The DS N°8, marking the French brand’s debut in the electric vehicle market, will serve as the flagship model and features a tall, sedan-like design. Europe’s WLTP test cycle says that the N°8 can make up to 350 horsepower and drive 466 kilometers on a single charge. The striking exterior is paired with a serene, refined cabin featuring laser-cut aluminum speaker grilles adorned with a detailed, intricate design. The N°8 is the first fully electric vehicle and main model from DS, a French luxury car company that was formed in 2014 when Citroën was split off. It looks like the way the word “number” is spelled in French, and it makes me think of Chanel perfumes. The N°8 looks a lot like the SM Tribute idea that was shown off earlier this year, with its two-tone design and high-end details, even though it’s not as light. The N°8 has a tall, upright front end, big 21-inch wheels, and the size of a car, but it is really more of an SUV. From front to back, it’s 189.8 inches long, almost the same length as a Mercedes-Benz C-class. However, at 62.2 inches, it’s about six inches longer. When you look at the back of the N°8, the downward curve helps to make it more aerodynamic. According to DS, the N°8’s drag coefficient is under 0.24. The sharp front headlights’ LED setup is meant to look like the Clous de Paris pattern found on expensive watch faces. The front panel for the wheels is made of sharp LED blades that are bolted down from the main units. The LED grille, which sits beneath a black hood with a two-tone paint job, has a sequence of vertical lines surrounding the DS emblem. A black trim piece that wraps around and forms a little spoiler separates the C-pillar from the bodywork, while the taillights have the same dynamic shape as the headlights. With brushed metal accents and Nappa leather everywhere, the cabin exudes peace and luxury. The huge 16.0-inch tablet in the middle is placed on top of a dashboard that looks like a shelf and in front of a panel that is lit up from below. The famous X-shaped steering wheel is paired with a 10.3-inch digital gauge panel. The center panel is made in the same high-tech way that the speaker grilles are—by laser cutting. Soft lighting and warm or cooled front seats that can also be used as massage chairs enhance the mood. The back seats can also be heated and cooled, and the backrests of the front seats have a neck warmer with a lighted DS logo. DS says the car can go up to 466 miles on Europe’s more optimistic WLTP test run. Air flaps that can be adjusted in the front bumper help the car use less gas. The nickel-manganese-cobalt battery powers a number of different powertrains. It can hold 74.0 kWh of power in its base form and 97.2 kWh in its two more powerful forms. There are two versions with a single motor that has 230 or 245 horsepower, as well as a version with two motors that have 350 horsepower. There is also a boost feature that can add 30, 25, or 25 horsepower, based on the engine. DS said that the all-wheel-drive model could go from 0 to 62 mph in 5.4 seconds. With a charging speed of up to 160 kW, a DC fast charger can charge the N°8 from 20% to 80% in 27 minutes. A camera scans the road ahead of the N°8 so it can change to bumps in real-time. It also rides on adjustable dampers. The N°8 also has a tool called “night vision” that uses infrared cameras to see people and animals in the dark. The DS N°8 probably won’t come to America, but the cabin’s beautiful interior and the ship’s impressive appearance are both very interesting. Stellantis, the parent business, hopes to add some of the same style to its EVs sold in the US in the coming years.
