DS Automobiles is the attempt to return France to the top of the luxury car world. Spun off from Citroën in 2014, the brand draws inspiration from the legendary 1955 DS but focuses on "Haute Couture"—diamond-quilted leather, pearl stitching, and avant-garde lighting.
Explore the current production vehicles.
The flagship of Parisian luxury. A sophisticated executive sedan that blends avant-garde design with an exceptionally refined, first-class interior. Featuring details like pearl stitching and a B.R.M chronograph, it's not just a car; it's a rolling fashion statement.
The SUV as haute couture. The DS 7 is a masterpiece of French luxury and technology, from its jewel-like, swiveling LED headlights to its Active Scan Suspension that reads the road ahead. The embodiment of modern, comfortable grand touring.
A stunning fusion of premium hatchback and crossover coupe. The DS 4 is an award-winning design statement, praised for its sharp, architectural lines, luxurious 'savoir-faire' interior, and advanced technology. The art of the compact car.
The chic and charismatic compact crossover for the city. The DS 3 is a jewel of Parisian design, offering a host of personalization options, distinctive flush-fitting door handles, and a sophisticated, fashion-forward character. Now available as a 100% electric model.
The Goddess. The car that inspired the brand. A revolutionary masterpiece of avant-garde design and technology with its self-leveling hydropneumatic suspension. It's not just a car; it's a 20th-century icon and the soul of the DS spirit.
The car that launched the modern DS legend. The original DS3 was a hugely popular and customizable premium supermini, a giant-killing rally champion, and a direct rival to the MINI. A true icon of playful, Parisian chic that started the sub-brand.
A 100% electric, high-performance laboratory. The E-TENSE PERFORMANCE is a stunning concept car derived from Formula E, a carbon-fiber beast that showcases the future of DS performance and technology. A rolling vision of the electric future.
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For years, "DS" was just a badge on the trunk of fancy Citroëns. In 2014, the decision was made to cut the cord. DS Automobiles became a standalone brand within the PSA Group (now Stellantis).
The goal was ambitious: resurrect the spirit of the original 1955 DS to compete with Audi, BMW, and Mercedes. But while the Germans compete on horsepower and lap times, DS competes on style.
If you sit inside a high-spec DS (like the DS 7 or DS 9), you realize it doesn't feel like a car; it feels like a handbag shop in Paris.
They use terms like "Haute Couture" (High Fashion). The leather seats are stitched in a "watchstrap" pattern. The dashboard clock is made by B.R.M. Chronographes and physically rotates open when you start the car. The switches are engraved with "Clous de Paris" patterns. It is unapologetically decorative.
Legitimacy in the luxury world is hard to buy, but being the car of the President helps. Emmanuel Macron famously uses a modified DS 7 Crossback Ãlysée. It features armor plating, flag holders, and an extended wheelbase. It signals that DS is the official face of French power.
You cannot use the DS name without talking about suspension. Since the old hydropneumatic system is dead (too expensive), DS invented Active Scan Suspension.
A camera mounted at the top of the windshield scans the road ahead for potholes and bumps. It then pre-adjusts the shock absorbers milliseconds before the wheel hits the bump. It is the modern, digital version of the "Magic Carpet."
Because DS is a newer brand fighting established giants, their resale value can be... volatile.
DS Automobiles is for the driver who thinks an Audi is too clinical and a Mercedes is too common. It is a rolling fashion statement.
As of 2026, DS Automobiles does not have an official dealership network in the United States. While the brand is expanding its "French Art of Travel" luxury positioning globally, its current presence in the US is limited to diplomatic fleets and private imports.
However, enthusiasts monitor the brand closely because its parent company, Stellantis, often utilizes DS as a laboratory for high-end technologies like DS Active Scan Suspension and the DS Iris infotainment system, which are expected to influence future premium models from sister brands like Chrysler and Alfa Romeo in the US market.
The DS N°7, making its global debut in February 2026, is the ultra-luxurious successor to the DS 7. Built on the STLA Medium platform, it offers hybrid, PHEV, and fully electric (E-TENSE) variants with a range of over 400 miles.
While not officially slated for US showrooms, the N°7 is significant for American collectors because its platform is shared with US-market vehicles. This makes future federalization technically feasible if Stellantis decides to introduce a dedicated French luxury tier to North America to compete with brands like Genesis or Lexus.
Under the 25-year import rule, the brand name "DS Automobiles" (established in 2014) is too new for standard classic imports. However, as of 2026, the year 2001 is the eligibility threshold, meaning you can import the Citroën DS heritage models or early 2000s French classics like the C5, which laid the technical groundwork for the modern DS suspension.
Importing these requires filing NHTSA Form HS-7. For the modern DS models produced after 2014, they remain "forbidden fruit" in the USA until they reach their 25th anniversary, starting in 2039.
The DS 9 E-TENSE 4x4 360 is the brand's flagship performance sedan for 2026. It utilizes a sophisticated plug-in hybrid system producing 360 horsepower and 520 Nm of torque. It features a dual-motor setup providing intelligent all-wheel drive.
Technical specs include a 0-60 mph time of approximately 5.6 seconds and a specialized DS Energy Recovery system derived directly from the brandâs championship-winning Formula E racing team. This allows for maximum efficiency during urban commutes in EV mode while maintaining high-speed stability for highway cruising.
DS Active Scan Suspension is a signature technology for 2026 models like the DS 9 and the new N°7. It uses a high-speed camera positioned behind the windshield to "scan" the road surface ahead for imperfections, potholes, or bumps.
The data is processed in milliseconds, and the system independently adjusts the damping firmness of each wheel before it even hits the obstacle. This provides a "flying carpet" ride quality that is often compared to the legendary hydropneumatic systems of 1950s French luxury cars, now optimized for modern US-style road conditions.
DS Automobiles releases annual "Collections" that function like high-fashion seasons. For 2026, the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Collection is the flagship theme across the DS 3, DS 4, and DS 7 models. These editions feature:
Yes, the 2026 DS Iris System is an advanced infotainment ecosystem that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto globally. It features a 12-inch high-definition touchscreen and a personal assistant that recognizes natural voice commands.
A unique feature for 2026 is the integration of ChatGPT-driven AI, allowing the driver to ask complex questions about the car's features or local history while traveling, providing a truly interactive luxury experience that mirrors the tech expectations of the American market.
In 2026, "Savoir-Faire" refers to the artisanal craftsmanship used in every DS interior. This includes "Clous de Paris" guilloché patterns on metal switches, pearl stitching on the leather, and the use of authentic materials like basalt ash wood and forged carbon.
This dedication to "Haute Couture" in automotive design is what differentiates DS from mass-produced luxury brands, appealing to US enthusiasts who prioritize interior artistry and unique material textures over standard luxury appointments.
The 2026 DS 3 E-TENSE is the brand's premium compact electric SUV. It features a 54 kWh battery with a range of up to 250 miles (WLTP). It supports 100 kW DC fast charging, allowing US importers to recharge the battery to 80% in approximately 30 minutes.
While small by American SUV standards, its 155 hp electric motor and near-silent cabin make it a highly desirable boutique EV for dense urban environments like Manhattan or San Francisco.
DS Automobiles is a dominant force in the FIA Formula E World Championship. The software and thermal management systems used in the race cars are directly transferred to the "E-TENSE" road cars. Specifically, the Silicon Carbide (SiC) inverters and energy regeneration algorithms in the 2026 models allow for significantly higher efficiency and battery longevity than previous generations.