This is the new 9 saloon, DS's range-topping executive flagship, which is based on the PSA Group’s EMP2 platform and is closely related to the Peugeot 508.
Available to order from tomorrow (8 April), the 9 is the third new-era model for the PSA Group’s premium arm following the 3 Crossback and 7 Crossback SUVs - and preceding the recently revealed 4. It will be built exclusively in China, where the majority of sales are expected, and exported around the world from there, with UK deliveries beginning towards the end of the year.
The range of powertrains includes two plug-in hybrids. The range-topper is a four-wheel-drive E-Tense model that mixes a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine with an electric motor in the eight-speed automatic gearbox to drive the front wheels, and it uses a further electric motor on the rear axle for a combined 355bhp. This is carried over from the new 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered, which brings a more overt performance focus.
A front-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid option new to DS is also offered in the 9. This does without the electric motor on the rear axle to offer a combined 222bhp from the engine and electric motor, both driving the front wheels.
An electric-only range of up to 34 miles is available on this model through the car’s 11.9kWh battery pack. It can be driven on purely electric power at speeds of up to 84mph or left in its standard hybrid mode, which allows the car to decide when best to deploy the electric range. There is also a 222bhp 1.6-litre petrol model without hybrid assistance, but no diesel will be offered.
The two-trim line-up opens up with the DS 9 Performance Line+, priced from £40,615 with the pure-petrol engine or £46,100 with the front-driven hybrid, while top-rung Rivoli trim bumps the price up to £44,715 and £49,200 respectively. Prices for the top-rung PHEV car will be announced later this year, although it is expected to arrive in dealerships at the same time.
The design of the 9 builds on that seen on the 7 Crossback, which kicked off a new era of independence from Citroën for the DS brand. The saloon is 4.93m long and 1.85m wide, and it has a 2.9m long wheelbase. This makes it more than 200mm longer than its Audi rival, 80mm of which is in the wheelbase, and a similar width.
DS is talking up the rear cabin space of the new car, as well as the high quality trim materials. These include a Nappa leather dashboard, watchstrap-style leather seats, leather door handles and an Alcantara headlining. The rear seats are fitted with heating, ventilation and massaging functions, while the fold-down central armrest doubles as a device-charging bay and control panel.
