It’s been half a year since the DS 9 broke cover in China as somewhat of a luxed-up Peugeot 508 L, with the French brand getting ready to unveil the European version later today.
Unfortunately for them, a video was published early on YouTube, allowing the folks over at Worldscoop Forum to kick thins off by grabbing as many screen shoots as they could. We then found the official trailer and grabbed a bunch of screeners of our own.
Alas, this is the car that will soon join the DS range, working alongside the DS3 Crossback and DS7 Crossback SUVs. The DS 9’s public debut will take place next week at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show.
Visually, DS tried to do all they could so as to separate the “9” from the Peugeot 508 – such as having two feature different shoulder lines and roof lines. There’s also a lot of chrome involved, such as the thick line that graces the hood vertically. That’s a bold design choice, to say the least.
Other design traits include the chrome surrounds for the taillights, the fastback-like silhouette (obviously), and diamond-shaped light graphics at the rear. One thing that did surprise us is that the 9 does not feature frameless door windows like the Peugeot 508, which is a curious choice since most people view this type of setup as classy or even luxurious when it comes to family cars.
The interior of the DS 9 features Peugeot’s ergonomic automatic gear selector, two massive displays (gauge cluster plus infotainment screen) that look identical to the ones in the DS 7 Crossback, as well as the latter’s steering wheel. It’s certainly more plush than any Peugeot-branded car out there, but whether buyers will resonate with the DS 9 as opposed to premium alternatives from Germany, remains to be seen.
As for the engine range, while we’re waiting for the official press release to drop, we can tell you that the DS 9 is available with two powertrains in China: a 1.6-liter turbo four-pot with 200 HP and a plug-in hybrid system combining a 1.6-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor. The latter we suspect is the 223 HP unit from the 508 L PHEV.
By measuring 4,933 mm (194.2 in) in length, 1,855 mm (73 in) in width, 1,468 mm (57.8 in) in height and boasting a 2,895 mm (114 in) long wheelbase, the DS 9 is about as long and wide as a BMW 5-Series. Its wheelbase however is a bit shorter than what you get with your run-of-the-mill premium midsize German saloon.