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Le Petit Prince

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is undoubtedly a remarkable man. You probably know him as the author of Le Petit Prince, one of the most translated French books with more than 80 million copies sold worldwide. But his talents extended beyond writing. He was also a humanist, scientist and artist.

In France, he is also known as a famous pilot. From an early age he was fascinated by airplanes, and after World War I he worked as a pilot for various airlines. His nighttime flights over the Sahara served as inspiration for many of his books. During World War II, he flew for the U.S. Air Force. He was killed in 1944 during preparations for an invasion of southern France when his Lockheed Lightning P38J crashed off the coast of Marseilles.

Three versions

In cooperation with the Saint-Exupéry-d’Agay Estate, which looks after the interests of the French writer’s heirs, DS Automobiles has developed an exclusive model collection in honor of the Frenchman. The brand is introducing unique versions of the DS 3, DS 4 and DS 7. The unveiling took place at an appropriate location: the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace in Paris, one of the largest aviation museums in the world.

Night Flight

All three models are available in the special body color “Night Flight. This pearlescent paint has subtle golden reflections reminiscent of a starry sky at sunrise. An obvious nod to Antoine’s flights over the Sahara. According to Thierry Metroz, Design Director at DS Automobiles, the brand has invested a lot of time in perfecting this paint: “We developed this color four years ago. It takes time to make a color absolutely perfect. We put it away then, waiting for the perfect moment to use it on a specific execution. This color embodies everything this execution needs. The deep night blue with shimmering stars, and in sunlight the golden aspect comes out, making you think of the sun and the desert.” said Thierry Metroz, Design Director at DS Automobiles.

DS 3 ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY

You can further recognize the DS 3 ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY by special emblems on the front doors and by the hubcaps in the 18-inch wheels, which are also finished in “Night Flight” color. The body colors Crystal Pearl and Perla Nera Black are also available. On the front sill frames is the quote “For those who travel, the stars are guides,” along with an illustration from his book The Little Prince.

The interior of the exclusive DS 3 is a feast for the eyes with its Criollo Brown Nappa leather upholstery. DS really turned out with special finishes on the dashboard and doors. The dashboard is adorned with stylish satin and pearl stitching inspired by contrails – those distinctive airplane stripes in the sky. Details typical of the sophistication we have come to expect from DS.

DS 4 ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY

Step into the DS 4 ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY and you are greeted by the same impressive stitching as in the DS 3. The front sill frames feature a quote from his book “Southern Mail”: “The stars determine true distances for us,” complete with a drawing of an airplane. This special DS 4 is further equipped with all the luxury goodies DS has to offer. Think heated, ventilated front seats with massage function. In addition to the attractive Night Flight paint, you will recognize this model by the 19-inch alloy wheels with a diamond-cut effect and hubcap in body color. Crystal Pearl and Perla Nera Black are also available colors.

DS 7 ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY

Of course, the DS 7 ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY is also infused with tributes to the author, this time with a quote from The Wisdom of the Sands on the sill. Inside, you once again encounter the Criollo Brown leather, with Tramontane embroidery, Terre de Cassel pearl stitching and a special emblem on the dashboard. The interior exudes DS’s familiar sophistication, with heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, soundproof windows and a fully leather-wrapped steering wheel in Basalt Black. The 21-inch NEW YORK wheels complete the unique design.

Prices

The configurator has already opened its digital doors and you can order the special DS models effective immediately. The DS 3 ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY is available as an electric E-TENSE and a HYBRID 136. The HYBRID 136 determines the entry-level price, which starts at 42,890 euros. The DS 4 ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY is available as an E-TENSE 225 plug-in hybrid, starting at 54,740 euros. For the DS 7 ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY, you can choose from three different power ratings: 225 hp, 300 hp or 360 hp, with the two most powerful versions having all-wheel drive as standard. The plug-in hybrid starts at 62,590 euros and is available in four paint colors: Night Flight, Crystal Pearl, Perla Nera Black and Sapphire Blue.

Esprit de Voyage

By the way, this is not the first time DS Automobiles has launched a special collection. Last year, the brand introduced its first collection, under the name Esprit de Voyage. This collection focused on “the art of travel.