Cars

DS brings haute couture to the SUV class

DS 7 Crossback
DS 7 Crossback DS 7 Crossback

THE further development of Citroen's upmarket spin-off DS into a brand in its own right continues with this new SUV, dubbed the DS 7 Crossback.

It is the first DS model not to start life wearing a Citroen badge, making it a significant model for the fledging marque - as evidenced by the fact that it has thrown just about every bit of technology you can think of at it.

DS has a very clear idea about the sort of customer at whom the DS 7 is aimed, so if you are "in tune with the latest trends, appreciate the world of luxury and prefer to express your unique personality", then it could be the car for you...

Less prosaically, the DS 7 is a rival for the affections of customers who might also consider something like a Range Rover Evoque or Audi Q5.

The new car's 3D rear lights are, apparently, "hypnotic" and the interior features two 12-inch screens with an "innovative interface".

Striking exterior features include a diamond-effect grille and horizontal chrome 'wings' on the bodywork, whose sharp creases lend the DS a hint of Lexus's latest design language.

It will be available with a plug-in hybrid petrol drivetrain with 296bhp and four-wheel-drive. DS says it will be able to cover 37 miles in zero emission electric mode.

Two diesel and three petrol engines will also be offered.

DS also says the car's various drive assistance systems can work together in a "step towards autonomous driving".

The company has also done some hard thinking about the car's ride comfort, drawing inspiration from the legendarily pillowy ride of the original Citroen DS from 1955.

That car had hydropneumatic suspension, but as you might expect the DS 7 takes a more digital approach with a system called 'DS Active Scan Suspension'.

Similar to arrangements on top-of-the-range BMW and Mercedes models, the DS 7 Crossback uses a camera to scan the road ahead for bumps and dips in the road and adjusts the computer-controlled dampers accordingly.

It is expected to arrive in showrooms in the last quarter of the year.