We knew this was coming, the DS 7 Crossback, the posh French urban SUV that will headline the DS range of vehicles. Ahead of its planned premiere at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show - now just a few days away - new information as well as plenty of pictures detail this new car.
For those unfamiliar with DS, it used to be a model designation under . Though, recently parent company PSA split the two, with DS now spun as an independent and positioned as a more luxury-focused brand.
DS’ rollout over the next few years to establish itself as strong presence in the upmarket segment starts in earnest with this DS 7 Crossback, taking a bite into the lucrative SUV market first before moving into large saloon and medium-sized hatch also said to be in the works.
Once the ripples have settled after its eventual on-stage debut in Geneva, the DS 7 is slated to go into production in late 2017 and deliveries starting in early 2018, going against such rivals as the Lexus NX, BMW X1, and Audi Q5. On looks alone DS seems to have quite the advantage already, with a sophisticated blend of graceful lines and more aggressive accents. The full LED headlights, in particular, look brilliant.
Inside, though, is where the car impresses the most. A sleekly curved dashboard is quite light on buttons but adorned with leather and very expensive looking metal accent materials. The large widescreen touch infotainment unit dominates the centre console, and the instrument cluster itself looks to be yet another large digital panel. Sound is to be taken well cared of by speak array developed by Focal Audio.
The seats are, of course, leather and available in a variety of shades. They also look very comfortable as with their deconstructed motif to the cushioning pieces. How it all comes together in the real world, though, is something we can only answer once the car is launched.
Under the bonnet we shall find the usual array of PSA petrol and diesel turbocharged motors. The 1.2-litre three-cylinder makes an appearance as well as a 1.5-litre diesel, both paired to an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual. As far as we know, drive will be sent exclusively frontward, and no plans are forthcoming for a mechanical all-wheel drive version down the road, though a later hybrid version should be able to able to power the rear axle.
To ensure a smooth ride, the DS 7 will be fitted with adjustable dampers, though it is augmented by a camera system that detects the road ahead and can compensate for imperfections as they approach, theoretically making the resulting impact less susceptible to occupants. This approach may or may not be able to match the excellent comfort achieved by Citroens of the past and their hydraulic suspension systems.
For more on Citroen and DS vehicles, check out our Showroom.
