The fact that the French DS 4 rolls off the production lines at Opel’s main factory in Risselsheim is nothing new, although the French accept the label “Made in Germany” wholeheartedly and always consider it an advantage by aggressively advertising the place of production.
A new Stellantis hybrid assembly with a drive chain has recently been installed in the German factory. It’s also another marketing tool for the French, as they finally got rid of the unreliable Pure Tech 130 three-cylinder block with the controversial oil-immersed timing belt concept.
Although it was born as an alternative to German premium cars, the DS 4 has not yet achieved that challenge. Now the French hope to have a more adequate weapon, which combines the best of both worlds, with which they will more adequately confront their German rivals, writes Klix.ba.
The new DS 4 Hybrid is already on sale, although the first examples will arrive in showrooms after the summer. It is an interesting option that combines all the advantages thanks to Stellantis’ hybrid technology. The block of the 1.2 liter PureTech engine remains as the basis, with the fact that there is now a drive chain. The new assembly, instead of 130, now produces a maximum power of 136 hp, and is connected to an electric motor of 28 hp, with a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 0.9 kWh.
Despite the small battery capacity, this DS 4 starts from a standstill in fully electric mode and can travel up to several kilometers without CO2 emissions, for example when looking for a parking space in a shopping center. DS also states that in ideal conditions, the new hybrid saves up to 40 percent of fuel, which is helped by its six-speed e-DCS6 automatic transmission with double clutch, without power interruption between gears.
The French will not stop there, as DS confirms the arrival of the electric DS 4. The same German factory, which therefore produces the DS 4 Hybrid, is preparing to produce an environmentally neutral version of the DS 4 E-Tense. It is not a plug-in hybrid, but a purely electric model, which will go on sale in the first months of next year.
Source: Klix.ba
Photo: DS Automobiles
Source: autoblog.rs
