New DS No8: posh Parisian EV goes on sale from £51k

• DS moves upmarket with “serene” No8 fastback
• Up to 466 miles of range
• On sale now from £50,790

DS is redoubling its efforts to break into the top ranks of premium cars with its new No8. The EV fastback is aimed squarely at the BMW i4, Polestar 4, and Tesla Model Y, with a premium price tag and a name that subtly hints at a certain luxurious French perfume.

You’ll need at least £51,000 to get behind the wheel of the No8 in the UK, while Long Range models start from £59,000. That’s a whole chunk more than a Tesla Model Y, but the DS holds a couple of aces over its rivals – namely faster charging speeds and a longer driving range.

Two and four-wheel drive versions of the No8 are available, and there are three power options to choose from. The most potent is a 345bhp model with four-wheel drive, while the most efficient claims to offer a 466-mile driving range and up to 310 miles of motorway driving between rapid charges – that makes it one of the longest-range EVs on sale today.

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DS says the No8 will focus on delivering a “serene” drive and “absolute comfort.” It defines serenity as both the way the No8 drives and pampers its occupants, and how it delivers the EV driving experience. The French luxury offshoot of Stellantis reckons EV drivers want faster charging to reduce the number and duration of stops on longer journeys. The company says the No8 is capable of driving from Paris, where the car has been designed, to Lyon on a single charge. That’s 280 miles, or the same as driving from London to Newcastle.

What are the important specs for the DS No8?

Let’s start with the heart of the DS No8 – its batteries. They’re produced in France and are offered in 73kWh or 97kWh sizes. Long Range cars get the bigger pack, which delivers up to 466 miles of range in FWD (front-wheel drive) guise. Stick purely to urban driving and DS claims you could get up to 565 miles on a charge.

The entry-level DS No8 with the smaller battery will still manage an impressive 341 miles, while the Long Range AWD (all-wheel drive) model is good for 427 miles. The latter is the quickest No8 of the lot, with a 345bhp dual-motor setup. Thanks to four-wheel drive, it’ll sprint from 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds, which is as fast as a Honda Civic Type R. 

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It will spend most of its time running in front-wheel drive form, though, with Eco or Normal modes selected. Sport and AWD options engage the four-wheel drive system, or if the car senses a loss of traction to the front wheels.

The Long Range FWD has 242bhp and covers the 0-62mph sprint in 7.7 seconds. Choose the least powerful 227bhp model and 0-62mph takes 7.8 seconds. All have a top speed restricted to 118mph.

There is plenty of other tech helping the DS No8 to be as efficient as possible, including its slippery shape. The fastback design has an aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.24Cd, which is only slightly behind a Tesla Model 3. This is achieved with a completely flat underside for the No8, along with active air intakes in the front bumper.

What about the styling and interior?

You’re more likely to notice the DS ‘Luminascreen’ illuminated grille with the DS logo lit up for the first time on a production model. There is also a new light design at the rear with lamps that wrap around the corners of the car. The No8 will also come with duo-tone paintwork with the roof in a contrasting colour the main body.

Inside the DS No8, which is based on the same Stellantis STLA Medium platform as the Peugeot E-3008, it promises plenty of space for passengers in the front and rear. It also has a generous 620-litre boot accessed through a tailgate.

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A large 16-inch central screen uses the DS Iris System 2.0 and can work with voice commands. There is a small screen directly in front of the X-shaped steering wheel to display key driving information. Between the front occupants is a two-tier console with a “floating” top section. There will be two trim levels, Pallas and Etoile, and a choice of five different upholstery options for the interior.

The cabin is trimmed in large swathes of aluminium or wood panels, with plenty of leather. This hide is tanned using non-toxic and biodegradable methods, and many of the materials come from recycled textiles. DS has also shunned any chrome parts in the No8 in favour of a painted effect due to the impact of the chrome plating process on the environment.

What else do I need to know about the DS No8?

The DS introduced a new naming policy for the company’s models. Going forward, all will be called “No”, the French abbreviation for “number”, followed by the model’s digit. We suspect this is a subtle hint at the Chanel No5 perfume brand, which has the luxury overtones that DS is keen to play up. This also emphasises that DS models are designed and built in Paris that is often referred to as the fashion capital of the world.

On a more practical level, super quick recharging is set to be a defining feature of the No8. DS claims the No8 can recharge from 20- to 80% in 27 minutes using a 200kW charger. It can also consistently draw 160kW between 20% and 55%. The DS comes with an onboard 11kW AC charger, with the option of a 22kW version to be offered later. At home, a 7.4kW wall charger will need around 8 hours 50 minutes to take the No8 from 20% to 80% charge. Every DS No8 comes with V2L (vehicle-to-load) plug points to power external devices via a three-pin socket.

Other tech for the No8 includes DS Drive Assist 2.0, which gives the car the ability for semi-autonomous driving between 29 and 87mph. It can let the car perform what DS calls “semi-automatic lane changing” without the driver confirming the move. If the driver does use the indicator, the system can let the car swap lanes automatically. Drive Assist 2.0 also comes with ACC Predictive adaptive cruise control and lane keep assistance, while Active Lane Change Assist checks the car’s blind spots and cars approaching from behind.

How much does the DS No8 cost and when can I buy one?

Prices for the DS No8 start from £50,790. That gets you into the entry-level Pallas model with the 227bhp motor and 73kWh battery. Upgrading to the Long Range model with its bigger battery and 466-mile range adds a further £3,900 to the bill.

DS No8 Etoile models get the illuminating grille, pixel LED headlights, the DS Drive Assist tech and 360-degree parking cameras on top of the standard car’s kit list. It comes at a price though – this model costs from £54,690 for the smaller battery, while the Long Range FWD model costs £59,290. The range-topping DS No8 Long Range AWD is only available in Etoile trim and costs £63,290, or more than a Tesla Model Y Performance.

All DS No8 models are available to order in the UK now. The first cars are scheduled to be delivered to customers in the second half of 2025.

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