The E-Tense hybrid is top of the menu for French flair and style
“Look to your right,” whispered Kate Forrest from Bearsden as her boss, chef Raymond Blanc, walked into the room to address the dozen or so motoring journalists gathered around his table.
Wit h h i s si gnat u re enthusiasm, he was desperate to tell us of his love for the DS car.
As a young chef, he had driven the DS 19 around France from job to job and so fond had he been of that car that today a model of it still sits in his office at his famed restaurant Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons in Oxfordshire.
This was where we had come to test drive the new DS 7, the premium marque established to sit alongside other French luxury goods like couture, art and, of course, gastronomy.
As drivers, not one of us had touched a drop of fine wine with the rather wonderful food he had put on for us.
We had, though, driven the new DS 7 E-Tense, a plug-in hybrid car boasting a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 14.2kWh battery delivering 300PS and up to 41 miles in pure electric mode.
The car is a handsome beast with a deep redesigned front grille hosting the DS wings on the front, elongated headlights and with what DS calls its light veil daytime running lights falling to the bumper like a sabre.
At the rear a black gloss blade connects the 3D taillights giving the car a wider, bolder stance and this car in Opera trim comes with an electric panoramic sunroof.
Inside the DS 7 is luxe and dressed in high-end materials like the pleated front panel, the piano-black gloss on the doors and centre console and strikingly the diamond- cut chrome finish with the car’s signature BRM R180 Timepiece sitting atop the dash.
Along with the Pearl Grey Nappa watch strap leather on this car, it all adds up to a feeling of opulence and depth.
Heated and ventilated seats with a massage function only enhance the drive. There is lots of room in the rear with two rear USB ports to complement the two in the front along with a 12V connection. The 12in colour customisable touchscreen is the way into the systems and features like navigation, radio, mirror screens for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a reverse camera. It also has voice recognition and will take over-the-air updates.
The drive is smooth and comfortable, made all the more so because of the DS Active Scan Suspension which watches the road ahead and adjusts the car accordingly to avoid any harshness caused by potholes, for example.
There are five driving modes including Sport, Comfort, Hybrid, All Wheel Drive and Electric. The DS 7 recharges as you go and there is a B mode on the sporty gearstick to strengthen this regeneration.
There are three hybrid powertrains in all – the one we were driving, a two-wheel drive delivering 225PS and an all-wheel drive offering 360PS – and a Blue HDi 130PS diesel.
All trim levels are elegant and chic and strive for the best in French automobile design.
Raymond was eloquent about his love for the DS – and we were about his food, which was magnifique.