DS Automobiles unveils the new DS No8

Inspired by the DS Aero Sport Lounge concept, DS Automobiles has unveiled the DS N^o8, the brand's new flagship and the first to be fully electric.

If you were wondering why the car's name looks a little weird, it's because "N^o" represents the standard way of writing "number" in French, alluding to the brand's origins. DS Automobiles has said that its future ranges will follow this new naming style.

The "Paintjet" technology used to create the dual tone bonnet's black surface is a world-first in mass production

For the first time, thanks to its DS LUMINASCREEN grille, the DS logo will be illuminated on a production model. The car's headlamps are outlined by eight LEDs incorporating the Clous de Paris pattern. Additional features include the DS LIGHTBLADE - a vertical light signature integrated into its side curves that is also embraced in its rear - making this the brand's first model to do so. Measurement-wise, the car is 4,820mm long, 1,900mm wide, 1,580mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,900mm.

As with the DS Aero Sport Lounge, the DS N^o8's extended duo tone paintwork uses a deep black, which can be found on the roof, bonnet, and grille. Five colours are being offered: TOPAZ BLUE, PALLADIUM GREY, ALABASTER WHITE, CRYSTAL PEARL, and PERLA NERA BLACK.

The car's 21-inch forged wheels have been designed to combine lightness and robustness, weighing 6kg less than the 20-inch ones

Inside the cockpit, pearl stitching adorns the wide dashboard and armrests, with Clous de Paris embossed inserts on the steering wheel and air vents. A 16-inch double-decker floating centre console provides access to the DS IRIS SYSTEM 2.0, and it also features Nappa leather watchstrap upholstery. As for boot space, the DS N^o8 offers up to 620 litres, with a depth of 1,160mm allowing for transportation of long objects without the need to fold the rear backrests.

The DS N^o8 uses parent company Stellantis Group's STLA Medium platform, which has been optimised to accommodate batteries up to a capacity of 97.2kWh. The car will be offered with a choice of three 100% electric drivetrains.

The range starts with two front-wheel drive (FWD) variants, offering 233bhp and 248bhp separately, while the most powerful variant gets a dual-motor, all-wheel drive (AWD) setup capable of a nominal output 355bhp. DS states that all motors enjoy excess power that periodically gives an extra 30bhp to the AWD version.

The trihedral shape of the vertical LIGHT BLADE lights improves airflow detachment at the rear

Two battery choices will be available for the DS N^o8.

A 74kWh version kicks things off for the entry-level variant, while the FWD LONG RANGE (248bhp) and AWD LONG RANGE (355bhp) are both powered by a 97.2kWh item. Impressively, DS states that the FWD LONG RANGE variant offers a WLTP range of 750km, and is also capable of a range of up to 500km on the motorway - when it is technically at its most energy-inefficient.

In AWD LONG RANGE guise, the N^o8 boasts a century sprint timing of 5.4 seconds, while the FWD versions are capable of reaching 100km/h from a standstill in 7.8 before hitting a top speed of 190km/h.

The DS N^o8 will be launched in Europe from mid-2025.