DS N°8: X-ray analysis of the French electric flagship

Part luxury saloon, part crossover, it has the task of accompanying the brand into the future. All electric, it has a range of 466 miles

Photo by: InsideEVs

By: Francesco Barontini

Dec 16, 2024 at 4:57am ET

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DS is one of those Stellantis brands that seeks more than others its own identity and dimension on the market. To do so, it now presents the DS N°8, a car with generous dimensions and sleek lines that aims to open a new course for the French brand in terms of both style and technology.

The all-electric DS N°8 has taut lines and sharp edges, but it surprises not only with its appearance, which represents a nice leap into the future while maintaining a certain link with the other models on the list. The car, in fact, is a little bit coupe and a little bit crossover and reinterprets in an original way the idea of a flagship that the DS9 had proposed following more traditional styling cues.

DS N°8: platform and dimensions

The DS N°8 is the brand's first model to be built on the STLA Medium platform, the same platform on which the latest generations of Peugeot e-3008, e-5008 and Opel-Vauxhall Grandland took shape. The STLA Medium is one of four platforms that Stellantis has created to best address the ecological transition and, while being 'electric first', it is to all intents and purposes a multi-powered car.

Photo by: DS

The DS N°8 reinterprets the shape of the classic flagship with more crossover proportions

Platform aside, the car is 4.82 metres long, 1.90 metres wide and 1.58 metres high and has a wheelbase of 2.90 metres. For better aerodynamic penetration, the new French flagship has a fairly low ground clearance (15.5 cm) and this contributes to a Cx of 0.24.

Length: 4.82 metres
Width: 1.90 metres
Height: 1.58 metres
Wheelbase: 2.90 metres
Weight: 2,100-2,300 kg.

DS N°8: space on board

Although it has a low, tapered roof, the DS N°8, which will be built in Italy at the Melfi plant, offers plenty of space for occupants at both leg and head level. Front passengers, as is traditional for DS, are accommodated by two large and very comfortable seats; rear passengers, likewise, can sit on a contoured bench that has two very comfortable seats and a third seat that, although quite large, does not seem to offer the same level of comfort.

Photo by: DS

The interior has relatively simple shapes but sophisticated materials and colour combinations

Speaking of load capacity, the new French flagship, despite having a very long bonnet, does not have a front frunk. However, in addition to the gloveboxes in the passenger compartment, it does boast a spacious boot capacity of up to 620 litres. If necessary, the rear seat back can also be folded down, which is split into three portions (40:20:40).

Luggage compartment: 620 litres
Frunk: n.a.

DS N°8: software

The DS N°8 also introduces a new style to the interior. This model also adopts original solutions in terms of both shapes and materials, but compared to the past it conveys a sense of great refinement by adopting a more minimalist approach.

In terms of software, the car is equipped with a central 16-inch touchscreen that controls the entire infotainment system. Added to this is the dedicated instrumentation monitor, which has a diagonal of 10.25-inch. The car is also equipped with a head-up display with augmented reality function that is particularly helpful in providing satellite navigation directions.

Photo by: DS

The DS No. 8's central touchscreen has a 16-inch diagonal. The software is over-the-air upgradeable

DS N°8: battery and range

The DS N°8 will make its market debut in spring 2025. It will initially be offered with two battery sizes, 74 kWh or 97.2 kWh. With both, a front-wheel drive version will be available, with power outputs of 260 and 280 PS respectively.

With the larger battery, which is produced by ACC (the joint venture between TotalEnergies, Stellantis and Mercedes), there will also be a two-motor, four-wheel-drive variant with 378 PS. The range of the three N°8s will be 355, 466 and 426 miles respectively.

DS N°8: recharging

Like the other cars built on the STLA Medium platform, the DS N°8 also features both AC and DC charging. The car is equipped with an 11 kW AC on-board charger as standard, but a more powerful 22 kW charger is available as an option.

Photo by: DS

The streamlined tail helps improve the Cx, which stands at 0.24

Attached to a fast charging station, and thus with DC charging, the car can instead receive electrons at a power output of 160 kW. In this case, the company claims that it takes 27 minutes to go from 20% to 80% charge (SoC).

DS N°8: prices

Official prices have not yet been announced: they will come soon. However, the company has already announced that the DS N°8 will be available in two trim levels, Pallas and Etoile.

DS is promising a wealth of equipment on both and says the equipment included will include DS Scan Suspension active suspension and a host of active safety technologies that will enable the car to have Level 2 autonomous driving.