Can the DS Challenge Germany’s Big Three?
With a 466-mile range, it outpaces the Tesla’s Model Y
DS Stakes Its Future on EVs
DS Automobiles, the premium French brand under Stellantis, has unveiled its flagship electric SUV, the DS N°8. This SUV aims to compete with Germany’s automotive giants: BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz. With a starting price of £57,900 (about $71,802) and a top price of £63,290 (around $78,486), the DS N°8 enters the electric SUV market with a bold claim: it can compete with Tesla’s Model Y while setting the stage for DS’s future in an electrified world.
DS N°8: Aerodynamic Marvel with a 466-Mile Range
It is based on the STLA medium platform and inspired by the Aero Sport Lounge concept, unveiled in 2020. Compared to the Peugeot 3008, its roofline is lowered by 6 cm (2.4 inches), and it records a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.24.
This is better than the Polestar 4’s (0.23) and slightly behind the Tesla Model Y’s (0.23). Thanks to this, the maximum driving range of the 97 kWh battery-equipped model reaches 466 miles.
There are two trims: Pallas and Etoile. The basic trim, Pallas, is equipped with a 256-horsepower front-wheel drive single motor and a 74 kWh battery, allowing a range of 571 km (355 miles).
For an extra cost, you can upgrade to a 97 kWh battery, which increases power to 276 bhp and ranges to 750 km (466 miles).
Luxury and Performance: A Glimpse Into the Future of DS
The top trim, Etoile, adds front grille lighting, digital rearview mirrors, improved cruise control, and more. The AWD option gets a 370-horsepower dual-motor system.
The AWD model accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and has a maximum range of 685 km (426 miles).
DS’s Gamble: The Future of the Brand Hinges on the N°8
The interior was designed around a 16-inch display with minimal physical buttons. In addition, seats with a Neck Warmer function that directly warms the neck were installed as standard.
DS’s launch of the N°8 as an electric-only model aligns with the brand’s strategic change. Unlike its sibling brands, such as Peugeot and Vauxhall, which use internal combustion engines and electric vehicles simultaneously, DS plans to launch all new electric vehicles starting with the N°8.
This decision reflects the crisis that the brand’s survival within the Stellantis Group could become uncertain if it fails to prove profitability and sales by 2031.
Ultimately, the DS N°8 is a model that will determine the brand’s survival. Attention is focused on how this vehicle, which combines efficiency and luxury in line with the era of electrification, will be received in the market.
Customer deliveries in the UK will begin in July of this year.
