2020 ds 9
#1
2020 ds 9
The Peugeot-owned DS brand will travel to the 2020 Geneva Motor Show to introduce the 9, its flagship sedan. France's long-overdue answer to the Audi A4 picks up where the Citroën C6 left off in 2012, but it lands in a lower segment.
The 9 stretches 194 inches long and 73 inches wide, dimensions that give it almost exactly the same footprint as the C6 and the current-generation Audi A6. And yet, it's positioned as an alternative to the smaller A4 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, among others. DS hopes space will help its entry stand out in a crowded room.
Visually, the 9 blends styling cues from the design language that characterizes the newest additions to the DS range with a handful of retro-inspired touches. The rear turn signal repeaters integrated into the C-pillars are notably a tribute to the Citroën DS introduced in 1955 and sold in the United States in small numbers; it's the model the entire brand is named after. Stylists drew proportions that remind us of the C5 sedan axed in 2017, and they sprinkled chrome trim over the body in a bid to give the 9 a suitably upmarket appearance.
DS refers to the 9's interior as a lounge, a claim it backs up by pointing out the long wheelbase clears up a generous amount of space for the rear-seat passengers. The dashboard is dominated by a touchscreen for the infotainment system, and there's a second, driver-configurable screen behind the steering wheel. Level two driver-assistance technology, night vision, and active LED headlights appear on the list of available features, while a camera faces tracks the driver's every minute move to detect signs of fatigue, like excessive blinking.
The palette of available powertrains will ultimately grow to include three plug-in hybrid systems ranging from 225 to 360 horsepower, and a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine turbocharged to 225 horsepower without any kind of electrification. Every drivetrain spins the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, but all-wheel drive is available at the upper echelons of the trim hierarchy. DS will not offer a turbodiesel option, which may prove short-sighted considering the technology remains popular in this segment of the European market.
All told, the DS 9 indisputably tilts towards the comfort side of the scale. Don't expect the French firm to turn it into a coupe, a station wagon, a convertible, or a hot-rodded answer to Audi's mighty RS4 and Mercedes-AMG's fire-breathing C63. It's a cushy, well-equipped sedan that offers A6 levels of space and tech in an A4-sized package. Time will tell if that's enough to make motorists take DS seriously, or if the 9 will become an expensive swing and a miss for parent company PSA.
Made in China, which is highly unusual for a French flagship sedan, the DS 9 will go on sale in select European and Asian markets by the end of 2020 with a base price pegged in the vicinity of €30,000, a sum that converts to about $32,500. There's no evidence the firm plans to sell the model in the United States; besides, PSA's American comeback is on ice following its ongoing merger with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
The 9 stretches 194 inches long and 73 inches wide, dimensions that give it almost exactly the same footprint as the C6 and the current-generation Audi A6. And yet, it's positioned as an alternative to the smaller A4 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, among others. DS hopes space will help its entry stand out in a crowded room.
Visually, the 9 blends styling cues from the design language that characterizes the newest additions to the DS range with a handful of retro-inspired touches. The rear turn signal repeaters integrated into the C-pillars are notably a tribute to the Citroën DS introduced in 1955 and sold in the United States in small numbers; it's the model the entire brand is named after. Stylists drew proportions that remind us of the C5 sedan axed in 2017, and they sprinkled chrome trim over the body in a bid to give the 9 a suitably upmarket appearance.
DS refers to the 9's interior as a lounge, a claim it backs up by pointing out the long wheelbase clears up a generous amount of space for the rear-seat passengers. The dashboard is dominated by a touchscreen for the infotainment system, and there's a second, driver-configurable screen behind the steering wheel. Level two driver-assistance technology, night vision, and active LED headlights appear on the list of available features, while a camera faces tracks the driver's every minute move to detect signs of fatigue, like excessive blinking.
The palette of available powertrains will ultimately grow to include three plug-in hybrid systems ranging from 225 to 360 horsepower, and a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine turbocharged to 225 horsepower without any kind of electrification. Every drivetrain spins the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, but all-wheel drive is available at the upper echelons of the trim hierarchy. DS will not offer a turbodiesel option, which may prove short-sighted considering the technology remains popular in this segment of the European market.
All told, the DS 9 indisputably tilts towards the comfort side of the scale. Don't expect the French firm to turn it into a coupe, a station wagon, a convertible, or a hot-rodded answer to Audi's mighty RS4 and Mercedes-AMG's fire-breathing C63. It's a cushy, well-equipped sedan that offers A6 levels of space and tech in an A4-sized package. Time will tell if that's enough to make motorists take DS seriously, or if the 9 will become an expensive swing and a miss for parent company PSA.
Made in China, which is highly unusual for a French flagship sedan, the DS 9 will go on sale in select European and Asian markets by the end of 2020 with a base price pegged in the vicinity of €30,000, a sum that converts to about $32,500. There's no evidence the firm plans to sell the model in the United States; besides, PSA's American comeback is on ice following its ongoing merger with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
#4
Lexus Test Driver
Extremely attractive. Like the best styling elements of a Camry, ES350, and A4 all in one.
#6
#7
Peugeot is the targeted launch brand for PSA in their return to the U.S. The DS offshoot and Citroen would not be part of that. Of course as indicated in the article. If the merger is finalized with FCA, that could change things.
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#8
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
Reaching for that start/stop button between the vents up high while keeping one's foot on the brake is so convenient.
#10
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
From the side it looks a bit like an accord to me.
#11
It's a good looking car but very similar to an Audi. Then again, PSA have form for doing this with the C5, ditching their quirky styling for something more Germanic to give an impression of solidity and reliability.
Last edited by Big Andy; 02-26-20 at 07:02 AM.
#13
#14
Lexus Champion
I quite like it. I love quirky French interiors.
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