Pheasant, hare, wild boar, deer… Like other pretty corners of France, the Montbéliard region, in the Doubs, is full of game. But, as a local peculiarity, we also come across… zebras. Nothing to do with those of Africa, since they have neither hooves nor manes and are adorned with false appendages to conceal their true contours. On the other hand, it is easy to know where these camouflaged prototypes escaped from.
Formerly the den of Peugeot, the Belchamp research and development center now hosts many future cars from the Stellantis groupincluding this D85 project, code name for the new DS Number 8. If the new DS flagship was indeed revealed at the beginning of December, L’Automobile Magazine was invited several times to follow its development. Which explains the camouflage still present in these images taken before the big premiere.
Started five years ago, the program for this large 100% electric DS was of course kept secret and, as with all manufacturers now, a large part of the development was carried out virtually. But when the very first examples are manufactured, real driving on the circuit and in real conditions is essential.. These missions of several thousand kilometers, called “customer synthesis” and carried out in hot or very cold environments, make it possible to identify faults to be corrected and to refine the settings. A collective and capital task, in which all the actors of the project participate.
A new philosophy
To this solid team was added twice (in February then in October 2024) a wolf in the fold. Indeed, “L’AM” participated in two test campaigns, missions during which models from the competition were also invited, in order to calibrate the future tricolor novelty. Between carpet hiding the dashboard and other “prototype” plastics far from the requirements of the series, it is not these details that we are going to focus on during these particular tests. On the other hand, by having the possibility of switching from a two-wheel drive prototype of the DS Number 8 to another with four-wheel drive (with an additional engine on the rear axle), the exercise is indicative of a notable change in DS. Especially since these runs are carried out in the company of direct competitors or sure values in terms of efficiency of electric propulsion.
First surprise, if, in recent years, DS has always placed comfort on a pedestal, its D85 prototypes confirm, from the first turns of the wheel, a slight change in philosophy, with more pleasure behind the wheel. This starts with the driver’s position. While at first glance, the brand’s future flagship looks, with its generous ground clearance and its massive size, like a large SUV-coupe, this is not the case at the controls. Between the wide seat, which can be adjusted as low as possible, and the small oval steering wheel, you feel more like you’re on board a grand tourer. Whether with two-wheel drive or the all-wheel drive proposition, the reduction in body movements, compared to recent DS, is striking. No longer falling into the magic carpet effect of current models, the Number 8 gives a feeling of superior driving precision. And despite the obviously attractive mass of this electric (secret defense subject when we get behind the wheel), we feel more confident with predictable and healthy reactions, also thanks to an efficient front end and communicative steering… but this day- not yet perfect. Indeed, the latter lacks consistency and coherence, with feedback lacking linearity to meet the requirements of a grand tourer.
A sign that there is still work to be done, the brake pedal offers a sluggish response and, worse for an electric car, there is no regenerative braking when you take your foot off the accelerator pedal. The reason is simple: during this test campaign, the large battery (produced in France by ACC) is under surveillance and protected with in particular the ban on recharging it at a power greater than 40 kW, while the final objective is indeed higher (more than 170 kW targeted). The fact remains that between BMW i4, Tesla Model Y and Audi Q4 present for this first run, the D85 mules already bear the comparison, with an attractive compromise and a superior level of comfort, which also involves careful soundproofingthanks among other things to double glazing at the front.
An original interior
Another discovery, the interior presentation turns out to be original, with a large, wide central screen, attractive material effects and rich equipment. In addition to camera-controlled damping, which we already know from DS, the future No8s will offer a cozy cocoon on board, via high-end refinements (ventilated, massaging seats, materials, etc.) and even a neck heating system in the front seats, a device only found on certain luxury convertibles. Another singularity cleverly masked by the camouflage of the prototypes, the French offers door handles integrated into the rear pillars. And, by taking a seat on the bench seat, although there is no shortage of space, the Frenchwoman cannot hide the fact that she is an electric car, with a high floor requiring her knees to be raised. The fact remains that after this first contact, we looked forward to discovering a more complete copy, a few months later.
Second rodeo
So, last October, “L’AM” returned to the land of zebras with, as a result, a two-wheel drive prototype corresponding to the basic finish, called Pallas, whose only refinement was to be equipped with controlled damping. Between the two sessions, in addition to notable aesthetic improvements or the abandonment of the DS4-style touchpad (duplicating the screen) on the central console stretching between the front occupants, this evolved D85 marks progress. To get there, 45 cars have already been manufactured – for some, the outcome is fatal, with the inevitable crash test sessions. Of course, between the slowness of the multimedia system (then in its tenth update since the start), a driving program button working in the wrong direction and certain materials still “prototypical”, we are still far from the production No8 . But, during this second phase of testing devoted to energy efficiency – alongside a Tesla Model 3, a Kia EV6 and the Peugeot E-3008 – we were able to measure the work carried out on the steering. More convincing consistency, excellent feeling of the limits of grip and unexpected agility for a vehicle of this size promise a top-of-the-range level. This is all the more true since, during this test, the weather did not spare us, and the future DS flagship does not rely, dynamically, on technical parades such as rear wheel steering – which testifies also the know-how of its designers.
Final adjustments
There remains one last delicate question for them to decide. During this second test, they asked us what we thought of the response of the brake pedal, knowing that this DS will have, a first for Stellantis, regenerative braking adjustable on several levels and even one-pedal driving. We therefore admitted to them that, although the consistency was there, it lacked a slight bite to the attack – a subtle adjustment, because more regeneration… also means more autonomy. And in this regard, the objective for this large DS of more than 700 km over the approval cycle (including 500 on the motorway) is very ambitious.. We can’t wait to see what they decide between now and the production version. But this time it will be without zebras.
