DS has revealed details for its new executive saloon, which brings the fight to the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Priced from £40,615 and open for orders from tomorrow (8 April 2021), the brand’s new flagship model is based on a new version of the EMP2 (Efficient Modular Platform 2) platform developed by Groupe PSA and with a longer wheelbase not used with a saloon car before – bringing increased rear passenger space.

It features sleek French styling expected to be a key selling point compared to its rivals and incorporating the DS Automobiles design language, including the DS wings. It also pays homage to the original 1955 DS saloon with various styling cues.

The launch engine line-up will include a 225hp PureTech petrol and a 225hp E-Tense-branded plug-in hybrid, both front-wheel drive and with an eight-speed auto. Emissions stand at 155g/km for the petrol and from 33g/km for the plug-in hybrid. The PHEV uses a 110hp electric motor, capable of driving in zero emissions mode up to 84mph and for up to 33-34 miles, putting it in the 11% Benefit-in-Kind bracket. The 7.4kW on-board charger enables the 11.9kWh battery to be charged in 1.5 hours.

A second 360hp plug-in hybrid will arrive later with intelligent four-wheel drive capability and carrying over the eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Two trims are being offered: the Performance Line + and the higher Rivoli +, both available with the two launch powertrains. The PureTech 225hp petrol is priced from £40,615 for the Performance Line + and £44,715 for the Rivoli +, while the E-Tense 225 PHEV starts from £46,100 and £49,200 respectively.

Equipment and design features place focus on French luxury and include a dashboard completely swathed in nappa leather, crystal-shaped touch-sensitive buttons, hand-stitched leather door panel inserts, crystal-shaped touch-sensitive controls, and a 180-degree rotating B.R.M timepiece on top of the dashboard.

Technology includes a 14-speaker Focal Electra sound system, specially developed for DS 9, and a range of driver assistance features, including Level 2 semi-autonomous driving functions and Park Pilot.