DS Automobiles is to launch a C-segment hatch in 2021, going up against premium sector rivals such as the Audi A3 and including a plug-in hybrid version.

Marking “a new chapter in the DS Automobiles story”, the yet-to-be-revealed DS 4 covers four key pillars that will also provide the basis for future DS models: electrification, connectivity, “dynamic serenity” and the next-generation DS light signature. It will also focus on offering French luxury expertise while offering a “silhouette that is both athletic and aerodynamically efficient”.

It will be the first DS Automobiles model to be built on a new version of the EMP2 platform, designed for a range of powertrains with no compromise on interior space, as well as enhanced driving dynamics thanks to completely redesigned suspension and steering components. It’s also said to put priority on high safety standards.

Engine line-up is yet to be fully announced but alongside expected petrol and diesel variants, there will be a DS 4 E-Tense model using the PSA Group’s increasingly familiar plug-in hybrid powertrain using a 180hp four-cylinder petrol engine paired to a 110hp electric motor for a combined 225hp and around a 30-mile electric-only range.

DS also says the new model will feature a range of cutting-edge technology, including extended head up display – a first step towards augmented reality technology for the brand – plus smart touchscreen technology and active scan suspension, which uses camera technology to scan the road surface ahead and adapt the suspension and damping accordingly.

It will also introduce the new DS Iris infotainment system, based on a smartphone interface approach and offering personalised profiles and voice/hand-controlled gestures as well as over-the-air updates.

The DS 4 will also be available with DS Automobiles’ Assist 2.0 level 2 semi-autonomous driving technology, taking care of lane positioning, semi-autonomous overtakes and using artificial intelligence to slow the vehicle down when cornering and even adjust to speed limit changes by reading road signs.

The DS 4 will go on sale in late 2021.