ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY COLLECTION: WITH DS AUTOMOBILES, EVERY JOURNEY BECOMES A DREAM | DS Automobiles
- Humanist, storyteller, aviator, scientist and artist, Antoine de Saint Exupéry lends his name to the 2024 Collection introduced by DS Automobiles. It’s paying tribute to him on the 80th anniversary of his death.
- Three models make up the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Collection: DS 3, DS 4 and DS 7.
- Inspired by Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s travels and stories, each model showcases the effort of the DS DESIGN STUDIO PARIS team with references to the author’s works.
- The offering is available on all the power units available on each model: 100% electric, plug-in hybrid, hybrid, petrol and diesel. Orders open on May 14th.
“With the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Collection, we are talking about what the DS Automobiles brand represents, a little extra soul that makes the difference. This difference is achieved through intangibles: poetry, connection through shared values, a common imagination. It is first of all France, its food-loving culture, its taste for beauty, an eye for detail and, fittingly, Antoine de St Exupéry’s spirit; a spirit of travel, exploration, avant-garde. All this is represented by Concorde, the TGV and the 1955 DS with its innovative cocktail of comfort, design and technology. This new “Antoine de Saint Exupéry” Collection shares all these conventions.”
Olivier François, DS Automobiles CEO
DS Automobiles is continuing to introduce its collections every year, as in the world of high fashion. These unique offerings are a strong expression of a recognised expertise embodying the DS Automobiles values.
The 2024 Collection is a rich collaboration with a symbol of French history; a man who was both a poet and a traveller, an author and a hero: Antoine de Saint Exupéry.
Inspiring in more ways than one, his stories give rise to three models with distinctive characteristics, linked to four of his works: The Little Prince, Southern Mail, Citadel and Night Flight.
“Our Collections are an obvious reference to the world of high fashion. Every year, it is an opportunity to express our values and illustrate our best expertise by applying a special point of inspiration in the form of an exclusive range.”
Agnès Tesson-Faget, DS Automobiles Product Director
Antoine de Saint Exupéry: multi-faceted hero who became a legend
Humanist, storyteller, aviator, scientist and artist… Antoine de Saint Exupéry has become a legend in more ways than one. Since the mid-20th century, he has embodied the spirit of adventure, creativity and compassion through his literary work and aerial exploits.
From his early youth, Antoine de Saint Exupéry fell in love with the heavens and their constellations.
Antoine de Saint Exupéry then expanded his flying career as an airline pilot for various carriers. His solo wanderings, navigating the immense Sahara Desert on night flights, were a fertile source of inspiration for his literary work. His journeys through the air fed his imagination and led to many of his most notable stories, including “Southern Mail” and “Night Flight”.
It was with the birth of “The Little Prince” in 1943 that Antoine de Saint Exupéry truly conquered hearts on a global scale. This poetic tale, embellished with his own illustrations, tells the epic story of a young prince from a distant planet, who meets an aviator stranded in the scorching sands of the desert. Through the adventures of the Little Prince, Antoine de Saint Exupéry examines universal themes such as love, friendship, loneliness and the quest for meaning, thereby enchanting millions of readers internationally. “The Little Prince” has become the most translated literary work in the world.
Engaged in the French Allied forces under American command during the Second World War, he was killed during an aerial reconnaissance mission on 31 July 1944, his aircraft sinking off the Mediterranean coast.
Although his fate was cut tragically short, Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s legacy lives on through his timeless work. As a writer, he captures the essence of humanity and the human condition with finesse, while as an aviator, he embodies the spirit of adventure and bravery. His philosophy of life, emanating from the pages of “The Little Prince”, still resonates today with readers from all walks of life, thereby perpetuating a reminder of the importance of love, friendship and the splendour of the world around us. Antoine de Saint Exupéry remains unquestionably the immortal symbol of mankind’s desire to touch the stars.
The fruit of the inspiration drawn from this French legend, his global creation and a common passion for escapism, DS Automobiles has joined forces with the Saint Exupéry – d’Agay Estate, representing Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s heirs and rights-holders, to design the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Collection. From a collaboration, three models were born, each telling a story under Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s signature.
Antoine de Saint Exupéry Collection: three inspired models
Offered on DS 3, DS 4 and DS 7, the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Collection introduces an exclusive shared signature, closely linked to the adventurer’s story. It’s paying tribute to him on the 80th anniversary of his death.
Each model comes with a new special “Night Flight” colour. This pearlescent paint is made of pigments that create subtle golden reflections like a starry sky at dawn.
The atmosphere inside revives the language of aviators from the first half of the 20th century with a warm and durable Criollo Brown Nappa leather, which illustrates a unique expertise and the use of the beautiful materials dear to DS Automobiles. The leathers are accompanied by a brand-new embroidery technique on the dashboard trim to evoke the vapour trail of an aircraft.
Various interior and exterior badges, as well as plates on the door sills, complete the exclusive Antoine de Saint Exupéry Collection’s signature. These plates feature quotes and drawings, taken from the inspirational works, and the Antoine de Saint Exupéry signature supplemented by a speedform logo. Its sketch conjures up the fuselage of an aeroplane. The propeller in the middle is reminiscent of a star that could be used as a guide for aviators and more generally travellers.
“When we think of Antoine de Saint Exupéry, we think of The Little Prince. We all have the image of a star. We were inspired by it and integrated it into our graphics, on the interior and exterior badges. At the same time, we worked on interpreting and reinstating Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s drawings.”
Thierry Metroz, DS Automobiles Design Director
To celebrate the launch of this Collection, a certificate with the name of a star will be offered to the first eighty European customers.
DS 3 ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY: “For those who travel, the stars are guides”, The Little Prince
The first model in the range, DS 3 ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY features a quote from the book “The Little Prince”, a ubiquitous and humanist work, acknowledged as the most translated in the world.
For all-round comfort, DS 3 ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY features an OPERA interior in Criollo Brown Nappa Leather with special dashboard and door trim. Satin stitching draws lines like a shooting star and the iconic pearl stitching is Terre de Cassel coloured. Interior refinement is emphasised by a leather airbag cover.
The front door sills display the quote “For those who travel, the stars are guides”, taken from “The Little Prince”, as well as a drawing by the author.
On the exterior, the ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY models stand out with elegant badges on the front doors and “Night Flight” coloured centre caps on 18-inch NICE wheels.
Equipment is finished off with Proximity Keyless Entry & Start, heated seats and connected navigation with DS IRIS SYSTEM and ChatGPT access.
A multi-energy model, DS 3 ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY is available in E-TENSE 100% electric, HYBRID, PureTech 130 petrol and BlueHDi 130 diesel.
Three colours with black roofs are available: Night Flight, Crystal Pearl and Perla Nera Black.
Prices
DS 3 E-TENSE ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY: 47,800 euros
DS 3 HYBRID ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY: 40,700 euros
DS 3 PureTech 130 Automatic ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY: 39,200 euros
DS 3 BlueHDi 130 Automatic ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY: 40,800 euros
DS 4 ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY: “The stars determine true distances for us”, Southern Mail
Adventurous and dynamic, DS 4 ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY picks up a quote from “Southern Mail”, the author’s first published book. It symbolises the courage, freedom and faithfulness of a man of letters and the sky.
With its Criollo Brown OPÉRA interior embellished with exclusive finishes, DS 4 ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY demonstrates the best of DS Automobiles expertise. On the dashboard, the leather is finished with Criollo and Terre de Cassel double stitching. The Terre de Cassel stitching is used on the door trim. The front seats are heated, massaging and cooled.
As with the rest of the range, an “Antoine de Saint Exupéry” badge features on the dashboard. The quote “The stars determine true distances for us” and a drawing of an aeroplane are on the front door sills.
With their diamond-cut effect, the 19-inch SEVILLA wheels feature a new “Night Flight” centre cap.
DS 4’s four types of power unit are being offered: E-TENSE 225 plug-in hybrid, HYBRID, PureTech 130 petrol and BlueHDi 130 diesel.
Three colours with black roofs are available: Night Flight, Crystal Pearl and Perla Nera Black.
Prices
DS 4 E-TENSE 225 ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY : 53,800 euros
DS 4 HYBRID ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY: 47,350 euros
DS 4 PureTech 130 Automatic ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY: 45,850 euros
DS 4 BlueHDi 130 Automatic ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY: 46,800 euros
DS 7 ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY: “It is the pathway of dialogue between the stars and us”, The Wisdom of the Sands
DS 7 ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY features a quotation from “The Wisdom of the Sands”, a collection of reflections on the human condition, posthumous to the author. The power of the work is combined with that of the model, whose shape conjures up comfort and safety.
For the greater comfort of its occupants, DS 7 ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY unveils a new Criollo Brown OPÉRA interior. The Nappa leather is accompanied Tramontane embroidery and Terre de Cassel pearl stitching. An “Antoine de Saint Exupéry” badge finishes the dashboard and adds to the quote “It is the pathway of dialogue between the stars and us” and the sketch of stars on the front door sills.
Other stitching and the Criollo Brown armrest give an extra touch of elegance. The steering wheel is entirely upholstered in Basalt Black leather, including the airbag cover. The front seats are heated, massaging and cooled and it’s finished with acoustic windows for maximum comfort.
Externally, a new “Antoine de Saint Exupéry” badge on the doors and a new “Night Flight” coloured wheel cap hint at this Collection’s exclusivity. The 21-inch NEW YORK wheels are also a special design for DS 7 E-TENSE 4×4 360.
DS 7 ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY is available with 360, 300 and 225 horsepower plug-in hybrid power units and the BlueHDi 130 diesel engine.
Four colours are available: the special Night Flight colour as well as Crystal Pearl, Perla Nera Black and Sapphire Blue.
Prices
DS 7 E-TENSE 4×4 360 ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY: 74,050 euros
DS 7 E-TENSE 4×4 300 ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY: 68,850 euros
DS 7 E-TENSE 225 ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY: 62,650 euros
DS 7 BlueHDi 130 Automatic ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY: 53,850 euros
