PSA Peugeot Citroën’s nascent luxury brand DS will mark its first auto show appearance as a standalone brand with the unveiling of an electric sports car concept. Set to debut at next week’s 2016 Geneva Motor Show is the DS E-Tense, which boasts a powerful electric motor and a driving range of about 200 miles.
PSA sees electric mobility as a way to differentiate DS in the crowded luxury segment. You'll recall the brand has formed a team with Virgin Racing in the Formula E electric car racing series and has been tasked with developing the powertrain for the race cars. Now DS is showing some of the electric car technology it has developed in a car built for the road.
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The E-Tense features a lightweight carbon fiber monocoque chassis and houses its electric motor at the rear. The motor delivers a peak output of 402 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque and draws its energy from lithium-ion batteries located in the vehicle floor. The weight of the vehicle is about 3,600 lb. Performance estimates include 0-62 mph acceleration in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.
As for the car’s interior, it is designed for two and features watchstrap-style trim on the seats and dash. Information is provided to the driver via two screens. A 12-inch display serves as the main instrument cluster while a 10-inch touchscreen display in the center console serves as the interface for the infotainment system.
While DS is unlikely to launch a production version of the E-Tense, the concept is said to preview technologies and design themes pegged for the brand’s upcoming cars. One of those cars will be a flagship sedan twinned with a new C6 from Citroën.
Stay tuned for the debut of the DS E-Tense at the Geneva Motor Show. The show doesn’t start until March 1 but you can learn about some of the other vehicles set to appear by visiting our dedicated hub.
