The brand new Citroen DS 4S hatchback will be launched on the Chinese car market in the first quarter of 2016, price will start somewhere around 130.000 yuan. The DS 4S is a China-only premium hatchback that is set to compete with the Audi A3, the BMW 1-Series, and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.  It will be positioned under the Citroen DS5 and will replace the unsuccessful Citroen DS 4 in China.

The Citroen DS 4S debuted last week on the Guangzhou Auto Show, looking very speedy in red. Sadly, it looks a lot more mundane in gray.

DS is a completely separate brand in China, with its own dealers, marketing, factory, and even joint venture; the DS models are manufactured by Changan-PSA, while the normal Citroen and Peugeot cars are made by Dongfeng-PSA.

The DS 4Swill be available with three engines: a 3-cylinder 1.2 turbo with 137hp, a 1.6 turbo with 167hp, and a 1.8 turbo with 204hp. All will be mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox, sending power to the front wheels.

The DS 4S and the DS4 compared.

Size of the DS 4S: 4453/1843/1510, and wheelbase is 2715.

The exact origin of the platform is yet a bit mysterious. When it comes to wheelbase the DS 4S seems closest to the China-only Citroen C4L sedan which has a wheelbase of 2710. When it comes to looks and shape it seems closest to the Peugeot 308, but the 308 has a smaller wheelbase of 2620.

The DS 4S in red on the Guangzhou Auto Show.

The interior is, as always with DS, a manic French over-styled overdose of kitsch and luxury. Just look at the steering wheel in leather and wood, the red leather all over the place, the alu details, the dark foot wells, and the perforated pedals.

Rear lights with the DS logo inside, spoiler on the roof, square-shaped exhaust pipes, dizzying alloys, and the black window frames.