The French brand DS has released a stylish electric crossover

The new DS N°8 model is called a crossover by the company itself – or more precisely, an SUV Coupe or a coupe crossover – but in reality the electric car is more like a slightly raised fastback with a protective plastic body kit and 155 mm ground clearance. One way or another, N°8 marks the transition of DS to electric propulsion. Production will start at a plant in Italy in the first quarter of 2025, and the start of sales is planned for the summer.

DS N°8 belongs to the segment of mid-size cars – with a length of 4.82 meters and a wheelbase of 2.9 meters, the electric car is comparable in size to the Tesla Model Y. It is based on the STLA Medium platform of the Stellantis concern, the same one on on which the Peugeot e-3008 and e-5008 are based, and on which the upcoming Lancia Gamma will be built. From the name N°8 it follows that the model will be located in the DS model line between the DS7 all-terrain vehicle and the DS9 sedan.

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DS is especially proud of the fact that the aerodynamic drag coefficient of the cross-coupe is 0.24, but this is far from the best indicator. For example, for Tesla Model 3 it is 0.23, and for Porsche Taycan Turbo it is 0.22. Among the exterior design features, we can highlight a panel with dynamic lighting and the brand emblem on the front; it is located in place of the radiator grille. The optics, in turn, are made in the corporate DS style and are complemented by vertical elements that reach all the way to the bumper.

The DS SM Tribute coupe may go into production with a Maserati V6 engine. The DS brand will leave all models with only two trim levels. DS has built a special crossover for the Formula E champion.

When creating the interior of the DS N°8, the designers were inspired by luxury yachts, and some of the details really look unusual. For example, a four-spoke steering wheel and wide inserts on the sides, into which the speakers of the Focal Electra 3D Hi-fi audio system are integrated (there are 14 speakers in total in the cabin). The stated trunk volume is 620 liters, and the equipment list includes contour lighting, a 16-inch touchscreen for the multimedia system and a 10.25-inch digital parting panel, as well as separate heating for the neck area. There are five exterior colors to choose from, three eco-friendly interior trims using recycled plastic and two with classic nappa leather.

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The G8 has a 400-volt architecture and three modifications. The first and most affordable of those offered is with a 230-horsepower electric motor on the front axle and a battery with a capacity of 74 kilowatt-hours. With this installation, the electric car reaches the first “hundred” in 7.7 seconds and travels 572 kilometers on a single charge. The “medium” version of the Long Range is equipped with an electric motor with a power of 245 horsepower, it has a 97.2-kilowatt battery, it accelerates from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 7.8 seconds, and the power reserve is 750 kilometers – this is the longest-range DS N° 8 in range.

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Finally, the top electric car has a dual-motor unit with 350 horsepower and a 97.2 kilowatt-hour battery, one charge of which is enough for 686 kilometers. This DS N°8 is the fastest: it accelerates to the first “hundred” in 5.4 seconds, and the “maximum speed” is limited to 190 kilometers per hour.

In the future, pure electric versions of the N°8 may be joined by hybrid ones, but they will have to wait until at least 2026.

The electric DS N°8 will hit the production line in the first months of 2025: production will be organized at a plant in Melfi, Italy, but batteries and electric motors will be produced in France – the suppliers are Emotors and ACC. The new product will be available at European dealers in the summer; prices have not yet been announced. According to preliminary estimates, the model will cost at least 65 thousand euros (more than seven million rubles at today’s exchange rate).

Crossovers are not for us