DS Automobiles DS 9
DS Automobiles
Photo: Dinkun Chen / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
DS 9: The Presidential Flagship Sedan
The DS 9 is DS Automobiles's flagship executive sedan, a Napoleon-and-Josephine inspired design chosen as a French state vehicle.
The DS 9 sits at the top of the DS Automobiles range as its largest and most luxurious model, a full-size executive sedan built to challenge cars like the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Its exterior and cabin draw on a design theme inspired by Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress Josephine, a distinctly French historical reference that sets the DS 9 apart from the more understated flagships offered by German rivals.
The DS 9 gained particular notoriety as a vehicle used in French presidential and state functions, cementing its role as the automotive symbol of national prestige for the DS brand. That ceremonial use reinforced the marque's broader positioning as a purveyor of French luxury craftsmanship rather than a simple badge-engineered alternative to established players.
Power comes from DS's E-Tense plug-in hybrid system, giving the DS 9 both strong combined output and meaningful electric-only range for daily driving. Inside, buyers find Nappa leather upholstery, active noise cancellation, and the brand's signature watch-inspired trim details, all aimed at delivering a quiet, first-class executive experience.