DS 9 Debuts As Plug-In Luxury Sedan For Markets 'Around The World'

There's a new global player in the luxury sedan segment, and it comes from France. The DS 9 was officially revealed today, riding on a modified version of the PSA's EMP2 front-wheel-drive underpinnings. DS calls this a large sedan, though with a wheelbase of 114 inches it's a bit shorter than a BMW 5 Series. In any case, it's the brand's first sedan of significant size, and it's well-equipped with an array of available features.

It's also a plug-in hybrid. Under the swooping four-door body is PureTech gasoline engine connected to a single electric motor, developing a total of 225 combined horsepower (168 kilowatts). An 11.9 kWh battery gives the DS 9 an electric-only range of between 25 and 31 miles (40 to 50 kilometers), and the electric motor will shoot the car down the highway at speeds up to 84 mph without gasoline intervention. The powertrain is the first of three offerings for the DS 9 – a 250-hp (186-kW) version will be available later, as will a high-performance model with 360 hp (268 kW) and all-wheel drive. Regardless of the power, shifting duties are handled by an eight-speed automatic.

As for the DS 9's available tech, it starts with a trick active suspension system that scans the road ahead for imperfections on the surface. Working with that and a bucketload of other sensors, DS claims the sedan can predict road conditions and adjust the dampers accordingly for a smooth ride. When the sun goes down, active LED headlights offer five different settings for various conditions including city, country, highway driving, parking, and bad weather. An available night vision system also sees in the dark and projects images on the DS 9's digital instrument cluster.

Speaking of the interior, the DS 9 adopts a minimalist approach with a large center touchscreen serving as the focal point for most on-board systems. Critical information is handled by a second digital display for the driver, and a 14-speaker sound system is in place for audiophiles. As with most luxury brands, DS offers a personalization service called DS Inspirations that can mix and match all kinds of leather, Alcantara, mood lighting, and other special touches for creating a high-end, bespoke greenhouse.

Of course, being a luxury sedan in 2020 means the DS 9 is available with a wide range of driver-assist systems. It offers level 2 semi-autonomous operation for limited use on highways, which means adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, and lane-keep assist are part of the package. Whereas some vehicles offer automatic lane-changing with the turn signal, the DS 9 will disengage its automatic controls if the turn signal is used. Similarly, in stop-and-go traffic, the car will shut off if it's stopped for more than three seconds, requiring human intervention to restart. And the human behind the wheel better be paying attention, because the DS 9 has a comprehensive driver alert system that sounds an alarm if it determines the driver is slacking off.

DS says the new sedan will go on sale beginning in the second half of 2020, but pricing information isn't available. We're also told it will be sold "all around the world" but that likely doesn't include the North American market as no DS vehicles are available in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico.