DS Automobiles is planning to launch a flagship sedan by the year 2020. According to Autocar, a source within the company said the new luxury model will be “comparable in every way to the BMW 5 Series.”
Details are scarce for the time being, but the flagship is rumoured to be based on the PSA Group’s EMP2 platform. The said platform currently underpins a variety of cars within the French group, including the DS 7 Crossback (BMW X3 rival) and the new Peugeot 508.
The new sedan is expected to be the third of six new DS models to be launched over six consecutive years, after the 7 Crossback that’s due later this year, as well as a compact electric vehicle due in 2019. Expect a range of engines to be offered, from the 1.6 litre THP turbo (in 180 hp and 225 hp forms), a 1.6 litre BlueHDi turbodiesel (either 130 hp or 180 hp) as well as a 300 hp E-Tense plug-in hybrid version.
The PHEV powertrain will be featured on the 7 Crossback, and it uses a 200 hp version of the 1.6 litre THP petrol engine, mated to an eight-speed automatic and two 109 hp electric motors – one at the front, the other at the rear, providing all-wheel drive. A 13 kWh lithium-ion battery under the rear seat floor provides juice, enabling an all-electric range of 60 km.
The brand recently announced plans to only offer electrified models from 2025. Company product development director, Eric Apode said “we’ve said from the beginning, DS has to lead innovation within the PSA Group. It’s totally obvious, then, that DS had to be the leading brand in electrification. This is also because of pricing. It [electrification] has to start with premium brands because the prices will be high. Then, as the pricing decreases, it can go to the other brands.”
Apode also said that the company is learning from its involvement in Formula E. “We’ve been in Formula E for three years now. We wanted to get maximum knowledge, maximum experience in electrification and take it back to road cars. It’s at the centre of our work,” he said.
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French cars ,problematic,get the real thing,get a bmw
Mercedes is using Renault engines only in their A- and B-Class. Ever heard of any unusual problems?
Your sweeping statement on French cars reeks of ignorant prejudice.
I am sure you will say the same thing about all the cars you cant afford.
Make it a great one