GUANGZHOU MOTOR SHOW: DS 4S revealed

DS has revealed a new premium hatch to challenge the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

Called the DS 4S, the new small five-door hatchback has been designed in France but will be built in Shenzen China, making it unlikely to be exported to Europe or Australia.

Said to be based on the same EMP2 platform as Peugeot’s 308, rumours at the show were that the 4S is actually a comprehensive re-skin of the small Peugeot hatch, so close were its proportions and lines.

Under the bonnet there’s the choice of the little 1.2-litre turbo or a 1.8-litre turbo with either 100kW or 150kW. All models will come with the six-speed automatic.

Inside the DS 4S there’s a leather-wrapped dash and door cards that are said to be hand-made, a task that takes up to eight hours. This, says DS, helps to contribute to the feeling of “Parisian luxury craftsmanship”.

So far this year the DS brand has sold 23,000 vehicles in the first 10 months -- accounting for 22 per cent of the brand’s global sales. Since launching less than two years ago DS has opened 96 DS-branded stores in 60 cities to fast-forward its expansion in China.