2021 DS 9 now on sale in the UK market

KUALA LUMPUR: A couple of months back, DS Automobiles introduced the all-new DS 4 in the global market and now Citroen's premium sub-brand has pulled the wraps off its new creation, i.e. the DS 9. It is a large, stylish saloon that conveys a perfect blend of “heritage, Parisian savoir-faire, and cutting-edge technology.”

The French automaker has now started accepting the orders for the flagship sedan in the United Kingdom where it is on offer in two trims - Performance Line+ and Rivoli+. 

Under the hood, the engine lineup includes a 1.6-litre four-cylinder PureTech petrol unit churning out a maximum power of 222 bhp and an E-Tense plug-in hybrid unit. The latter uses a combination of 178 bhp version of the 1.6-litre turbo petrol mill and an 11.9-kWh battery pack feeding a 108 bhp e-motor. The combined output of the system is rated at 222 bhp, which is just equal to the ICE model. Both units are paired with an EAT8 eight-speed automatic gearbox sending power to the front wheels of the luxury sedan. 

Performance-wise, the petrol-powered DS 9 is a bit quicker than PHEV; it sprints from standstill to 100 kmph in 8.1 seconds, while the E-Tense covers the same in extra two-tenths seconds. 

The DS 9 underpins the EMP2 platform on which the DS 7 Crossback SUV and Peugeot 508 saloon are already based. Dimensionally, it is 4,930 mm long and 1,850 mm wide; this means it slots into the full-size executive car segment, where it rivals the likes of the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, and Audi A6.

Standard equipment includes DS Active LED Vision headlights, LED running lights, DS 3D trademarked diamond pattern LED tail lights, leather upholstery, Alcantara trimming, premium infotainment and sound system, massaging seats, and ambient lighting, For driver-assistance, it gets Level 2 semi-autonomous tech, scan suspension, night vision, automatic emergency braking, automatic parking, traffic sign recognition, and driver attention monitoring.

What about the DS 9 price? The PureTech gasoline version of the Line+ is priced at £40,615 (RM 230,901), while its E-Tense plug-in hybrid retails for £46,100 (RM 262,084). In contrast, the Rivoli+ gasoline carries a tag of £44,715 (RM 254,210) and for the Rivoli+ PHEV, customers need to shell out £49,200 (RM 279,708).

Also read: Limited-edition DS 7 Crossback Louvre Edition is now available in the UK