New DS electric SUV coming soon with Tesla-beating 466-mile range

• New electric coupe-SUV
• Up to 466 miles of range
• Full reveal before the end of the year

French car maker DS is about to take aim at its German rivals with an all-new electric SUV. Shown off in these pictures in camouflage, the new model will be revealed before the year is up, arriving with cutting-edge EV tech and a focus on aerodynamic design.

DS has never been a huge seller in the UK. It’s positioned as the premium brand in the Stellantis stable, which also includes Citroen, Peugeot, Jeep, Vauxhall and more. Its current crop of cars, while stylish, have never quite been able to lure buyers out of their BMWs, Audis and Mercedes, but if this new electric model’s promised 466-mile range holds true, it could have a serious edge over the competition.

What do we know so far about the new DS electric SUV?

The new DS electric SUV is still technically under wraps, but the Formula E-inspired camouflage can’t hide its coupe-SUV proportions. Its shape looks similar to the Ford Capri, Skoda Enyaq Coupe and Volkswagen ID.5, with a raised ride height and a roofline that dramatically slopes down at the rear.

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That sleek design isn’t just for style. DS claims it’s honed its SUVs shape in the pursuit of better aerodynamics. Essentially, a slippery design can cut through the air more efficiently, helping to improve range. By lowering the bonnet and moving the windscreen rearward, DS has been able to hit that impressive 466-mile range figure, making it one of the longest-range EVs around.

Some clever active air intakes on the front bumper help to improve air flow, too, and the result is a drag coefficient of just 0.24. For context, the Volkswagen ID.5 is rated at 0.26 – the lower the number, the better.

The lights take on a new design for DS, as well. Vertical daytime-running lights sit perpendicular to the main units, named ‘DS Pixelvision’. The tail-lights are a similar shape, dropping down the rear bumper at either corner.

Full technical details will be confirmed in due course. For now, all we have is the range figure, which looks to blow other electric SUVs out of the water. The new Peugeot E-3008 comes close, with a range of 435 miles, which leads us to believe that the two cars could share the same platform. If that’s the case, then the new DS could be offered in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive guises, with battery sizes of 73kWh or 98kWh. Either way, 466 miles is a whole lot further than the best Tesla Model Y can manage. That car tops out at 373 miles.

Read more about the current DS flagship SUV, the DS7…