DS 4 Antoine de Saint Exupéry, a special edition dedicated to the author of "The Little Prince"

Depending on your age, the name Antoine de Saint-Exupéry may not ring a bell at all, but I am sure that if you enjoy reading even a little, you will know “The Little Prince”, the work written by Saint-Exupéry that has become one of the best-selling books in history, with more than 150 million copies sold worldwide since its first publication back in 1943.

Born in 1940, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry began to make a name for himself as a pilot in the early 1920s carrying mail from France to various Spanish locations and to the former French colonies, which later became what we now know as Senegal. At the end of that decade he moved to Argentina and there, in 1928, he wrote Courrier Sud (South Mail), his first novel, in which he recounts his incredible adventures delivering airmail.

It is precisely these stories gathered in Courrier Sud, narrated through his memories and flight notes, that inspired DS to create a special edition in which the DS 4 is the protagonist. Indeed, at the beginning of last May the DS 4 received a new MHEV hybrid powertrain , which promises to be one of the best-selling versions of this model, and which now also becomes the star of this edition DS 4 Antoine de Saint Exupéry.

Let us recall that this powertrain, known as Hybrid 136, is characterised by an updated 1.2-litre three-cylinder PureTech petrol engine, now with a timing chain, variable geometry turbocharger and Miller cycle, all to achieve an output of 136 CV and 230 Nm of torque, as well as a consumption figure that, compared with the DS 4 PureTech 130 automatic, is 1.2 l/100 km lower, and CO2 emissions that are also reduced by 27 g/km.

We must not forget the permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor with an output of 21 kW and 55 Nm of torque, which is integrated into the six-speed e-DCS6 dual-clutch automatic gearbox and can run on electric power alone at low speeds and under moderate loads. During deceleration the electric motor acts as a generator and charges the 0.9 kWh battery, and it also provides power that helps start the petrol engine more easily.

As exclusive features of this special edition, the DS 4 Antoine de Saint Exupéry is offered with a selection of body colours, including the exclusive Night Flight, which is also found on the hub caps of the 19-inch Sevilla diamond-cut alloy wheels. Incidentally, this colour is a nod to the novel “Vol de Nuit” (Night Flight), which Saint-Exupéry wrote in 1930 and which also brought him enormous success.

Inside the DS 4 Antoine de Saint Exupéry you will also find exclusive details such as the Criollo nappa leather upholstery, which features double stitching in the Criollo and Terre de Cassel colours, paying tribute to the seats of early 20th-century aircraft. This upholstery is also present on the door panels. Other details make exclusive reference to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, such as his signature, the drawing of an aeroplane and the phrase “the stars measure true distances”, taken from his book Courrier Sud, on areas such as the dashboard and the door sills.

The DS 4 Antoine de Saint Exupéry can now be ordered at the brand’s Spanish dealerships, with a starting price of 46,450 euros.