Presentation of DS N°4: For the first time with electric drive
The successor to the DS4 is being offered as an e-car for the first time. Stellantis thus provides a preview of the redesign of the Astra Electric and the e-308.
(Image: DS)
The idea of the multi-brand alliance Stellantis to market an ordinary compact car disguised as a premium car has so far met with a rather muted response. With a comprehensive facelift, the DS4 will become the DS N°4. More exciting than the new name is a technical upgrade because for the first time a battery-electric drive is available in addition to the combustion engines. Stellantis is thus providing a preview of the upcoming facelift of the Opel Astra Electric and Peugeot e-308.
Battery and charging capacity
So far, the key technical data has always been the same on this basis. The 54-kWh battery can be charged with a maximum of 100 kW. There was no provision for preconditioning the battery cells. With the upgrade, with which the DS N°4 directly starts its career as an electric car, the values change only marginally. As in the Peugeot e-408, the battery now has a net capacity of 58 kWh and can be charged with a maximum of 120 kW. Finally, it is also possible to control the temperature of the battery. As with Hyundai, this is not only possible via the navigation system or manually in the car, but even remotely via the app. Stellantis has also limited the charge level to 80 percent to conserve the battery.
It should take around 30 minutes to charge the battery from 20 to 80 percent. It is promised that 100 km can be recharged in 11 minutes. A brief recalculation of the average charging performance shows that Stellantis is not applying for technological leadership. 60 percent of 58.3 kWh is just under 35 kWh. In the window between 20 and 80 percent, the average charging capacity is therefore around 70 kW – mind you: under ideal conditions.
DS N°4 außen (7 Bilder)
DS
)No recommendation for very long distances
Despite a promised range of 450 km, this drivetrain is unquestionably not a recommendation for very long distances on the highway. Restrained drivers may manage to get close to a range of 300 km in the first section with a fully charged battery. However, this is followed by a break of around 30 minutes every 200 km. The question is whether and, if so, how often such a scenario plays a role in your own driving profile. This is because long-distance driving is often the focus of discussion, but it is rarely if ever actually needed in an average driving profile –.
Stellantis has significantly increased the power output of the drive. Previously, the maximum was 115 kW and 270 Nm, but now the driver has access to up to 156 kW and 343 Nm. Front-wheel drive remains, as it must still be possible to install combustion engines on this platform. The base model in the DS N°4 will be a mild hybrid with 107 kW, which is already available in various Group models. A 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine will be paired with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission and a 21 kW engine.
Plug-in hybrid remains single-phase
The plug-in hybrid will be even more powerful than the electric drive. The petrol engine delivers 132 kW, the electric motor 81 kW, the system output is 165 kW and the maximum torque in the combination is 360 Nm. The battery, range and charging performance are rather sluggish. With an energy content of 14.6 kWh, up to 81 km should be possible in the cycle. In practice, the annual average is likely to be between 50 and 60 km, provided the driver is not in too much of a hurry. A 3.7 kW charger is fitted as standard. The impertinence of continuing to charge extra for increasing the charging capacity to 7.4 kW will continue. The customer willing to pay should be aware beforehand that even with this extra, the charging power generally only increases at public charging infrastructure, as the charger remains single-phase. The charging power does not change on the standard three-phase 11 kW wallbox.
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Two lines
Stellantis has also streamlined the range structure. Customers can choose between the two equipment lines, “Pallas” and “Étoile”, each of which can be upgraded with two packages. Four individual extras remain: trailer coupling, sunroof, electrically operated tailgate and the roof color Perla Nera Black. The manufacturer has not yet announced any prices, but this is likely to change quickly. The car can be ordered from June and deliveries are scheduled to start in September around the IAA.
DS N°4 Innenraum (3 Bilder)
(Bild:
DS
)Of course, the facelift does not change the core of the car. The DS N°4 is 4.4 m long and 1.87 m wide, making it slightly larger than a VW ID.3, for example. The wheelbase measures 2.67 m. There are greater differences between the drives in terms of trunk volume. The mild hybrid has 430 liters, the PHEV 390 and the electric car 360. In relation to the external dimensions, these are rather average values. As before, customers can also have their seats massaged, but the option of seat ventilation is new. With details such as these and an already very lavish basic specification, the idea of an elegant compact is set to become more popular in the future.
(mfz)