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Naza Euro Motors has launched the Citroën DS4 and DS5 in its new bid to rejuvenate the unorthodox French brand in Malaysia. As reported earlier, these two models are NEM’s first two offerings since its appointment as the official distributor for Citroën in the country.

Both a part of Citroën’s semi-premium Different Spirit (DS) line-up, the DS4 THP163 and DS5 THP156 are priced at RM165,000 and RM195,000 respectively (both on the road prices with five-year unlimited mileage warranty), making them quite a big step up from fellow Naza-stablemates Peugeot 308 and 508.

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Explaining the price difference are the facts that these cars are CBU models built in France, are specced full of kit and most significantly, possesses a higher level of quality and prestige than the regular Peugeots. These are DS models, remember. Elsewhere, Citroën has the C4 and C5 models marketed alongside similarly priced Peugeot 308 and 508 respectively.

First up, the DS5. It’s a Citroën alright. It looks like nothing else on the road with its wild character lines and aerodynamic silhouette. The chrome-finished ‘sabre’ extending from the large headlights is a creative design move that is both unique and eye-catching, as is the feature-rich rear end with its glass-mounted rear spoiler. It splits the fine line between a hatchback and an estate by being taller and larger than either body style.

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Under the hood, the DS5 is powered a turbocharged 1.6 litre direct injection petrol engine paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox (regular torque converter this time, not the EGS sequential ‘box brought in by the previous distributor) driving the front wheels. Power is rated at 156 hp, with 240 Nm of torque, good enough for a 0-100 km/h time of 9.7 seconds and a top speed of 202 km/h.

The aerospace-inspired styling is matched with an equally sleek interior. For starters, there are aircraft-style overhead controls and then there’s the split three-piece glass canopy – one each for the driver and front passenger and a larger one for the rear cabin.

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For your RM195,000, you get a rear view camera, Arkamys audio processing with Denon sound system, dual-zone air conditioning, colour head-up display and smart keyless entry as standard. Auto wipers, Xenon lights, electric front seats with memory function, massaging driver’s throne plus front and rear parking sensors are included too.

As for the seats, you get a choice of either Fauve Club of Red Club leather with bracelet confection (i.e fancy folds and creases on the seat back). The wheels are 18-inch items with black gloss diamond-effect. On the safety front, the DS5 is fitted with ESP, ABS, EBD, EBA and six airbags in total.

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Moving along, the DS4 is the second member of the DS family, joining the pioneering DS3. It’s essentially a Volkswagen Golf-size hatchback styled as a 2+2 coupe – a layout that draws comparisons to the Scirocco. It has four doors though (the rear door handles are hidden within the window line); with three-abreast seating configuration in the rear quarters.

It rides on a raised ride height akin to a mini-SUV, making it, as Citroën would claim, a “five-door high stance coupe”. The accompanying SUV-size wheel arches may make the standard 18-inch wheels look underwhelming, but the DS4’s heavily sculpted sheet metal and curvaceous body draw attention away from it.

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Here in Malaysia it’s offered in a single THP163 guise, with the same engine and gearbox as the DS5. It’s tuned to the same specifications as the Peugeot 408 Turbo though – 163 hp and 240 Nm of torque – and is capable of completing the 0-100 km/h sprint in 9.3 seconds. Top speed is 212 km/h.

Inside it’s a French masterpiece of superfluous design, distinctly putting form ahead of function. It certainly looks and feels premium enough, with soft-touch materials and plenty of chrome detailing enveloping the driver-oriented cabin. The upswept windscreen that extends well into the roofline adds a unique touch.

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Automatic dual-zone climate control, Arkamys sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, auto wipers, xenon headlamps, massaging driver’s seat and leather upholstery (Habana Club hide with bracelet confection) are all standard. The DS4 gets the same safety features as the more expensive DS5, with the addition of a blind spot monitoring system.

Naza Euro Motors also launched its new Citroën Glenmarie 3S centre alongside the new models. The RM3.5 million, 22,000 sq ft flagship outlet will handle all the sales and aftersales activities for the brand. Three more Citroën outlets will follow later in the year, as will one more new model.

So there you have it guys. New distributor, new 3S centre, two eye-catching models with five-year, unlimited mileage warranty. Citroën, anyone?