DS Concept car previewing future EV could debut in Jan 2022

DS Automobiles, the French luxury car maker, has announced that it intends to switch entirely to electric vehicles by 2024. It planned to reveal its first bespoke electric vehicle in November of this year. The company had to postpone the debut for unknown reasons, but it’s likely to conduct the unveiling in the coming weeks. The presentation will be a concept model, though it’s likely to preview production plans.

Drivable concept car

Beatrice Foucher, CEO of DS, shared the company’s new product strategy of only launching EV models from 2024 at a media drive in September 2021. The company was reportedly going to release static images of a new DS concept car in November 2021, and journalists were going to be able to try it in early 2022. The company will use this opportunity to showcase “something crazy,” she said.

While DS wasn’t able to reveal the new model as planned in November 2021, it looks like it’s gearing up to showcase it in the coming weeks. On 19 December 2021, Metroz Thierry, the Design Director at DS, shared a picture of a stylized letter “E” on his Instagram account. Thierry was likely teasing an imminent new EV unveil with this artwork. DS could unveil the new car by end of January 2022.

Design teased

Foucher revealed a teaser of the new DS electric car during the media engagement. The front fascia looks dramatic and typically DS. It features an angled hood, air vents in the centre at the back, side-mounted ailerons that are reminiscent of the DS Aero Sport Lounge’s, slim headlights, and probably matrix LED technology.

Specifications

While the DS concept could be a preview of Stellantis’ new electric car that will go on sale in 2024, it is likely to be based on the STLA Medium platform, which would be the main headline at the debut, as it would be its first public appearance. This platform, which Stellantis brands like DS and Alfa Romeo will use for upcoming EV models, will use 125-180 kW drive modules and 87-104 kWh battery packs (gross). However, some of these EVs could sport higher-power, 150-330 kW EDUs instead, but with the same battery packs. The range of the STLA Medium platform-based EVs will be as much as 700 km or 435 miles, but a lower specification may be applied to the DS model.

DS Automobile EV strategy

There is only one electric vehicle in the DS line-up: the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense, available for GBP 34,000, which was recently updated to unlock a 7 per cent higher range. DS Automobiles offers a lineup of four different ‘electrified’ models, which includes the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense, DS 4 E-Tense, DS 7 Crossback E-Tense, and the DS 9 E-Tense. These cars have a variety of power units to make sure everyone’s needs are met.

DS Automobiles led the way with the lowest average CO2 emissions in Europe in 2020 for a multi-energy brand. The company was able to accomplish this by recording a 30% electrified vehicle registration, achieving a CO2 emissions of 83.1g/km on average.

Source & image: LignesAuto