This week, DS unveiled its DS8, or rather, DS N°8, a naming choice that’s a bit harder to say, but clearly borrows from the world of French high-end perfumery!
Hidden behind this new name is indeed the latest all-electric sedan from DS, unapologetically luxurious and aiming to revive French-style premium, although luxury isn’t just about glitter.
DS N°8: A Distinctive Style!
It’s exciting that this new all-electric sedan doesn’t give in to the SUV craze, yet it sports a tall silhouette, with DS even using the term SUV coupe
!
The style is unique, with some angles reminiscent of a Rolls-Royce, featuring an illuminated grille, but also incorporating elements from the 3008 and even Toyota on the fenders, which might not be the most flattering… Let me know your thoughts in the comments, as there’s no doubt this design will turn heads.
Inside, sophistication is key, with a very clean dashboard, minimal buttons, and high-quality fittings. It’s a pity to find the gear selector from a 208 amidst the leather and alcantara, but what can you do… The seats live up to the brand’s comfort promises, and the massive speakers make for a musically soothing ride.
The interior space feels ample, despite being quite compact (4.82 m), and the trunk is fairly large (620L) but no frunk, which is surprising for an electric car – the platform doesn’t seem to allow it, as we’ll discuss later.
Finally, the connectivity features remain similar to the latest 3008/5008, even if the interface gives journalists the impression of a premium system. I’m talking about an overlay, because beneath the 16-inch screen, which is awkwardly narrow vertically, it’s still the same subpar planner and outright poor system from Stellantis. Extremely buggy, inconvenient, and a throwback, despite running on Android Automotive (minus Google services), a major downside for a vehicle that claims to be high-end. Hopefully, in six months the software might improve, but the company’s history suggests its software decisions have been off the mark.
Of course, USB ports, wireless chargers, CarPlay, and adjustable rear air conditioning are all there – the basics are covered, fortunately!
A Fully Electric Sedan!
As you might expect, the DS N°8 is based on a well-known platform, the STLA M
in its Evo version.
This platform, being multi-energy, still retains some flaws from prior versions, with not-so-fast charging (160 kW), translating to a 20 to 80% charge in 27 minutes (expect the 10-80% to be over 30 minutes, to be confirmed). A standard heat pump with pre-conditioning is included, but DS couldn’t fit a frunk even in the single-motor version (230 hp and 245 hp) because it’s front-wheel drive and the engine sits quite high.
However, unlike the 5008/3008, the dual-motor (4×4) models will benefit from the large 97.2 kWh battery (350 hp / 511 Nm) thanks to a true monobloc integration into the chassis. The claimed range is 750 km (large battery and front-wheel drive), with over 500 km on highways, we hear, but at 120 km/h (?!). If true, that’s comparable to the Mercedes EQS with its impressive 0.20 drag coefficient, against 0.24 here. We managed 500 real km, but at 130 km/h, although the DS’s battery is 10 kWh smaller than the EQS’s. Ah, the numbers!
We’re also comforted by a new 1-Pedal mode, a first for Stellantis – though it’s not certain if the car will actually stop completely, to be verified during tests.
€60,000 and Change
The new DS N°8 electric is set to launch mid-2025 with a starting price of €60,000 before options.
That’s quite competitive compared to the Mercedes EQE/EQS, BMW i5, and other Audi A6 models… but those rivals offer much faster charging and sometimes even 800V systems, like Audi.