THE car world might have gone SUV and EV mad, but those contrarians at French boulevardiers DS Automobiles reckon there's still a market for a large, posh saloon, writes William Scholes.
Specifically this large, posh saloon; called the DS 9, it costs from £40,615 and at a shade under 5 metres long is supposed to compete with established executive models such as the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
The DS 9 arrives with two drivetrain options.
You can have a 222bhp petrol engine or a plug-in hybrid with the same power and the ability to do up to 34 electric miles on its 11.9kWh battery.
Either way, you get front-wheel-drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
A more powerful four-wheel-drive hybrid with 355bhp is expected later.
The interiors are DS-plush, with lots of leather and Alcantara and luxuries such as seats that can heat, cool and massage their occupants.
As mentioned, prices start at £40,615 for the petrol DS 9, with the hybrid costing from £46,100 and up to £49,200.
Don't expect it to become a familiar sight on Northern Ireland's roads.
