A word rarely found in the automotive universe flourishes around the N°8, the latest expression of French refinement: poise. An unusual notion that Thierry Metroz, Head of Design at DS, illustrates as “fundamental to ‘the art of travel’, the mission our vehicles propose. In some ways, it consists of comfort and driving safety, but designers interpret it visually: with very pure, fluid, ‘regulated’ and therefore pleasing forms. We don’t pursue baroque elements or contrived aggression. An essential principle, at least since the Aero Sport Lounge concept of 2020.”
Concept car experimentation
Another peculiarity then emerges: “The N°8’s development ran parallel to our concept car experimentation. It began in late 2019, while the ASL was unveiled in March 2020. It’s rare to see such a short gap between a concept study and mass production development.” This coincidence naturally informed the final choices, “starting with the daytime running lights and illuminated grille, as well as the important two-tone bonnet. An innovation we’re very proud of.”
Sustainable Painjet
Instead of paint, they utilize the Paintjet technique, similar to an ink film, to eliminate manual interventions, colour liquid atomization, energy-intensive oven curing, and the need for masking, efficiently generating a single piece in two shades. “And in the future, we’ll be able to aim for different shades than black, which is currently preferred to recall, among other things, the Art Deco opulence of Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye, or Voisin masterpieces.”
Intense design phases
Underpinning the desire for excellence is the STLA Medium platform, shared with the recent Peugeot 3008, compared to which “the roofline is lowered by 6 centimetres, the bonnet by 5, and the dashboard by the same amount.” Several intense design phases followed: “The initial silhouette was validated against mechanical requirements back in 2019. By the following year, we were evaluating clay models in natural light and developing the distinctive eight-point lighting signature headlights, before presenting our work to Carlos Tavares.”
An essential year
2021 proved to be an essential moment: “The first clinic test was performed on a vehicle that was 80% complete, with French, Italian, and German users who in 76% of cases would have preferred it to five other renowned competitors. The best result in DS history.” Obviously, the following year, after further feedback on a 95% complete specimen, the style was “frozen” and tooling for construction was prepared. In 2023, pre-series units accumulated test kilometres, leading up to the presentation in late 2024, with sales beginning next summer.
A monolithic dashboard
While working on the exterior, a progressive push for balance between sensual surfaces (for the sides) and taut ones (front and rear) emerged, and the interior evolved in parallel. “The four-spoke steering wheel concept had been with us since 2018,” explains Metroz. “It’s our contemporary interpretation of the iconic single-spoke design from the original 1955 DS, reimagined with a modern luxury aesthetic.” The dashboard design embraces a monolithic aesthetic, with a ‘seamless’ appearance enhanced by a continuous metal strip. The speakers are elegantly integrated into the aluminium trim, reinforcing the sense of unified luxury.
(Full article in A&D no. 271)
