DS Automobiles has revealed a concept car inspired by gaming culture, developed in collaboration with a young Formula E driver who describes himself as a hardcore gamer.
Video games are leaving their mark on real-world cars. NASCAR driver William Byron, who began in iRacing sim racing, has leveraged that experience to become a two-time Daytona 500 champion.
The influence of gaming is now extending beyond motorsports into vehicle design itself. French luxury brand DS Automobiles has introduced the Taylor Made N°4 Concept, a compact hatchback design heavily inspired by video game aesthetics and culture.
DS Automobiles, part of Stellantis and previously under the Citroën umbrella, positions the N°4, pronounced “number four”, as a premium compact hatchback in competition with the BMW 1 Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
While none of these vehicles are sold in the U.S., where demand favors larger models like the Ford F-150, the concept illustrates how designers are drawing inspiration from unexpected sources well outside traditional luxury car norms.
The N°4 Concept was developed by DS Design Studio in collaboration with Taylor Barnard, a young Formula E driver who describes himself as a “hardcore gamer,” citing games like Fortnite, Rocket League, and Call of Duty. Barnard joined DS Penske this season after racing with McLaren.
Among the concept’s standout features is a reinterpretation of titanium called Craft Titanium, which replaces carbon fiber in aerodynamic components such as the front splitter and air vents. This finish gives the car a bold and unique visual identity uncommon among performance-oriented models.
Additional design touches include Light Gold accents, a mark of the DS Performance Line, Barnard’s racing number 77, an N°4 logo on the nose, and purple highlights, his favorite color.
No powertrain specifications were released for the concept, though the production N°4 will be available with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric options.
“I dreamt it up, DS Automobiles made it. The N°4 was already my favourite model in the range, so when the brand’s design department presented me with this project, I was both enamoured and honored,” Barnard said in a press release.
The Taylor Made N°4 Concept had its physical debut at the Brussels Motor Show on January 9, displayed alongside Barnard’s DS E-TENSE FE25 Formula E single-seater. For those unable to attend, the concept will also be available digitally later this year in Driving Empire on Roblox.
For U.S. buyers, the closest Stellantis alternative in terms of size is the Fiat 500e, which competes with other small cars like the Mini Cooper and Mazda Miata.
