The 2026 DS Taylor Made N°4 and the Art of Turning Racing into Design

Racing Artistry - In a time when car design often feels shaped by algorithms and market forecasts, moments of genuine creative expression stand out. That spirit is exactly what DS Automobiles tapped into when it introduced the DS Taylor Made N°4, a concept car that blurs the line between motorsport passion, personal identity, and contemporary automotive design. Unveiled at the 2026 Brussels Motor Show, the project is less about spectacle and more about storytelling—how a modern performance brand translates racing DNA into something emotional, wearable, and unmistakably human. 

The 2026 DS Taylor Made N°4 concept car was revealed at the Brussels Motor Show on January 9, 2026, and was crafted in collaboration with the brand’s Formula E driver, Taylor Barnard. (Picture from: AutoJournal.fr)

At its core, the Taylor made N°4 is built on the DS N°4, a key model in the brand’s lineup, but the transformation is immediately visible. The front grille integrates a bold “N°4” graphic as a central design element, flanked by pixel-inspired headlamps that give the car a distinctly digital, future-facing presence. Its stance is lower and wider than the standard model, enhancing both visual drama and aerodynamic intent. Subtle cues borrowed from racing simulators and video games shape its proportions, making the car feel as if it belongs as much in a virtual world as it does on the road. 

The 2026 DS Taylor Made N°4 concept car features a bold “N°4” graphic integrated into the front grille, flanked by pixel-inspired headlamps that create a distinctly digital, forward-looking presence. (Picture from: Independent.co.uk)

The concept was developed by the DS Design Studio in close collaboration with Taylor Barnard, the young British driver who joined the DS PENSKE Formula E Team. Rather than serving as a mere ambassador, Barnard played an active creative role, sharing his preferences and influences with the brand’s Colours, Materials and Finishes specialists. His taste for dark, monochrome tones punctuated by sharp accents led to a layered palette dominated by greys, purples, and metallic textures. The result is a car that reflects its co-creator’s personality while remaining true to DS Automobiles’ design language. 

The 2026 DS Taylor Made N°4 concept car uses material choice as a narrative device, with titanium symbolizing lightness and competition through four distinct expressions ranging from raw industrial textures to glossy, motion-enhancing surfaces. (Picture from: AutoJournal.fr)

Material choice becomes a narrative tool throughout the Taylor made N°4. Titanium, a symbol of lightness and competition, appears in four distinct interpretations, ranging from raw, industrial finishes to glossy, reflective surfaces that emphasize motion. One of the most striking elements replaces traditional carbon fiber with a crinkled, metal-like textile inspired by racing equipment, applied by hand in aerodynamic zones. This craftsmanship-driven approach reinforces the idea that performance is not only engineered, but also shaped by skilled human hands. 

The 2026 DS Taylor Made N°4 concept car replaces traditional carbon fiber with a hand-applied, crinkled metal-like textile inspired by racing equipment in its aerodynamic zones.(Picture from: AutoJournal.fr)

Details further anchor the concept in Barnard’s racing world. Light gold accents—DS Performance’s signature color—appear on mirrors, wheel centers, and badges, while flashes of purple mark door openers and exterior identifiers. His racing number, 77, is discreetly woven into the lighting elements and body graphics, rewarding close inspection rather than demanding attention. Inside and out, the car feels cohesive, as if every surface and symbol has been deliberately placed rather than added for effect. 

The 2026 DS Taylor Made N°4 concept car extends beyond its physical form by reinforcing DS Automobiles’ long-standing Formula E commitment, where racing success continues to shape road-going innovation. (Picture from: Independent.co.uk)

Beyond its physical form, the Taylor made N°4 carries broader relevance. It reinforces DS Automobiles’ long-standing involvement in Formula E, a championship where the brand has secured multiple world titles and consistently used competition as a testing ground for road-going innovation. The concept also acts as a bridge to production models, echoing the design philosophy and electrified technology found in the DS N°4 Performance Line editions. | gIKgXU18Jvc |

Even its presence in a virtual driving experience on Roblox speaks to a modern understanding of how audiences connect with cars today—through screens, stories, and shared experiences. In that sense, the DS Taylor made N°4 is not just a concept car, but a snapshot of how performance, personalization, and culture intersect in the current automotive era. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARSTYLING.RU | NETCARSHOW | INDEPENDENT.CO.UK | AUTOJOURNAL.FR ]

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