DS Automobiles has launched two crucial new models in Ireland as it seeks to appeal to premium brand car buyers who want something a little different from the German norm.
Which DS models have been launched?
Let's start with the more affordable of the two, which is the DS No.4. This was originally launched, back in 2021, as the DS4, but it has been renamed in line with DS Automobiles' new Chanel-like badge policy.
While the new name was being applied, the DS design team also gave the No.4 a new nose, with a deeper, more pronounced grille, and some other subtle design tweaks on the outside.
Inside, there's a new digital dashboard, an updated touchscreen and a general uplift in cabin quality.
More importantly, the No.4 now has new powertrains. The first is an updated 1.2-litre hybrid, with 145hp and CO2 emissions of 117g/km. The second is the fully electric DS No.4 E-Tense, which gets a 58kWh battery and a range of up to 450km on the WLTP test.
The No.4 is notably more affordable now that it was when first launched as the DS4, competing with the likes of the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series with a starting price of €35,995 for the entry-level Pallas spec in hybrid form, rising to €42,995 for the ritzier Etoile model.
If you want to go electric, the Pallas-spec DS No.4 E-Tense is €44,010 including grants, while an Etoile version is €49,870.
What's the other car?
The other car is DS's new flagship - and one of the French president's official cars - the DS No.8. This is a fully-electric car, with no hybrid version on offer, and it can manage a spectacularly long range if you go for the top-spec model with the 97kWh battery pack.
Thus equipped, the No.8 has an official range of 750km on one charge, and DS's engineers claim that you should get 500km in motorway driving.
There's another version with a 73kWh pack and a range of 550km. That version is front-wheel drive, with a 230hp electric motor, but if you upgrade to the long-range battery, the motor gains a little more power, rising to 260hp. There's also a four-wheel-drive variant using two electric motors and the bigger battery, for up to 350hp and a range of 688km.
As with the No.4, the No.8 comes in either Pallas or Etoile specifications, but you'll have to go for the top version if you want such options as a contrast-coloured black bonnet and roof, a light-up grille and DS logo, and adaptive suspension that scans the road ahead for bumps, using a camera in the windscreen.
How much is the DS No.8?
The DS No.8 in 73kWh form in Pallas spec costs €56,495. It's well-equipped, including a 16-inch touchscreen, a glass roof, 20-inch alloys and a cabin with gorgeous blue upholstery. An Etoile costs €62,995.
These prices (and specs) compare very well with potential rivals such as the Lexus RZ and Polestar 4.
If you want the 750km model, that will cost €64,995 in Pallas spec, or €67,995 as an Etoile. The all-wheel-drive model is only offered in long-range Etoile spec, and costs €73,995.
When can I buy one?
Right now. Both the DS No.4 and No.8 are in the country and available to order.