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DS N°8: an anything but ordinary EV – first introduction – AutoRAI TV

December 12, 2024

DS N°8 is SUV coupe, sort of

The inspiration of this DS N°8 comes from the 2021 DS Aero Sport Lounge concept. That was an SUV coupe. Three guesses what this Frenchman’s car is. Right, also an SUV coupe, although the car leans more toward a crossover, or something that’s hard to pigeonhole. And it’s fully electric! The DS N°8 – built on the STLA Medium platform – will appear on the European market in mid-2025, but sales start as early as the first quarter of 2025. We can already tell you which powertrains it will come with as FWD, FWD Long Range and as AWD Long Range. That includes the following specifications.

DS N°8 FWD

DS N°8 FWD Long Range

DS N°8 AWD Long Range

DS Automobiles - DS N°8

Project DS N°8 could be scrapped

Development of the DS numero 8 began 2018. Carlos Tavares – now the big boss behind Stellantis – wanted this car to be good, since he will be driving the car. His brief was: more than 700 kilometers of range. Was that not possible? Then the project was scrapped. The goal was achieved, even without aerosuits, 680 kilometers was already achieved. With clever air intakes, special aero wheels, a flat underbody, aerodynamically designed DS Lightblades front and rear and a subtle rear spoiler, DS gained as much as 70 km of range.

New era for DS Automobiles

After the DS S 3, DS 4, DS 7 and DS 9, the DS N°8 marks the start of a new era at DS Automobiles. It features DS’ new design language and, in addition, the model is available exclusively as an EV. Furthermore, this model marks the kickoff of a new naming strategy, where DS models are referred to as “N°” because this is the correct way of writing a “number” in France. So this DS N°8 is pronounced ‘DS numero 8’. The ‘°’ is shaped like the tip of a diamond.

Interior - DS Automobiles - DS N°8

Competitors DS N°8

Competitors to the DS N°8 are other models in the D-segment. Consider the Audi Q4 e-Tron Sportback, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.7, Polestar 4, BMW i4, Tesla Model Y, Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe.

Very efficient

The DS N°8 is aerodynamically very efficient. It has a Cw value of only 0.24. This is exceptionally low. Hence, on paper, the model also has low energy consumption and, in the case of the FWD Long Range, can also travel 750 kilometers on a full charge of electricity. By the way, the DS N°8 is not a small car. It is 4.82 meters long, 1.90 meters wide and 1.58 meters high. The wheelbase comes out to a hefty 2.9 meters. Ground clearance is 15.5 centimeters. The boot of the model comes out to 620 liters. The cargo space is even 1.16 meters deep.

At the front, the car has a so-called DS Luminascreen illuminated grille where the DS logo is also illuminated. The car also has a DS Lightblade with V-shaped layout. At the rear, the “numero 8” has vertical light units. We haven’t seen that on a DS model before.

Rear - DS Automobiles - DS N°8

Colors

The DS N°8 is available in five colors, three of which are completely new: Topaz Blue, Palladium Grey and Alabaster White. Crystal Pearl and Perla Nera Black colors were already available from DS Automobiles. There is a choice of 19- to 21-inch wheels. The smaller the wheel, the greater the driving range.

Interior DS N°8

The interior of the DS N°8 stands out. The manufacturer uses high-quality materials and pampers all occupants. When approaching the car, the normally recessed door handles automatically slide out. We could make a tome on all the terms DS uses for the interior. We won’t. We’ll keep it simple: the interior looks luxurious, warm and quiet. Important controls are designed like jewels, very nicely. A living room feeling, in other words. This feeling is enhanced by colorful mood lighting.  

DS Neckwarmer

The front seats of the DS N°8 have heating and cooling functions and even massage. In addition to a heatable steering wheel, this car also has a DS Neckwarmer, where a neck dryer can release heat to efficiently warm your body. These neck warmers are illuminated with a DS logo. Smart of DS, since your body’s temperature sensors are in your neck. So a neck dryer like this basically fools your body.

X-shaped steering wheel in DS Automobiles - DS N°8

Butt burners or blowers

Thanks to the substantial wheelbase of 2.9 meters, you sit very comfortably in the back. The backrest folds down in a 40/20/40 ratio. Again, the seat has a ventilation function and “butt-burner” mode. According to DS Automobiles, it is extra quiet on board thanks to acoustic laminated windows.

X-shaped steering wheel

Also, especially check the steering wheel. It is X-shaped. We haven’t seen that very often. Remarkably, it sits very comfortably in the hand. So the ergonomics are well done. Furthermore, we detect two removable cup holders and two USB-C charging points. The sides of the center console have a soft finish, for extra comfort around your knees.

16-inch touchscreen

There is no shortage of digital displays in the DS N°8. As a driver, you look out on a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with a 16-inch touchscreen with DS Iris System 2.0 software to the right. Furthermore, on board you enjoy a 3D audio system from Focal with fourteen speakers and 690 watts of power. Subwoofer does gobble up fifteen liters of luggage space. But that’s negligible.

Technology from Europe, not China

The batteries are made in France at ACC in Billy-Berclau Douvrin. The battery uses NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt) technology. The electric motor is also French. It comes from Trémery and is built by Emotors. The DS N°8 has an 11 kW on-board AC charger (22 kW will be optional).  

Driving assistance systems and other features

The 11 kW and 22 kW on-board chargers offer V2L (Vehicle to Load), for charging external devices. A heat pump is standard. With a DC charger, the car can recharge 200 kilometers in ten minutes (maximum 160 kW DC). The car further has:

New development one-pedal driving

A first for the DS N°8 is the fact that one-pedal driving stops completely to a stop. In addition, the model has three modes for recuperation, a fancy word for regenerative braking. Even when the battery of the fully charged, recuperation works. How? A simulation of regenerative braking then takes place through the normal braking system. Smart of DS, because this way the car always slows down when you release the gas pedal. We haven’t seen that before in an electric car.


DS Automobiles - DS N°8




















DS Automobiles - DS N°8











Rear - DS Automobiles - DS N°8





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X-shaped steering wheel in DS Automobiles - DS N°8