Words by Donal Byrne, video by Leah Carroll.
Just as in the animal kingdom, the big beasts of the car world guard their territory jealously and interlopers don't find it easy to establish their presence in that territory.
Brands like BMW and Mercedes have long-established loyalty and their customers usually stand firm when it comes to considering alternatives.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that when a newcomer arrives that they can’t make an impression. Tesla and Polestar are both good examples in this regard, because they have attracted young buyers whose interest in tech and innovation supersede the traditional.
Then you can add the recent Chinese manufacturers into the mix.
Now we have DS - perhaps best described as the luxury arm of Citroen - which has launched a rather stylish EV coupe SUV in the shape of the Number 8. It certainly has presence, with its sloping roofline accentuating that coupe look and an interior that is plush and well finished.
DS is also hoping to attract new customers with two things: price and range. The entry level Pallas model has a starting price of €56,495 (after grants) and a claimed range of up to 550 kilometres (the usual caveat on claimed range applies here because claimed ranges and real-world ones can vary significantly.)
However, there is also a long-range version of the same car with a price tag of €64,995 and DS claims it will get you up to 750 kilometres from the massive 97.2 kWh battery on a single charge. You’ll spend a long time perusing the price lists of Mercedes or BMW before you find a car with a similar price and specification - or, for that matter, range.
For example, the Number 8 has heated, cooled and massaging seats and a panoramic roof as standard.
At almost five metres in length and a height of 1.6 metres, the 8 has a rather imposing profile accentuated by that the sloping roofline. However, a brief drive at the car’s launch did not suggest an SUV-like driving position.
The inside is spacious and plush in its finish. There’s a pretty big 16" infotainment screen and a 12.25" driver information screen. Both appear to be an improvement on the previous offerings from the Stellantis group line-up and displays are crisp and clear.
There are other touches too, such as the generous use of fabric colour and ambient lighting that give the car a sense of character.
The seats are what you would expect from a car deriving its heritage from the original and truly innovative DS and the driving experience was pleasurable and softly tuned. It didn’t feel like a car that weighs in at about two tonnes because of the bigger battery and sits on 20" wheels.
The four spoke steering wheel is very retro and a brave statement from the designers. I liked it and thought it added a sense of the unusual, unlike the rather soulless offering from other manufacturers, especially Chinese ones.
However, there are other things that clearly come from the Stellantis (Citroen, Peugeot, Opel and other brands) common parts bin that don’t quite match the car’s relative opulence. But then, everything comes down to price and economies.
You can move up a grade to the Etoile version, which starts at €62,295 and has extras such as a neck warmer in the headrests for extra comfort in colder weather.
There is a very good-sized boot with a capacity of 620 litres.
The 8 has an eight year battery warranty and a guarantee that covers 160,000 kilometres.
DS has also introduced a facelift version of its 4 model, which comes in EV and mild hybrid variants. The electric version has a claimed range of up to 450 kilometres. It has a starting price of €49,495, after grants.
The mild hybrid starts at €35,995.
