DS No8 unveiled with 345bhp and 466 miles of range
DS has fully revealed its new flagship No8 saloon, just days after confirming the model’s name.
Last week, the brand announced a new naming strategy for its next generation of EVs and confirmed that the DS No8 would be the first to adopt the pattern.
Now it has shared more details of its range-topping model, including range, performance and some of the new technology finding its way into the No8.
At 4.82m long and 1.9m, the DS is around the same size as the sleek Polestar 4 and slightly smaller than the Audi A6 e-tron and BMW i5 executive saloons, and DS is hoping it will make a splash in that segment, unlike its predecessors.
While officially an ‘SUV coupe’ the No8 has a very low roofline and DS says that extensive work on the body shape, including that low roof and flush-fitting door handles, has resulted in aerodynamic gains worth 37 extra miles of range. Among new DS design features making their debut on the No8 are vertical tail lights inspired by the DS Aero Sport Lounge concept and an illuminated glazed ‘grille’ area between slimline lights.
Under the slippery skin, the DS No8 will be available with a choice of three motors and two batteries. Entry-level cars will come with a front-mounted 227bhp motor and 74kWh battery. Above that are two all-wheel-drive options with either 242bhp or 345bhp. Both come with a ‘long range’ 97.2kWh battery which DS says will offer a massive 466 miles of range thanks to consumption of 4.8m/kWh.
To aid that, the four-wheel drive system will deactivate one of the motors in low-demand use to save energy, cutting back in under heavy throttle or in sportier drive modes.
Befitting its premium ambitions, the DS No8 has an all-new interior design to ‘envelop’ passengers in high-grade and sustainable materials, including aluminium, eco-friendly leather and recycled fabrics. A radical X-spoked steering wheel sits ahead of 10.25 digital instruments and the backlit dashboard is dominated by 16-inch infotainment system.
Standard creature comforts include heated and cooled seats in the front and rear, with innovative neck warmers high up in the front seatbacks to provide more direct heat and reduce energy use. The front seats, finished in watchstrap leather, also feature a massage function and a backlit DS logo.
Acoustic glass is fitted to reduce outside noise and the DS No8 features active scan suspension which uses a front-facing camera to detect changes in the road ahead and prime the variable suspension to deal with them.
Along with the clever suspension, the DS No8 will showcase the brand’s high-tech gadgets, including active lane changing assist, a night vision display and adaptive ‘Pixelvision’ lights.
Prices and trim levels will be confirmed closer to the car’s launch in mid-2025. Given the market it’s going after and the price of the outgoing DS9, we’d expect it to start in the region of £55,000 to £60,000.
