DS Automobiles has launched its first proper electric fastback which will target owners who may well already favor the German likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW. This new radical-style French EV is presented as something of a stylish crossover, and offers 466 miles of WLTP cruising from each charge. Instead of pure sportiness, the No 8 places emphasis on a plush ride, and in order to reduce drag, a more dynamic profile in an obvious attempt to embrace the “Parisian chic” and avoid being too ‘in-yer-face’ and aggressive.
We know how difficult it is for large French executive cars to hold up against their firmly entrenched German rivals, but the DS No 8 arrives with the batteries and distinctive little touches we can expect from the Stellantis stable. In this article, we look at the key things that characterize the DS’s first stab at French electric luxury including range, styling, luxury features, and price to question whether it stands a fighting chance.
1. Aerodynamic Fastback Design and 466-Mile Electric Range
But with its all-new, DS No 8 electric fastback, the DS Automobiles brand’s premium model hopes to challenge Mercedes-Benz and BMW models with more than just flair as this particular French crossover wants to steal sales from the traditional Germans without sacrificing ride comfort and keeping aerodynamics sweet with lashings of chic Parisian flair in place of raw sportiness. Where it truly nails it is its claimed top WLTP range, with a single-motor 97.2kWh DS No 8 capable of achieving a maximum of 466 miles the secret sauce is the aerodynamic tweaking such as those active front air flaps and that flowing rear tail, the entire car boasting a drag coefficient of 0.24. Even out in the wild on motorways here, it should be possible to get about 310 miles from a full charge.
Range and Efficiency Highlights:
- Maximum WLTP range 466 miles
- Single-motor 97.2 kWh pack
- Drag coefficient of 0.24
- Active front air flaps
- Real-world motorway range 310 miles
And with a little more than 390 miles from a full battery charge much more than the opposition, like the BMW iX2, provides the DS No 8 is a very usable car on long journeys too. In fact, it’s efficient because it cuts through the air well even when cruising at long speeds down the motorway. With Stellantis battery tech and a design philosophy that’s very much “calmly does it” rather than “look at me I’m fast!” The No 8 looks like a very French option against the German opposition in this sector.
2. Versatile Battery Options and Sustained DC Fast-Charging
Depending on range needs and budget they are a premium purchase two lithium-ion batteries can be specified for buyers of the DS No 8, with either the standard 74.0kWh net pack providing an adequate 341 to 358 miles of WLTP range or (in the case of the range-topping Long Range), the substantial 97.2kWh unit common with French cousins like Peugeot’s e-3008 and enabling the all-important 466-mile statistic, and proving the car has long-distance credibility. Charging performance matches the battery capacity with 160kW DC fast charging capable of filling a depleted battery (20-80 per cent) in just 27 minutes.
Battery and Charging Specs:
- Standard battery 74.0 kWh
- Long Range pack 97.2 kWh
- DC peak charging 160 kW
- 20-80 percent in 27 minutes
- Standard 11 kW AC charger
This sustained plateau of its peak charging speed, from 20-55% SoC, means you spend less time tethered to the plug, but the equipment offered is even more convenient-an 11 kW onboard AC charger comes standard and the ability to charge up devices via the Vehicle-to-Load system makes it a fully viable second vehicle and an ever-ready touring partner.
3. Multi-Tiered Powertrains and All-Wheel-Drive Performance
The DS No 8 shows a good tiered spread of motors designed to bridge efficiency with performance. Front wheel drive only with one motor power levels range from 230-245hp resulting in 7.7seconds 0-62mph. A boost in throttle on any car currently gives 30hp extra power momentarily for you safely execute overtakes. The current fastest model has dual motor power sending 350hp to all wheels helping the 2180kg fastback to 62mph in just 5.4seconds.
Powertrain Performance Figures:
- Single-motor 230 or 245 hp
- Zero to 62 mph in 7.7 seconds
- Dual-motor AWD 350 hp
- Zero to 62 mph in 5.4 seconds
- Throttle boost adds 30 hp
And sure enough, the power delivery itself feels every bit as fluid and progressive as you would expect from an electric motor precisely what suits the calm nature of the car and not a powertrain straining for all-out sporty thrills. The dual-motor installation should also feel reassuringly grippy in various conditions but the essence is still about creating an effortless and accomplished feel, much like the original No 8, and whether you stick with the fwd version or all-wheel drive, neither powertrain really wants to be pushed really hard.
4. Avant-Garde Exterior Styling and Watchmaker Detail Work
The exterior designers of DS No 8 haven’t held back the flourishes: as long as a C-Class sedan (189.8 inches) and as tall as a crossover (62.2 inches) while also riding on giant 21-inch wheels, DS No 8’s frontal treatment is pure theatricality. The piercing headlights have LED signatures echoing the Clous de Paris guillochage decorating high-end watch faces, and sharp vertical LED blades cut in toward the front grille, which appears to float under a two-tone black hood. Black cladding bifurcates the C-pillar, suggesting an integrated spoiler.
Exterior Design Details:
- Length 189.8 inches overall
- Height 62.2 inches tall
- 21-inch alloy wheels
- Clous de Paris LED motifs
- Illuminated grille and two-tone hood
These cleverly detailed elements lend the No 8 an ‘in your face’ appeal in a way none of its more sedate German competitors even dare approach. It is the fastback proportions, increased stance and detailed lighting signatures which achieve a feeling of the space aged and up market and cement the DS name as an avant garde manufacturer.
5. Opulent Haute Couture Cabin Craftsmanship
Clamber into the DS No 8 and the interior says what the exterior strongly implied: this isn’t luxury in the German way. There are few dark surfaces; Nappa leather feels suitably soft, brushed-aluminium inlays are there and the interior is awash with light colours. The speaker grilles are laser cut, there’s an illuminated ‘starburst’ on the centre console and the wheel is a rather individual X design, giving the whole cabin a bespoke haute-couture feel rather than a sharp suit style.
Interior Luxury Features:
- Soft Nappa leather upholstery
- Brushed aluminium trim pieces
- Illuminated starburst console
- Unique X-shaped steering wheel
- Front seats heat, cool, massage
The front seats include all of the heating and cooling features found at the rear, plus heating, cooling and a gentle massage option. They also get neck warmers for their occupants, which subtly aim warmed air at the neck and provide a stylish, nocturnal illumination with a DS logo. The DS, fundamentally, is designed to feel truly premium, favouring dramatic luxury over the subtle approach.
6. Supple Ride Comfort and Camera-Based Active Scan Suspension
Driving a DS No 8 is less motoring and more gliding across a silent French boulevard. The big DS features an advanced Active Scan Suspension using front-facing cameras that scan the road for upcoming bumps ahead. Just before the tires reach them, the dampers adjust in milliseconds to smooth over them completely.
Ride and Suspension Highlights:
- Active Scan Suspension system
- Forward-facing camera analysis
- Real-time damper adjustment
- Soft, supple ride quality
- Progressive high-speed handling
A pleasingly yielding, pliant feel makes for a significantly quieter cabin, a real boon on a journey of 200 or 300 miles and which may well lead to less driver stress. Body roll through corners is greater than the former Germans, and while this does mean that the chassis rolls somewhat, its reactions are linear; so overall control is smooth and unerringly accurate, with the car maintaining unflustered, high speed stability. Comfort is patently the prime concern without compromising sophistication.
7. Comprehensive Driver Safety Suite and Infrared Night Vision
Beyond traditional driver assist technology is a list of safety features found normally in a flagship exec saloon in the DS No 8. The car has an built-in infra-red night-vision camera that reads the road ahead in the dark and displays prominent warnings that can show up pedestrians or animals that would otherwise be invisible to human sight. Having these thermal vision images could even be used for safety on roads at night which are not illuminated.
Safety Technology Features:
- Infrared night vision system
- Pedestrian and animal detection
- Adaptive cruise with navigation
- Predictive speed adjustment
- Roundabout and curve anticipation
In addition to the night-vision camera, the adaptive cruise control uses navigation data. It even predicts upcoming roundabouts and sharp corners and slows down in advance, keeping the ride calm and relaxed. It works together with night vision and contributes to the unruffled long-distance character of the car.
8. Intuitive Tech Ecosystem with Integrated ChatGPT and FOCAL Audio
Tech at the core of the DS No8, however, revolves around a massive 16.0in central touchscreen, sitting atop an airborne dashboard shelf and supplemented by a 10.3in driver’s digital display. DS has integrated ChatGPT directly into its infotainment system so that it responds to natural voice inputs and questions with instant answers out and about on the road. A simple steering wheel-mounted paddle allows the driver to choose their preferred level of regenerative braking, ranging from free-wheeling coast to the ‘one-pedal’ driving mode.
Infotainment and Audio Specs:
- 16.0-inch central touchscreen
- 10.3-inch digital driver display
- Integrated ChatGPT voice assistant
- Regenerative braking paddles
- 14-speaker 690-watt FOCAL system
An on-board concert with a soundstage to die for- not from the 690watt, 14-speaker in-house hi-fi from French acoustic maestros FOCAL, though it adds up nicely when combined with the wonderfully soundproofed cabin (long motorways pass like music), which serves to make this a pleasant, and fundamentally French, place to be.
9. Generous Boot Capacity and Practical Passenger Space
Given its dramatic tapering fastback profile, you might be surprised just how well the DS No 8 makes for long trips. It sports the massive practicality of 620 litres of load space to offer, spread across an adjustable and multi-tiered false floor in the boot. Incredibly the load bay stretches to over a meter deep from the tailgate to the rear seats, eating up far more luggage than the likes of the Audi A6 e-tron Avant.
Practicality and Space Details:
- Boot capacity 620 litres
- Versatile false floor design
- Over one metre load depth
- Generous rear knee room
- Optional panoramic glass roof
All passengers have a great time in the front seats, which are cushioned and position themselves well for driving duties. This has all been made that bit easier due to lots of really well thought out and cleverly placed cubby holes in the interior, which makes it simple to stow away bits of everyday paraphernalia, and while the raised floor impinges on the under-seat rear foot wells a little, the legroom is quite generous on row 2 and, thankfully, space in the roof is plentiful and the optional full-length glass roof also helps make the cabin feel bright.
10. Compelling Price Positioning Against Established German Rivals
Starting from a palatable 50,790 for the entry-level Pallas, the DS No 8 presents a very strong financial challenge to the standard luxury trio. It undercuts a base Audi A6 e-tron by some 12,000, and a BMW i5 by over 17,000, yet in standard fit and on real world range it matches or beats both at best and worse. While big French luxury cars have been subject to high depreciation, the No 8 looks tempting to both personal use and business leasing customers alike.
Pricing and Value Highlights:
- Starting price £50,790 Pallas
- Undercuts Audi A6 e-tron £12,000
- Undercuts BMW i5 over £17,000
- Competitive standard equipment
- Strong lease proposition
Tipped with a calming ride, radical Parisian styling and class leading range at a keen price point, the DS No 8 is a real departure and a credible option to the Germans for those who know you better than the stereotypes. It is not trying to corner like a BMW or confuse an Audi with gadgets at their expense. Its not playing their game, it’s rewriting the rule book for the executive EV: ride.
