DS 9 saloon revealed in full
Premium French brand takes the fight to BMW and Merc
THIS is the DS 9, a new range-topping saloon from PSA Group’s premium arm, designed to rival the likes of the Mercedes E-Class and Jaguar XF.
It expands the DS line-up to three cars, sitting above the DS 3 and 7 Crossback SUVs, and is the company’s long-promised halo model. It’ll be heading to the Geneva Motor Show in March, and will go on sale here later in 2020.
It sits on PSA’s EMP2 platform for larger vehicles, which is shared with the DS 7 Crossback and the Peugeot 508. However, the new DS 9 occupies a larger segment than its Peugeot relation. At 4,930mm long and 1,850mm wide, it slots into the full-size executive car market, and is the largest saloon PSA makes.
There is a fastback element to the car in profile, but it’s more of a traditional threebox saloon than the 508. The front end takes inspiration from the brand’s latest launches, with a large, diamond-mesh, chrome-effect grille flanked by chrome headlight detailing, vertical LED running lights and DS Active LED Vision headlights. A chrome strip runs down the centre of the bonnet to the windscreen, signifying the model’s flagship status.
The sides of the DS 9 are a mixture of smooth surfacing and strong lines; the sharp shoulder crease contrasts with flush door handles. At the back, the compact rear end features trademark 3D diamond-pattern LED tail-lights – another DS trademark – more chrome detailing, a smooth rear bumper, and a nod to the original 1955 DS in the form of the indicators, which are mounted high on the car’s C-pillars.
The dashboard and interior are heavily based on the DS 7 Crossback’s, with the only real obvious differences being the door panels, interior vents and a storage space beneath the standard central infotainment display. As on other DS models, buyers will have several interior ‘inspiration’ themes to choose from, each introducing different leathers, materials and interior colours. DS promises plenty of room in the back thanks to the car’s 2.9-metre wheelbase. The rear seats can be optioned with heating, cooling and massaging functions, too.
DS Active Scan suspension, which uses a camera to read the road ahead and adjusts the damping accordingly, is available. Every version of the DS 9 uses an eight-speed automatic gearbox while the engine line-up is heavily hybridised.
The launch DS 9 is a plug-in hybrid with a 1.6-litre petrol engine and electric motor combining to produce 222bhp and capable of 31 miles on battery power. A 246bhp version of this engine follows, as does a range-topping four-wheel-drive E-Tense version with 355bhp. A 222bhp frontwheel-drive petrol model with no hybrid assistance comes later. It will be the entrylevel model and is expected to kick off the range from around £32,000.
“The DS 9 expands the line-up to three cars, and is the company’s long-promised halo model”