DS continues to work on the E-Tense Performance. A small series electric supercar reserved for circuit use, derived from this prototype, could be considered. But the road is still long. The argus reveals the secrets of the project to you.
By
MaxK
Published on
The argus was able to try out the DS E-Tense Performance prototype at the end of April.
Gregory Lenormand / DPPI
Last February, just after the presentation of the DS E-Tense Performance electric supercar prototype, Thierry Métroz, DS style director, told us: “ To have a supercar or hypercar of this type one day is a dream that we all have. Béatrice Foucher, the boss of the DS brand, really wants to do it. (…) It is something that we are planning, not quite immediately, but it remains one of our future ambitions and an extremely strong objective for all of us. “Then at the beginning of May, we were able to get behind the wheel of the car. As experimental as it is, this sport was well made to drive. Even more recently, on the sidelines of the last London E-Prix, Béatrice Foucher once again echoed this view with our British colleagues fromCoach. » Sports cars don’t fit the positioning of the brand, but when everyone saw the prototype we thought ‘ok, it would be nice if we produced one, or sold such a car’, however the decision has not yet been taken “, she said. DS is seriously studying the marketing of a (small) series E-Tense Performance.
Long-studied marketing
The DS E-Tense Performance is an evolution of the 2016 E-Tense concept, which was itself based on the French electric sports car Exagon Furtive eGT. According to our information, DS had already carried out a feasibility study at the time, and Exagon could have taken over the production. Exagon has closed shop in the meantime and the underside of the DS coupé is now the same as that of the single-seaters that the premium subsidiary of Stellantis enters in Formula E. All parts of the car that are not seen are Formula E parts », summed up Thomas Chevaucher, director of DS Performance, last winter. From a propulsion of 400 hp shooting down the 0 to 100 km / h in 4.5 s, the car had become an 816 hp supercar with all-wheel drive theoretically capable of overcoming this exercise in 2 s. Its low battery capacity (25 kWh) is compensated by a braking energy recovery of up to 600 kW, enough to offer 250 km of autonomy according to DS estimates, while limiting the weight of the vehicle to 1,200 kg.
A Formula E in street clothes
» If we decide (to produce it, Editor’s note), we will incorporate Formula E technology, which means that it will not be possible to homologate it for road use, so it will be a track-only car, and if we produce a circuit car, it is in very small quantity, with very high cost and price “says Béatrice Foucher to journalists across the Channel. According to our sources, at the time of the collaboration with Exagon, a sale price of around €100,000 could be envisaged. This amount would have to be revised significantly upwards if the project were to materialize on the basis of the E-Tense Performance in its latest version.
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The E-Tense Performance offers 600 kW or approximately 816 hp.
DS
And it wouldn’t be for now given the still experimental state of certain on-board technologies such as the battery and regenerative braking. The synergies within the Stellantis group could however weigh favorably in the balance. « Obviously, what we design in terms of technology, in general, is suitable for all premium brands (of the group, editor’s note) », indicated the person in charge in the columns ofCoach. And to repeat: I don’t know if there is a good equation but everyone liked the car, which is positive for us, so we will see. »
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The powertrain of the E-Tense Performance comes from the FE.
DS
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