2025 DS N°8 revealed as French electric flagship

• France’s DS has unveiled the N°8 crossover as its new flagship
• The N°8 is the first vehicle from DS to be powered exclusively by batteries
• The N°8 rides on parent company Stellantis’ STLA Medium platform

France’s DS on Thursday revealed the N°8, an electric crossover with coupe-like styling billed by the brand as its new flagship and its first to be powered exclusively by batteries.

The shape more closely resembles a high-riding sedan with a fastback roof than a conventional crossover, though DS also offers more conventionally styled crossovers, which the brand—today part of the Stellantis fold—refers to as Crossbacks.

The N°8’s design was previewed with 2020’s DS Aero Sport Lounge concept, and its name introduces a new naming strategy for the brand, where instead of a single number, the name includes an “N°” preceding the number, which DS said is the standard way of writing “number” in French.

Underpinning the vehicle is Stellantis’s STLA Medium platform, which is designed to support both EVs and plug-in hybrids. The platform made its debut last year in the Peugeot 3008 compact crossover and will end up in some vehicles sold in the U.S., one of which is a redesigned Jeep Compass due in Europe next year and in the U.S. in 2026.

In the N°8, buyers will be able to choose from single-motor front-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive. The most potent setup will deliver 350 hp with a boost function that temporarily lifts output to 375 hp. DS said the 0-62 mph time for this configuration will be 5.4 seconds and the top speed a governed 118 mph.

Front-wheel-drive models can be fitted with either a 74-kwh battery or a 97.2-kwh battery. The all-wheel-drive model comes standard with the bigger battery. DS quotes a maximum range estimate on the WLTP cycle used overseas of 466 miles for the front-wheel-drive model with the 97.2-kwh battery. A lower estimate would be expected using the stricter EPA test cycle.

The N°8 measures a little under 190 inches long, but interior space is similar to some larger vehicles thanks to the packaging benefits of the EV platform. The interior design features plenty of angular details that reflect the design of the exterior, whose various shapes, DS said, help achieve a low 0.24 coefficient of drag. Those angles extend to the steering wheel, which features a distinct X pattern. Premium features include active suspension, a head-up display, and night vision.

Production will take place at a Stellantis plant in Melfi, Italy, with sales in markets where DS operates scheduled to start by mid-2025. There are currently no plans to expand DS to the U.S.