When DS Automobiles unveiled the DS N°8 in December 2024, the model was presented as the embodiment of the brand's vision of luxury and innovation. But this is not surprising: this car did not appear overnight. Its story goes back several years and passes through key stages, from the presentation of the DS Aero Sport Lounge (ASL) concept to the final validation of the project that I invite you to discover today.
In 2020: The DS Aero Sport Lounge concept is a source of inspiration.
The DS N°8 story begins in February 2020 with the unveiling of the DS Aero Sport Lounge. Unveiled just before the cancellation of the Geneva Motor Show, this groundbreaking concept car features an imposing fastback silhouette and a design focused on aerodynamic efficiency. Its bold front end, vertical lighting signature and refined interior philosophy mark a break with current trends.
Although DS Automobiles is not directly announcing a derivative model, the DS ASL concept is being developed in parallel with a production car project. It serves as a laboratory of ideas for what will become the DS N°8, influencing both its proportions and aesthetic choices.
2021: The D85 Manifesto, the first step towards a production model
After the ASL concept, the DS Automobiles design team began developing a full-scale model called the "D85 Manifesto". This step allowed adjustments to be tested on the STLA Medium platform, in particular to optimise the car's proportions.
The D85 Manifesto has a roof that is 6 cm lower and a bonnet that is 5 cm lower than standard on the platform, refining the silhouette and improving aerodynamics. It already displays distinctive elements of the future model, such as the light signature and the fastback architecture. This model was presented to a group of customers during an initial clinical test, which confirmed the project's interest.
2022: Design validation and clinical tests
The following year was crucial for the project. At the beginning of the year, a "design review" attended by Carlos Tavares, Jean-Pierre Ploué and Thierry Metroz officially validated the exterior and interior styles. Scale 1 clay models were refined in the design studios to perfect every detail.
In mid-2022, a second model with a real body and no DS badge will be presented to a second group of customers as part of an "SFM Test Clinic". The aim is to gather impressions on the overall appearance and to ensure that the final design meets market expectations.
In 2023: Industrialisation and completion of the project
After final adjustments to the design and finishes, the industrialisation phase begins. DS Automobiles freezes the style of the DS N°8 at the beginning of the year and starts the first road tests with camouflaged prototypes.
These prototypes allowed the technical development to be validated and certain details to be refined before series production. At this stage, DS Automobiles also introduced a new nomenclature: the DS N°8 inaugurated a series of names based on a number and a distinctive symbol, marking a break with previous names.
2024: official presentation
In December 2024, after five years of development, DS Automobiles officially unveiled the DS N°8. Directly inspired by the DS Aero Sport Lounge concept and refined through the stages of the D85 Manifesto and clinical tests, this model embodies the DNA of the French manufacturer: bold design, extreme efficiency and the reinvention of automotive luxury.
The arrival of the DS N°8 marks a decisive step for DS Automobiles, which confirms its commitment to the high-end electric sector while remaining faithful to its heritage of refinement and innovation.
To sum up, the unveiling of a new car is always the result of several years' work. Now that N°8 has been unveiled, there is still a long way to go before it hits the streets, but every time you see one, you will be able to appreciate the long road that has led to its unveiling.
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