Citroën Releases First Photos of DS High Rider's Interior

These are the first pictures of the interior of Citroën's DS High Rider that was originally showcased at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show this past March.

The cabin's design is contemporary as are the color choices that mirror the golden tone of the DS High Rider's bodywork. Being a concept and all, the interior gets special leather surfaces with unique textures and graining, while chrome detailing is used around the dials, steering wheel, air vents, gear stick and the arch that connects the instrument panel to the console.

Expect to see only minor exterior and interior changes over the concept when the production version of the car enters the European market next year as the DS4.

The four-seater, three-door hatchback model that's based on the platform and the mechanics of the next generation Citroën C4 hatchback will be the second addition to the French automaker's DS sub-brand after the DS3.

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Geneva Show: Citroen's DS High Rider Study in the Flesh

While the Survolt sports car concept is definitely the most impressive vehicle at Citroen's Geneva Show booth, the big news for the French firm is the DS High Rider study, a thinly veiled version of the forthcoming DS4 crossover expected to be launched in early 2011.

Part hatchback, part crossover, the DS High Rider combines styling elements from its smaller DS3 sibling and the 2005 C-SportLounge concept with more muscular details, a gently sloping roof line and a higher ride height.

The four-seater, three-door hatchback model uses the new C4's platform, itself due to be launched at the Paris Show this fall. At 4.26m long, 1.82m wide and 1.48m tall, the DS High Rider slightly shorter but wider and taller than the current C4 Coupe.

The concept study uses the PSA Peugeot-Citroen group's full diesel hybrid system combining an HDi engine up front with an electric motor located on the rear axle.

This arrangement allows for any combination of front- (diesel engine only), rear- (electric motor alone) or all-wheel drive (using both the diesel and electric motor).

The production version of the car will be available with conventional gasoline and diesel engines, and quite possibly, with the diesel-hybrid system as Citroen has made it clear that this drivetrain will be available in a series of models starting from 2011.

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Citroen DS High Rider Concept Previews DS4 Crossover, will Debut in Geneva

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.

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Upmarket Citroen DS4 Teased Prior to Geneva Motor Show

In the same way it did with the DS3 supermini, Citroen is slowly taking the covers off the second member of its premium DS family, the DS4, before its formal debut -most likely in pre-production guise- at next month's Geneva Salon.

The slightly increased ride height suggests that the three-door DS4 may step into crossover territory, further differentiating it from the next-generation C4 hatchback with which it shares its platform and mechanical hardware.

Like the DS3, one of the selling points of the production DS4 will be its bespoke customization options.

Expect to see Citroen releasing more photos and details on the DS4 over the next few days.

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