroad performance and use. These are accessible objects of desire, cars that stand apart by their creativity, intelligent design and build quality, embodying the very best of CITROËN. The new product line will perfectly illustrate CITROËN's new spirit of "Créative Technologie".

The new line will also have a new naming system. Like the main range vehicles, which carry the letter C and a number, and, like the MPVs, which sport the Picasso signature, the new models will feature a special name: the DS line.

DS stood and continues to stand for a new approach to automobiles and the future. CITROËN is taking inspiration from its design DNA to strengthen the positioning of its new product line. The range instills the different spirit, that the name DS inspires. Hence the distinctive model line up will be called DS3, DS4 and DS5. DS: Different Spirit.

Related Links:
- Citroen GT Concept (2008)
- Citroen Hypnos Concept (2008)
- Citroën C-Cactus (2007)
- Citroën C-Airscape Concept (2007)
- Citroen C-Crosser SUV (2007)
- Citroën C6 (2006)
- Citroën C-Métisse (concept)