What's the news?
DS wants us to stop thinking about the its (somewhat disappointing) current range of cars and instead focus on its future. Citroen's luxury brand will bring this, the DS E-Tense concept car, to the Geneva Motor Show and it's a look ahead to both the styling and the powertrains of future DS models.
It's a low-slung two-seat coupe and the styling, featuring the big, square mesh grille we've already seen on the current DS production range, is a good hint at where DS wants to take the look of its next generation of cars. There's no rear screen, just continuous bodywork at the back (like the previous DS Divine concept) and, in a nod to the original 1955 DS, the rear indicators are integrated into the roofline.
Inside, DS says that its engineers spent 800-hours designing and putting together the interior, which is dominated by a swathe of sculpted steel and a 'tulip-shaped' steering wheel. Because DS wants to be taken as seriously as other luxury French brands, there are a number of high-end touches in the two-seat cabin. There are leather straps ostensibly for holding a crash helmet, made by leather goods expert Moynat. The audio system is by electronics experts Focal. And there's a massive watch, made by BRM Chronographs, that can either be worn by the driver or clipped to the dash as the on-board clock. Classy.
Underneath, the DS E-Tense is entirely electric, and uses a 402hp, 516Nm electric motor closely linked to the motor used by the DS Formula-E electric racing car. Fully charged, DS says it will go for 310km on the combined cycle, and a little further - 360km - around town where the regenerative braking can be fully deployed.
Those narrow, slitty lights at the front are clever too - they're a full LED setup, and DS says they've been designed and built to watchmaker standards. Able to swivel through a full 180-degrees, they motorway, country and bad-weather settings built in.
Other innovations are a combination of hand-held 12-inch tablet and 10-inch touchscreen, a clever air filtration system for the cabin and unique Michelin tyres designed to deal with the high torque outputs of electric motors.