DS SUV on the way
Boss confirms all-new model will hit showrooms in 2018
DS’S first all-new model will be an SUV, and will arrive next year with a debut at March’s Geneva Motor Show, Auto Express can exclusively reveal.
We spoke to Director of Europe for the PSA Group Maxime Picat at the recent Paris Motor Show, and when asked if an SUV would be the first of DS’S six all-new global models, he told us: “Correct, that is very possible. It will come soon, and after the SUV we will try to keep the pace of one brand new car per year, per region, per brand.”
The SUV is expected to be a midsized Audi Q5 rival, while a smaller DS 3-based crossover will sit below it in the range when it follows in 2018. DS is expected to draw heavily on the Wild Rubis concept (above), first revealed at the Shanghai Motor Show back in 2013, for inspiration.
The design of the SUV will also usher in a new design language for the brand that will go on to influence the five other all-new DS models (see panel, right).
Picat also confirmed to Auto Express that DS would be the first brand in the PSA Group to get a fully electric model. “We have decided to start with the premium brand with DS,” he told us.
“All the electric and plug-in cars that will come on the market for PSA will come in 2019. Our vision is that in the future, electric powertrain will take an important part of the market, so clearly we want electric to be a powertrain to be available in any of our cars.
“To make it simple you will have gasoline and diesel throughout the range of all the segments. We will push plug-in hybrid in higher segments and electric in smaller segments, like B-segment or B-SUV.”
That means plug-in hybrid technology is likely to be introduced to the midsized SUV at some point beyond 2019, while a pure electric version of the DS 3 could also be on the cards.
“There will be no specific car fully electric or fully hybrid; you will always have a choice of solution,” Picat added.
“Our platforms are making very big improvements in terms of architecture, so we are able to implant the batteries within the car, without having to decrease the trunk size or ability of roominess of [the] second row.”
“Boss Picat has confirmed that DS would be the first brand in the PSA Group to get a fully electric model” “New SUV is expected to draw on Wild Rubis concept, seen at 2013 Shanghai show”