DS Automobiles has revealed its new DS No.7, the car that replaces the long-serving DS 7 and which is the third in the new 'number' lineup for DS, following the launches of the DS No.4 and No.8.
Is the DS No.7 an EV?
It is, but it will also be available in hybrid form. Either way, the DS No.7 uses the same 'STLA Medium' platform as the DS No.8, and so it gets some exceptionally long one-charge range figures.
The entry-level model, which is powered by a 230hp (260hp in Boost mode) front-mounted electric motor and a 73kWh battery, goes for 543km on one charge according to the official numbers, which is pretty decent.
Better yet though, there's a longer-range model with a 97kWh battery and a 245hp (or up to 280hp in Boost mode) electric motor, which manages up to 740km of range on one charge - or 450km if you're cruising at an average of 120km/h on the motorway according to DS Automobiles.
There's also an all-wheel-drive, version using the bigger battery, with 325hp - or up to 375hp if you flick it into boost mode. That has a range of up to 679km on the WLTP cycle.
The batteries can all charge at up to 160kW on DC chargers, allowing for an extra 190km of range to be added in ten minutes of charging. AC charging is at 11kW as standard, or up to 22kW as an option and the DS No.7 comes with plug-and-charge function, so that you can add your payment details to the car's software and then there's no need to go waving credit or debit cards around when you need to charge (though this functionality isn't widespread across Ireland's charging network as yet).
What about the hybrid version of the DS No.7?
Indeed, the DS No.7 also comes in hybrid petrol form, with 145hp and CO2 emissions as low as 119g/km. Official fuel consumption is 5.3 litres per 100km. The turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine is paired with a 21kW electric motor which DS claims allows the No.7 Hybrid to run on electric-only power as much as 50 per cent of the time when driving on urban routes.
Tell us a bit about the design
It's quite a striking looking car, the DS No.7. The window line, unlike most SUVs, doesn't rise up towards the back, but instead actually falls away slightly, giving the No.7 a more elegant look, redolent of 1950s and 1960s cars.
At the front, there's a clear relationship to the DS No.8, with a light-up grille and slim headlights with deep-cut LED daytime running elements. For a tall car, the No.7 is also very aerodynamic, with a drag coefficient of just 0.26.
Six paint colours will be available - Silk Green, Palladium Grey, Topaz Blue, Alabaster White, Crystal Pearl and Perla Nera Black.
What's the interior like?
It's roomy, for a start. Compared to the outgoing DS 7, the No.7 has a wheelbase that's 50mm longer, which makes for a more spacious passenger compartment.
The boot is also highly competitive, with up to 560 litres of space, depending on the model (the optional Focal stereo's subwoofer cuts that to 500 litres in the all-wheel-drive version). The boot floor is adjustable, too, but even in its lowest setting, there's enough space under the floor to stash charging cables.
The DS No.7 is also notably luxurious inside, as DS Automobiles wants to set itself apart from rivals by offering the kind of cabin comfort and ambience you'd expect from cars coming from the next tier up.
The front seats get high-density foam, as well as integrated headrests that incorporate an optional neck warmer - a more direct and efficient way to warm the driver and passenger up on a chilly day.
There's a panoramic glass roof that allows for an extra 50mm of headroom and DS claims that it doesn't need a glass-darkening function because it already has an efficient heat-insulating tint.
There are also a number of high-end luxury touches, depending on the model, including 'Clous De Paris' embossed trim, 'pearl' stitching for the fabrics, Nappa leather seats in DS's traditional watchstrap style and a choice of brushed aluminium or real wood trim for the dash. There's also the option of a unique blue Alcantara suede upholstery.
The No.7 uses the DS No.8's really rather cool X-shaped steering wheel, which looks like a cross between the wheel of a sailing ship and the propellor of a classic aircraft, while there's a ten-inch driver's digital display and a 16-inch infotainment screen.
What kind of technology is the DS No.7 packing?
Lots. On the mechanical front, there's the DS Active Scan Suspension which uses a hi-def camera to watch the road ahead, which can then warn the optional adaptive suspension of any upcoming bumps or potholes.
There's also an infra-red night vision camera for the front bumper, which can see cyclists, pedestrians and animals on the road up to 300 metres in front of the car, and which flashes up a warning in the driver's display.
Speaking of seeing ahead, the DS Pixel Vision LED headlights come with active dimming and so-called 'glare-free' high-beams, which have a 400-metre range at night. There's an optional head-up display too, while DS's 'Iris' infotainment software has been updated to use the latest version of ChatGPT. You also get DS Drive Assist 2.0, which includes lane-keeping steering, active cruise control and driver monitoring.
The Iris system includes full EV route planning including charging stops, while there's a DS smartphone app that allows you to plan a journey from your phone and send it to the car before you ever leave the house.