Citroen Divine DS Concept Ushers in the Next Generation of French Style

Well, the current crop of DS cars, like the DS3 and DS4, are basically just slightly restyled versions of the standard Citroën C3 and C4. Park them next to their more mundane counterparts, and the relationship is plain as day.

The introduction of the Divine DS, though, is a preview of what Citroën is going to do to differentiate the premium DS line from its parent's mainstream, twin-chevron-adorned cars and crossovers.

That means a new, expressive exterior design, using what designers call the "DS wings," or the chrome bits below the headlights and above the lower intakes. While Citroën first introduced this on the DS5-based 5LS, the Divine DS' interpretation is more upright, giving the fascia a "heightened sense of prestige." Okay.

The sweeping stylings of the profile are perhaps our favorite angle, with a pair of dominating character lines that run high and low. The lower line leads up and out from the front wheel, while the upper character line is fed by the slim, wraparound taillights. That rounded rear end, meanwhile, is decidedly different than prominent fascia, although the effect works when the car is viewed in profile. A handsome hatchback, this is.

Inside, the Divine DS sports something called "hyper-typage." Although that sounds like something your caffeine-addled, jet-lagged Paris Motor Show team might be taking part in, it's DS-speak for the three interior themes found on this concept car, none of which we find particularly enticing. The overall cockpit, layout, though, is pretty nice, with a clear delineation between the driving environment and the passengers that gives the impression that the could be Divine DS a driver-focused offering.