DS 9 flagship sedan to debut as a plug-in hybrid

PARIS — DS Automobiles' new flagship, the DS 9 midsize sedan, will be available initially with a plug-in hybrid powertrain that will produce 360 hp in the most powerful four-wheel-drive version.

The DS 9 will debut at the Geneva auto show in March 3. It will be built in China, and launched in around 40 markets, including in Europe, in the second half of 2020, DS said. The PSA Group upscale brand released images and video of the car on Monday. 

It is the third vehicle designed expressly for DS, following the DS 7 Crossback compact SUV, launched in 2018, and the DS 3 Crossback small SUV, which came on the market in 2019. Earlier DS vehicles were adapted from Citroen models.

DS did not release a price or detailed technical specifications, but the DS 9 will have many similarities with the Peugeot 508, which is also built on PSA Group's EMP2 architecture for compact and midsize vehicles.

The DS 9 will have an extended wheelbase for more rear-seat room, much like the Peugeot 508L, which is built in Wuhan, China, for the Chinese market. Although the DS 9 has fastback styling, it is not a hatchback like the 508.

The DS 9's styling is distinguished by the use of more chrome than on the Peugeot 508, most prominently a strip that runs down the center of the hood. It also does not carry over the frameless doors from the 508. Tail lights mounted at the top corners of the rear window recall the original Citroen DS from 1955. Other styling touches include a two-tone black roof and flush-mounted door handles.

Inside, the DS 9 includes the brand's signature pearl-stitched upholstery, "guillochage" pattern on metal touch surfaces, and seat patterns that recall a metal-link watch band.

DS is promoting rear-seat legroom and amenities, with individually adjustable seats, separate climate controls, ambient customizable lighting, and a multi-function armrest that includes USB ports. The DS 9's 2900 mm wheelbase is about 100 mm longer than the standard Peugeot 508’s.

The DS 9 is likely to be mechanically similar to other high-end PSA Group vehicles on the EMP2 architecture, including the DS 7 Crossback and Peugeot 3008 SUV and 508, all of which are available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain with CO2 emissions figures of around 30 grams per kilometer on the WLTP scale. 

First deliveries of the DS 9 will have a turbocharged gasoline engine paired with an electric motor for a total of 225 horsepower, and an all-electric range of 40 to 50 kilometers (25 to 31 miles).

Later versions of the drivetrain will have 250 hp with longer electric range, and 360 hp and four-wheel-drive. A non-hybrid gasoline engine with 225 hp will also be offered.

DS says the 11.9 kilowatt-hour battery can be fully charged in one hour 30 minutes with a 7.4 kilowatt plug. 

Like the DS 7 Crossback, the DS 9 features Active Scan suspension, which takes data from a front-mounted camera and other sensors to adjust suspension damping to changes in the road surface. Other technologies include Drive Assist, which combines adaptive cruise control and lane positioning to allow “semi-autonomous” driving, including in traffic jams, DS says.

The DS 9 is the third in a promised six new models to be launched by the brand starting in 2018. DS was the fastest-growing PSA Group brand last year, with global sales of around 62,000 units, a 17 percent increase. Sales in Europe grew by 21 percent to 56,000 units, PSA said. The brand has a new CEO, Beatrice Foucher, who took over from Yves Bonnefont in January.

Sales in the midsize premium segment grew strongly last year in Europe, increasing by 21 percent to 540,175 with the introduction of the Tesla Model 3, according to data from JATO Dynamics. The Mercedes C class led the segment with 112,439 sales, followed by the BMW 3 series (111,589), Audi A4 (102,783) and Model 3 (94,492).