DS9 - wow

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Discussion

ACCYSTAN

Original Poster:

759 posts

121 months

Wednesday 7th April 2021
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A bit more than a rebadged 508, it looks sensational

Not sure about the chrome in the middle of the bonnet, would need to see it in the flesh

Good effort from PSA

AmitG

3,298 posts

160 months

Wednesday 7th April 2021
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It does look very nice.

I'm surprised that they brought it to the UK. It's a very niche car, and we all know the cliche about big French saloons not selling. I read somewhere that DS UK know that it won't be a big seller but will offer it anyway because it helps to build the brand. Apparently there are no dealer sales targets for DS9.

The new DS4 also looks very cool.


Krikkit

26,527 posts

181 months

Wednesday 7th April 2021
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Yep that's a really good looking bit of kit. I'm not sure about the chrome strip, but I bet it's very colour-sensitive.

Glad they've got their mojo back producing something interesting - the 508 is a great looking car in all formats, the DS4 looks good, even the DS7 looks quite striking in person, and I normally despise 4x4s

AmitG

3,298 posts

160 months

Thursday 8th April 2021
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I reckon that the DS4 could be something of a breakthrough model for DS. I'm looking forward to taking a look at the DS4 and DS9 once they are available to view.

Jag_NE

2,980 posts

100 months

Friday 9th April 2021
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I really like the ds9 from what I’ve seen so far. Let’s hope it bucks the trend and sells well. I guess it will largely come down to residuals as I imagine the company car sales are dominated by EV now.

mcmigo

123 posts

153 months

Saturday 10th April 2021
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It is a lovely looking car but not cheap! They are relatively simple and ordinary cars underneath with fantastic interiors. I can’t see many being sold here sadly , but they will be welcome sight on the road if a few brave buyers go for it.


AmitG

3,298 posts

160 months

Saturday 10th April 2021
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Interestingly, Citroen are going to unveil a new large luxury car on Monday, which will be sold in the UK. It will be interesting to see how they position it versus DS9.

AmitG

3,298 posts

160 months

Saturday 10th April 2021
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mcmigo said:
I can’t see many being sold here sadly , but they will be welcome sight on the road if a few brave buyers go for it.
+1

DS may not sell many cars, but I am really glad that they exist. The world would be a duller place without them.


AmitG

3,298 posts

160 months

Saturday 10th April 2021
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Now live on the DS website, including configurator (with a few rough edges)

The basic model is just over £40k and comes with a 1.6 turbo engine and 225 BHP (same as in the DS7 I guess). It's a shame they couldn't bring it in just under £40k to avoid the higher VED.

The next model up (same engine) is £44k and comes with some nice stuff but nothing that I would consider essential.

The PHEV version starts at £46k.

The only optional extra is posh paint. Metallic blue is standard, everything else is optional.

The colour choice is a bit limited (and boring), but I can totally understand that. They are not going to sell many, so they need to stick to a limited palette.


silverthorn2151

6,298 posts

179 months

Sunday 2nd May 2021
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I have an invite to a launch viewing at my DS dealer. I'll let you know what it looks and feels like in the flesh. Its on Thursday 6th.

silverthorn2151

6,298 posts

179 months

Saturday 8th May 2021
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I had my invited viewing of the DS9 on Thursday. There are only 2 pre production cars in the country for a tour before being released to the press to drive, and both were at the dealer in Chingford.

They have a kind of golden grey one in the showroom and a white one outside. Both top spec e-tense models. My phone doesn't quite capture the colour correctly. That could be because it's a bit subtle, or a bit insipid!

I'm not persuaded that the car looks as good in the flesh as in the publicity photos. I suspect it will be colour sensitive. It's huge though. Much longer than it looks and although I don't have the spec it seems more e-class length than 5 series, which is what they say they are competing with.

The house styling from the DS7 was evident and I felt quite at home inside. The front end is great looking.

They expect to sell hundreds a year across Europe compared with hundreds a week in China, where it's being built. In some ways it looks like its built for that market, bit I can't quite put my finger on how.

I expected something akin to the Stelvio/Guilia relationship with the DS7 and whilst many of the design morons are carried across the whole is somewhat underwhelming.

I waiainted a day before committing to print about it. I still feel like it was a little underwhelming and would be difficult to pick out from the crowd, apart from the front end. The one on tour is just under £60k and they spoke of a 360bhp version coming along some time.

It's a lovely thing, just not lovely enough to tempt me away from my DS7 and I am likely to change to a hybrid version of that in due course. Great to see it so early though.








mcmigo

123 posts

153 months

Saturday 8th May 2021
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60 grand is very bold pricing. If this car doesn’t have absolutely magical ride quality it could get a real shoeing from the motoring press.


theplayingmantis

3,773 posts

82 months

Wednesday 29th June 2022
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I saw one of these the other day for the first time, looked quite smart in a Peugeot 508 kinda way, (at least i assume it was a DS9 i was cycling past, either way it was anew DS saloon, don't think they make another?) if i was in the market for mid range saloon with no interest in driving characteristics would definitely consider it along with the 508 based on looks. Not that i am though!

mat205125

17,790 posts

213 months

Wednesday 29th June 2022
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mcmigo said:
They are relatively simple and ordinary cars underneath with fantastic interiors.
This seems the way that everything is heading at the moment.

Some great visual designs from many manufacturers, especially the Korean duo, however everything underneath is relatively ordinary


mcmigo

123 posts

153 months

Thursday 30th June 2022
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It will be interesting to see where DS goes as a brand. Stellantis are sitting alongside Alfa as its premium brand. Alfas clearly will focus on driver involvement and being sporty, DS will be the opposite and focus on comfort and luxury interiors. As we go into the electric era I suspect many will be pulled towards the comfort and quiet as the same ‘ driving’ sensation isn’t there in electric format. That’s when DS could really do well, albeit likely still a niche player.

I have a DS7 as our family car and I have no idea what I would swap it for. It is absolutely magnificent. Very big with tons of room in the back, extremely quiet and refined ( the 225 petrol ), and the interior and seats are truly fabulous ( it is the top spec Louvre model ). It isn’t really like anything else on the road as it is so tuned to comfort and peace and quiet. It is by a long way my favourite family wagon we have had and we have had some real premium German and JLR stuff over the years. It has also been bulletproof in terms of reliability and is extremely well built- it feels like a French Lexus.

I would love a DS9 at some point.




silverthorn2151

6,298 posts

179 months

Thursday 30th June 2022
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mcmigo said:
It will be interesting to see where DS goes as a brand. Stellantis are sitting alongside Alfa as its premium brand. Alfas clearly will focus on driver involvement and being sporty, DS will be the opposite and focus on comfort and luxury interiors. As we go into the electric era I suspect many will be pulled towards the comfort and quiet as the same ‘ driving’ sensation isn’t there in electric format. That’s when DS could really do well, albeit likely still a niche player.

I have a DS7 as our family car and I have no idea what I would swap it for. It is absolutely magnificent. Very big with tons of room in the back, extremely quiet and refined ( the 225 petrol ), and the interior and seats are truly fabulous ( it is the top spec Louvre model ). It isn’t really like anything else on the road as it is so tuned to comfort and peace and quiet. It is by a long way my favourite family wagon we have had and we have had some real premium German and JLR stuff over the years. It has also been bulletproof in terms of reliability and is extremely well built- it feels like a French Lexus.

I would love a DS9 at some point.
I would have loved to have stayed with a DS7 when my lease was up they just put the price beynd reach. Have you seen the facelift version? Launched a few days ago they are expected Oct/Nov. I have a thread about my decision to change to a 2022 DS4 e-tence which is smaller but fabulous too.

In 500 miles I've spent £40 on fuel, everything else has been on electric.

Funnily enopugh I ended up with a DS7 as my local Alfa dealer changed terms on a Stelvio at the last minute. Mine was also totally reliable apart from needing a new battery at 2 weeks old and the rear lights getting water in them (a known defect and fixed under warranty). I like having a niche car and both DS7 and this DS4 get a lot of looks when parked up.

AmitG

3,298 posts

160 months

Sunday 26th March 2023
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Well, nobody else was doing it (literally - look at the sales figures), so I decided to get one.



I will try and do a Readers Cars at some point, but initial impressions:
  • It's huge (5m length).
  • It steers like an ocean liner.
  • The infotainment is maddeningly difficult to use.
  • It's absolutely wonderful.
Most people will not get this car at all, in both senses of the word. You need to think of the DS9 not as a car, but as a mobile artwork. In real life it looks stunning; exotica aside, it's IMHO one of the very few genuinely beautiful cars on sale today.

The quality is high inside and out. The doors are heavy; they remind me of the doors on the Rolls Royce Silver Spirit. Inside there is leather and alcantara everywhere. At 70mph it is virtually silent thanks to laminated glass all round and probably several metric tons of soundproofing.

This is the only car on sale today that was affordable to me and which had a genuine sense of theatre. As a single person with no kids, virtually any car with 4 seats would work for me. I was looking for something special; a car that was designed by artists or engineers rather than accountants. Something with a soul. This car is full of quirks and details that the product planners at VW or Mercedes would never sign off.

Note: in the picture, the car is unlocked so the door handles are open. When the car is locked, they fold flush into the bodywork, Tesla style.

There is no rational reason whatsoever to buy this car. That is why I love it.

As I said before, DS may have tiny sales figures, but I for one am grateful that they exist, and I think that they will prosper in the new BEV/FCEV/synfuel world.

More to follow, but happy to take questions in the meantime.

SpeckledJim

31,608 posts

253 months

Sunday 26th March 2023
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Lovely car, nice one.

Easternlight

3,431 posts

144 months

Sunday 26th March 2023
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Bravo!! Well played for being different.
This new on on AT is magnificent.

mcmigo

123 posts

153 months

Monday 27th March 2023
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Love that ds9. Fabulous car. I am yet to see one on the road so it will certainly be a rare sight:
I laughed when I read the handling comment. When I picked up my ds7 a couple of years ago I piled it into a corner on the way home. It responded by wobbling and rocking like a tug boat in a storm, needless to say I haven’t cornered like that since!
The infotainment in the 9 is the same as the 7, you just get used to it eventually. Like everything on the car it is kind of lazy, but it suits the whole ds thing of slowing down and relaxing.