DS teases its new flagship, DS N°8

The Stellantis brand DS plans to unveil its first all-electric sedan soon and is gradually releasing the first details. The new electric car will not be called the DS 8 E-Tense but the DS N°8, a sort of crossover coupé style sedan positioned in the luxury segment.

A few weeks ago, DS published a teaser photo without revealing the name to give a first hint. Now, DS has revealed the name of the new vehicle and given us a glimpse of its interior. The new flagship will be called the DS N°8.

New strategy

According to the company, the name heralds a new strategy that marks the launch of a 100% all-electric model in the luxury world. It added that the introduction of the ‘N°’ top designation is intended to herald a new generation of DS Automobiles models.

‘N°’ is the typical spelling for ‘number’ in French. The DS designers shaped the ‘°’ like a diamond point to symbolize elegance and competence. The manufacturer recently revealed the first details of the DS N°8, although without naming it. According to the WLTP standard, the new car offers a range of 750 kilometers, and more than 50 pre-series vehicles are already on the road in France for everyday testing.

The camouflage painting in black and gold refers to the race car DS Automobiles is competing with in the Formula E championship. The numbers, of course, refer to the electrical range.

DS signature

The front end features the typical DS Automobiles light signature with DS Pixelvision headlights. The daytime running lights are arranged vertically. The windscreen is set far back, and the hood is pulled down low.

The rear wings are strikingly molded. The three-dimensional rear lights protruding from the body surface and the vertical light signature also optimize the aerodynamics. The new electric model from DS Automobiles achieves a low drag coefficient of 0.24, an essential feature for electric cars. Active air intakes have been installed in the lower part of the front bumper to assist with cooling.

The manufacturer also gave a first look at the dashboard. DS Automobiles says it’s a boat-inspired design that combines a high level of technology and expertise. The door trim envelops the occupants and innovatively includes the sound system and lighting. “The spectacular lighting enhances the airborne design of the dashboard, which appears to be suspended, making it feel serene,” promises the press release.

More technical details are not available yet. Stellantis promises to make them public before the end of the year. Undoubtedly, the N°8 will be part of the STLA platform strategy. Still, it’s unclear whether it will be the largest version of the Medium STLA platform (like a Peugeot 3008) or the first version of the Large STLA platform for the top electric cars in the Stellantis portfolio.