Road trip to Porto Heli: a premium driving experience

The gold color car of the publication To cross It was love at first sight”. Here the French sophistication combined with dynamism which is reflected in big wheels but also in large front lights.

In the back, the carved lights they go perfectly with her elegant silhouette of, while the spacious living room of the model and cockpit design impress with their design. One of the reasons we chose this particular car is the handcrafted materials and excellent build quality of the interiors, and we can already see that in front of us.

Embossed inserts Nails of Pariswhich are inspired by fine watchmaking, highlight the dashboard and the air conditioning controls DSAIR., an innovative air conditioning system with very compact central air ducts placed high and discreet.

At the same time, the interior Brown Creole OPERA represents the best of the brand’s craftsmanship with leather-trimmed high-density foam seats Criollo Brown Nappa, a skin with a special texture. The dashboard is also upholstered in the same leather, while the decorative trim is in wood Brown Ash they add an extra touch to the aesthetics of the cabin.

We set off and found ourselves fairly quickly on the Athens-Corinth highway. Roll through 8-speed automatic transmission (in which there is also a touch of innovation since the traditional stick has been replaced by the innovative and elegant controller DS E-TOGGLE) it rides calmly, quietly and quietly. Thus, we have the opportunity to comfortably learn the equipment of our new car. As the DS SMART KEYa 5-inch touchscreen that connects to the IRIS DS-SYSTEM, which is our new information ecosystem, easy to use, ergonomic and fully customizable. The IRIS DS-SYSTEM is our personal assistant, who communicates with us through touch and voice and executes our commands with precision. We also had the opportunity to test the innovative system DRIVING ASSISTANCE. Let’s live an augmented reality experience with DS EXTENDED HEAD-UP DISPLAY. What is it exactly; An advanced technology used in fighter jets that allows unhindered visibility in all situations. All useful driving information such as car speed is displayed on the windshield in the driver’s field of vision and in projection size 21 inches.

Thanks to DS4 we got one Augmented reality driving experience. The engine of our car makes minimal noise while we listen to music 14-speaker sound system by Focal.

The first leg of our road trip is to Isthmus of Corinth to enjoy the view from above. Back in the car and as the sun’s rays came through and hit her windshield DS4we are once again dazzled by the “most beautiful car of 2022”.

DS is pronounced in French »Goddessa word meaning goddess. Indeed, before us was a golden goddess who in the diesel version of 1500 cubic meters that we had it has a power of 130 hp. But of course this is not the only version. There are two petrol options, PureTech 130 EAT8 and PureTech 180 EAT8 but there is mainly the plug-in hybrid version, E-TENSE of 225 hp. The combination of the electric motor and the petrol engine ensures dynamic and flexible driving. After all, this version has incorporated all the know-how of DS Performance, the team with 4 titles in Formula E. Ideal choice for those looking for low consumption and high performance.

From the Isthmus to Porto Heli

The journey continues. The beginning of summer is probably the best time to enjoy the fascinating beauty of nature on the road that starts from the isthmus and ends in Porto Heli.

Shortly after Epidaurus, the landscape changes. Rows of pines give way to small promontories. Green alternates with sea blue and vice versa. As you get closer to the destination, the landscape becomes more “dry”, Mediterranean. Here, olive trees and bushes dominate. For the most impressive piece of vegetation, he put his hand the person. It is the impressive gardens of the residences and hotels on this side of the Argolis that we see from above as we descend and approach the settlement and the port.

It’s a weekday morning at the end of May, so the port is quite crowded. Before settling into our accommodation, we enjoyed a coffee by the sea. While we enjoyed the landscape of small bays and calm waters, the DS4 was the center of attention of passers-by in the place. One of them asked us “what is this car” because he too was impressed by its beauty. After explaining his features in detail, he commented, “It’s very beautiful, French cars are generally good drivers“.

On the beach of Kova

The next goal was to explore the beaches in the area. Following the advice of his local fan DS4 and driving a few kilometers, we found ourselves on a really special beach, kova. As we mentioned above, it is a weekday, early in the season, so there are not many people, which is important because the Bucket it’s not a particularly long beach. But it is beautiful, with crystal clear waters. In front of us, the mansions of Spetses.

To Hermione

The second day of the road trip included road trips, of course swimming and a visit to nearby Porto Heli, Hermione. The journey from Porto Heli to Ermioni does not take more than 20 minutes but the experience fills our eyes with images: vineyards protected by “fences” of cypresses, impressive mansions with magnificent gardens and flowers, small bays and coves where are some truly impressive yachts. It is clear that the region is enjoying a renaissance as a premium destination.

It should be noted that although the route is not long, it is quite difficult with many turns, narrow roads and poor pavement. But thanks to DS ACTIVE SCAN SUSPENSION it becomes a game. This is one of the very strong points of our new vehicle, a pioneering technology in its category. A camera mounted on the windscreen “sees” and predicts irregularities in the road surface and sends the data to a management unit. With four position sensors and three accelerometers, the system can and does control each wheel of the car independently. Using the information it receives, it makes the suspension stiffer or softer depending on what is required on each individual wheel. Thus, our comfort was assured whatever the state of the road.

In Hermione, in an area where authenticity reigns, we ate fresh fish that the tavern got from one of the local boats, swam and visited the archaeological site. Shortly after, the return journey to Athens began. We chose to travel at night and thus had the opportunity to see the possibilities of yet another technological and aesthetic innovation of DS4. Very thin projectors with the system DS MATRIX LED VISIONwhich combine the standard lighting with that of the steering according to the turn of the steering wheel and which are supplemented by daytime running lights comprising two LED lines on each side.

An experience to remember for a long time with “the frog who became a prince”

Before July and August arrive, it is worth visiting these areas to enjoy the experiences they offer without large crowds.

This excursion offers the ideal conditions to live the thrilling driving experience DS 4. The first DS, the mythical model of the 20th century was known in Greece under the name of “frog“. The frog, of course, has long since become a prince. The DS4 this is probably the fanciest version of it. something between you tailgate, something between SUVbut at a high price character crossover, pattern and equipment way above its class.