FRANCE'S newest premium brand is launching in the UK.

DS is the prestige part of Citroen and until now the initials have been used on up-market versions of the Chevron-badged brand with 80,000 sold worldwide. But not anymore.

In future the DS symbols will stand for a separate series, beginning with the top of range DS5 which is arriving 60 years after the first DS was unveiled in Paris.

Then, its design and technology were seen as revolutionary and futuristic as France emerged from post Second World War austerity and sought to reassert itself on the roads of a shattered Europe.

Today, DS is beginning a new journey with three models in Europe led by the DS5 at the top along with the latest refreshed versions of the DS3 hatch and cabrio, and the DS4.

By 2020 there will be six cars in their range, three new and the next generations of the current trio, and DS Automobiles UK intend to have a bespoke brand of dealers to sell them, some existing franchisees and some new to the marque.

Plans to create the separate DS brand were announced in the summer of 2014 and the first cars to carry the initials appeared a few months later but it was at Geneva motor show in 2015 that the range topping DS5 was unveiled.

It is built for Europe just outside Paris while a joint venture will also see it assembled in China, where longer wheelbase version DS5 LS is made particularly for the booming Far East market.

Future production will see an SUV in the line up.

The new DS5 comprises two specifications, Elegance and Prestige, with a small range of Euro 6 diesel and petrol engines, including a hybrid four-wheel-drive, in the nine-car line up from £25,980 to £34,890.

A celebration 1955 Edition DS5 is included as well at £29,600 with particular features to mark the 60th anniversary of the original DS.

We drove the perceived best selling 150hp 2.0 BlueHDi with six-speed manual gearbox, retuned front and rear suspension, electric steering and sophisticated all-disc brakes, 18-inch alloys and 235/45 ZR Michelin tyres.

It's a fairly straightforward powertrain and chassis without the selectability of adjustable dampers or steering found in rivals and the result is the DS 5 was very firm even hard riding on the low profile tyres on some roads and steering had little progression.

Mechanically it was lively, quiet and economical with over 46mpg recorded over main and secondary roads.

The seats were large and comfortable but my colleague struggled to get the driver's seat low enough for his knees under the wheel without having to adjust the column so it did not obscure the instruments display. Occupant and luggage space were good at 465 litres.

On the road, forward and side visibility was clear but the view through the back window was poor, due to the high tail and horizontal trailing wing over the glass.