Citroen's 'posh' sub-brand, DS, is set to double its offering to six models by 2018, at which time all remnants of Citroen badging will be removed from the cars. The announcement was made at the first DS-branded event since the decision to split from Citroen was finalised.
DS currently produces six cars worldwide - three in Europe and three in China - but by 2018 the line-up will be homogenised with six vehicles for the worldwide market. Three of these models are likely to be second generation versions of the current DS 3, DS 4 and DS 5 and a compact crossover akin to the Chinese DS 6WR is also on the cards.
It is, as yet, unknown what the other two models will be but DS will not be entering the posh city car segment with a Citroen C1-based DS 1 as a DS representative told CompleteCar.ie such a car "is not part of our plans."
To further separate DS from Citroen and strengthen its position as a standalone brand, future DS models, while using Citroen platforms and powertrains, will feature bespoke internal components like dashboards and steering wheels. This is something that has worked well for the Volkswagen Group with the Golf, A3, Leon and Octavia all having their own feel despite sharing the MQB architecture. Closer to home the Peugeot 308 and Citroen C4 Picasso also share a platform (EMP2) but very little of what the customer touches and sees is shared between the two.
Anything else?
All DS models will continue to be designed in France and cars destined for the European market will be built there too. Vehicles to be sold in South America and Asia will be built at one of the firm's four plants in China.