Step inside the glass fronted DS flagship store on Nanjing Xi Lu and prepare to be assaulted by displays vaunting the car’s heritage and supposed reputation for quality and safety. Emphasised is the role of the DS in Charles De Gaulle’s survival of an assassination attempt and very tenuous links between the car and China!

The reality of the original DS is a car ahead of its time, known for ride quality and innovative technology. Launched in 1955, it remained in production for 20 years. Today’s DS is a brand trying to milk this heritage in order to create a more upmarket sub brand for mainstream Citroën.

In China, this means taking aim at the German marques. The flagship hatchback DS5 was considered a bit too radical in styling for this purpose, and so the DS5 LS, exclusive to China, was born. Citroën DS has a joint venture in China with Chang’an, which produces both cars locally.

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