After a handful of dark teaser shots, Citroen today unleashed a slew of images of its new DS High Rider concept car that is set to be launched at the Geneva Salon on March 2. As anticipated, the DS High Rider is more of a pre-production model that teases the upcoming DS4 that than a pure conceptual study.
The second member of Citroen's growing DS family after the DS3 supermini is a strange mix of a C-segment three-door hatchback with muscular details, a gently sloping roof line and heightened ride.
With a few exceptions such as the fabric roof and the polished 19-inch alloy wheels, what you see in these pictures is what you'll get when the DS4 goes into production early next year.
The four seater hatch is based on the next-generation C4's platform and hardware. It measures 4.26m in length, 1.82m in width and 1.48m height, meaning it's slightly shorter but wider and taller than the current C4 Coupe.
The production model's powertrains are most likely to be borrowed from the next C4, though there's a strong possibility that we may see the concept model's 'full-hybrid' diesel-electric drivetrain that combines a HDi engine under the bonnet and an electric motor located on the rear axle being offered in the near future.
According to Citroen, both engines of the hybrid system combine to deliver additional power with additional torque transmitted to the rear wheels.
Expect to see the production DS4 making its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show this fall.
And as for looking like the Vel Satis, I think you need to pop to Specsavers...
