The secret, according to DS Automobiles, is that its engineers worked for two years to model the platform first even before designers drew the first line. The result is an SUV with a relatively compact 4.4-meter length but with a 1.83-meter width and 2.7-meter wheelbase. Together with wheels up to 20 inches in diameter, it creates an imposing presence.

As to the design itself, the DS 4 features a unique lighting signature illuminated by 98 LEDs sandwiched by a three-dimensional grille. It also happens to combine fluid and sharp lines and features flush-fitting door handles. At the back, the roof stretches down low onto a steeply sloping rear window with an enamel screen print.

DS Automobiles was first a sub-brand of Citroen before becoming a standalone brand in 2015. The DS name can be an abbreviation of Different Spirit or Distinctive Series. The name is also a play on words, as in French, it is pronounced like the word, déesse, meaning “goddess.”