The DS brand was officially launched at last year’s Geneva motor show, and this year it has presented its most exciting concept vehicle yet, the E-Tense.
As the name suggests, the E-Tense is an electric vehicle, but far from a homely supermini concept the E-Tense is the French brand’s vision of a high-performance, all-electric GT.
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The company says its concept ‘perfectly encapsulates the brand’s stylistic and technological vision’, with the usual implication that features you see here may well find their way into a production car – though a full electric sports car is unlikely.
E-Tense uses a 397bhp electric drivetrain, which also produces 381lb ft of torque, though no performance (nor range) figures have been confirmed.
Styling though is very much of the current DS design language, with the brand’s signature chrome wings flanking a wide, deep grille, flowing curves, and intricate forms to the wheels, lights and minor details.
The cabin too has some familiar aspects, with a diamond-shaped theme not dissimilar to that found in the Divine DS concept launched in 2014.
Interior architecture isn’t quite as dramatic as that car, without the wide sweep of leather spanning the dashboard, but the car’s electric powertrain is indicated by high-tech displays both on the centre stack and in front of the driver. The concept’s green paintwork is continued inside the car, though the unusual shapes do give the cabin a slightly disconcerting reptilian vibe.
The electric vehicle decision is an easy one given the brand’s connection to the Formula E series. Given that the company is keen to present its future performance models as GTs rather than track-ready specials, the E-Tense would – in theory – fit well into the DS range.
As such, it sits alongside the recently-revised DS3 and DS3 Cabrio on the firm’s stand, as well as the DS4, DS4 Crossback and DS4.
Keep up to date with other launches and news from the 2016 Geneva motor show on our hub page.
