DS 9 E-Tense 4×4 360

Last fall, DS took advantage of the November 11 ceremonies and the appearance of French President Emmanuel Macron for a new publicity stunt: a new “presidential” version of the high-end DS 7 Crossback SUV. Subtly (or not) called “Elysée”, the armored vehicle houses under its hood a rechargeable hybrid engine of 300 hp, sees its wheelbase lengthened by 20 cm for greater legroom for rear passengers and sees appear here and there a few acronyms “RF” whose meaning will obviously not escape you. Discovering this new flagship of the government fleet, a question bothers me: while the president confirms his attachment to the high-end brand of the Stellantis group, why did the new DS 9 not retain the favors of the latter? Elements of response in this essay unlike any other.

Difficult, very difficult to pass after my esteemed colleague Jean-Baptiste for the test of a rather well publicized French novelty. However, I could not resist the temptation to respond positively to the invitation sent to us at the beginning of the year to take part in the tests in the south of France of the E-Tense 250 & E- Tense 4×4 360 of the DS 9, and this for several reasons. On the one hand, I am an almost complete novice when it comes to DS products, my last memories with the brand dating back to testing the DS 3 facelift of 2016 in its 1.2 Puretech 130 version. On the other hand, every attempt by a French manufacturer to tickle the German competition is either a complete flop or a success limited to France and a few other countries on the old continent. In any case, it is necessarily an adventure. An adventure that I didn't want to miss this time. Back in 3 axes on the presidential assets of this new flagship of the French automotive industry.

The look: chic yes, sporty no

As Jean-Baptiste has already summed it up very well, the top-of-the-range version of the DS 9 only differs externally in a few minor details compared to the off-the-shelf version. The main detail is undoubtedly the 20-inch “Munich” rims, an essential detail in my opinion not to make the French sedan look too thin in its very fluid lines. They are shod as standard in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S and house a more muscular version of the braking system with 380 mm ventilated front discs pinched by 4-piston “DS Performance” calipers. The tracks have been widened by 24mm at the front and 12mm at the rear, while the ride height has been lowered by 15mm at the front and 5mm at the rear. further accentuating the plunging effect of the overall line when observing the sedan in profile. No particular facetiousness in the color chart, our DS 9 is dressed in an Artense Gray shade that I curiously no longer find on the brand's configurator. A light color that highlights the taut lines of the DS 9 while partly hiding some exuberant chrome, too present for my taste. DS insists a lot on the avant-garde side of the design, but I see little originality in the design of the DS 9 compared to the previous productions of the French brand, except for this superb rear window finely drawn surmounted by two small fires. Moreover, nothing suggests apart from a few fine connoisseurs that you are at the controls of a cavalry of 360 cumulative hp. Overall, the set is statutory, in line with the DS 7 Crossback and would easily transport a head of state. There remains the armor map to explore, and of course to check the “Midnight Blue” box when configuring. 

Technology and comfort: not quite the Elysée…

That too, as we have already said, the DS 9 is a step behind in terms of on-board technology. No need to redo a whole paragraph on this subject, the prose of Jean-Baptiste (him again!) will be enough to give you the information you need. Just a personal opinion all the same, about ergonomics. Unlike the exterior, we can say that DS goes all the way when it comes to avant-gardism within the cabin. The dashboard, the steering wheel, the upholstery patterns, the digital interfaces, nothing resembles the stylistic choices of other manufacturers. However, I am clearly overdosing on lozenges, they are absolutely everywhere! From the buttons to the shape of the counters,

As for the choice of materials, DS has worked rather well. There is plenty of leather in our Rivoli+ finish, without even having to tick the “Opéra Interior” option which costs an additional €5,250 and is available in black or ruby ​​red. On the other hand, the bottom hurts at the level of the only persistent plastics: the adjustment of the latter is far, very far from being exemplary (you can even notice it by zooming in slightly on some photos in this article, at the level of the coating around the transmission column). Half fig half grape for the interior therefore, even if I have to qualify my remarks by recalling that at the back, it's Versailles. Not at the level of a Mercedes S-Class or a Lexus LSbut all the same, the legroom is bluffing and all that's missing is a work table behind the right front seat so that our dear president can put down his hot files for the day. 

On the road: would the DS 9 survive the Petit Clamart attack?

It is undoubtedly one of the most significant events of the 5th Republic, with which the chevron mark was brilliantly associated at the time. On August 22, 1962, President de Gaulle escaped an assassination attempt during a commando attack perpetrated in the town of Petit Clamart while he and his wife were trying to reach Vélizy-Villacoublay aerodrome. The survival of the latter is often put down to the exceptional courage of the driver but also to the intrinsic qualities of the DS 19 presidential, riddled with bullets and having enabled the convoy to arrive at its destination at high speed, despite a flat tire. A heavy legacy for the DS 9 which, although it does not have puncture-proof tires or armored windows and bodywork, intends to show us that driving at high speed in a DS in presidential comfort, it's possible ! And that's all we expect from a DS after all, nicknamed in the 60s “Queen of the road”: grand touring on all floors. This is also how DS marketing touts its 4×4 360 version to the press of the day: “At DS, we favor comfort and associate performance with it”. Your servant is here to verify all that. 

In terms of comfort, I must say that riding at the pace of a senator at the wheel or as a passenger in this DS 9 is a breeze. Soft seats, Pullman soundproofing, Focal audio system, you can easily fall asleep on the Marseillaise at full volume. However, I would not go so far as to say that it can be done on any road. DS gladly puts forward its suspensions piloted using a camera anticipating the roughness of the road to stiffen or on the contrary soften each shock absorber independently. I expected a result to die for but I probably expected a little too much. Certainly the comfort is excellent, but far from exceeding that of the large German sedans, even if it equals it without difficulty.

In terms of performance, to reach our famous aerodrome at high speed, DS has pulled out all the stops and, as its name suggests, our current DS 9 offers 360 hp from the marriage of the 1.6 L Puretech 200, a first electric motor of 110 hp on the front axle and finally a second of 113 hp on the rear axle. If you follow well, it gives an all-wheel drive. The performances are top notch with a 0 to 100 km/h shot in 5.6 seconds and a 1000 m standing start expedited in 25.4 seconds. The maximum speed is displayed at 250 km / h, we can well qualify the latter as “fast pace”, a first point for the DS 9. Note that the combined 360 hp are only available if you have enough battery left , otherwise your imperial ship will immediately turn into a simple heap of metal powered by a 4-cylinder 1.6 L 200 hp engine... Let's hope that our president's driver intends to adapt his driving to always have enough underfoot, in the event of an attack. , we never know. Still, even if we did not expect the DS 9 to surprise us on winding ground, the French sedan succeeded in the exercise brilliantly. There are, however, 1,900 kg to move and brake, but our example seems to flout the laws of physics and offers an imperturbable chassis under braking, in long and narrow curves and even when restarting. That's some damn good work. Everything is not perfect far from it and if the direction in Sport mode clearly lacks consistency, the DS 9 seems however to stick to the road in all circumstances. Heavy braking? No problem. Hold a hairpin rope without screeching tires? She can do it. Attention, we are far from the level of a sports compact but it is clear that the work on this DS 9 E-Tense 4×4 360 (it takes a long time to write its full name) was not limited to to the powertrain. The French know how to make frames without a doubt.

Presidential?

So Mr. Macron, are we buying? We do not buy? It is discussed. On the one hand, the statutory lines will perfectly correspond to the requirements of the function, on the other, the performances also seem to fulfill their purpose. However, if he expects an example of technology and innovation in France from the DS 9, he will have to come back later (or even never?). For you readers, who are probably not president but may be customers, you will have to pay at least €70,400 to hope to own the new tricolor flagship. It's expensive to pay given the certain shortcomings, but very inexpensive in terms of owning a future piece of history of the French automotive industry? The future will tell. By the way, if one of your reservations is the country of manufacture, know that the DS 9 E-Tense 4×4 360 see 20% of their assembly finalized in France, the production line in China not being equipped to allow the assembly of the second electric motor on the rear axle. 

Some numbers

Dimensions: 4930x1930x1460
Empty weight: 1905  kg
Trunk volume: 510 L
Tank volume: 42 L 
Combined consumption announced (WLTP): 1.8 L/100 km (11.8 L / 100 km observed in sporty driving)
Average CO2 emissions announced (WLTP): 49 gCO2 / km 
Engine: 4-cylinder petrol 1598 cc + 2 electric motors 
Maximum combined power: 360 hp at 6000 rpm
Maximum torque: 520 Nm at 2500 rpm
Maximum speed: 250 km/h
0 to 100 km/h: 5.6 sec