2025 DS 8 Crossback Spied Flaunting Watered-Down Aero Sport Lounge Concept Styling Cues

Revealed in February 2020, the unashamedly quirky concept rocks a pair of rear suicide doors, a techy interior, a 110-kWh battery pack with more than 650 kilometers (400 miles) of range to its name, and no fewer than 671 horsepower. As you might have guessed by now, the aforementioned stuff isn't going to see the light of series production.

Way more conventional than said concept, a production-intent prototype of the DS 8 Crossback shows flush door handles, really slim rear lights, a pair of slim headlights, and some vertical LED strips under them. Equipped with a closed upper grille, this fellow also comes with a rather strange X-motif steering wheel. The carparazzi managed to capture a pic of the cockpit, which shows DS Automobiles on the lowermost part of the steering wheel and touch controls to the sides of the wheel's airbag cover.

Obviously equipped with a large touchscreen infotainment system and a digital instrument cluster, the halo battery-electric vehicle features a floating center console with a rhombus-like motif that would make rival automaker Renault proud. Rather than a luxury brand, Renault has the Alpine subsidiary, which combines sportiness with premium touches. Renault's F1 team became known as Alpine for the 2021 season, back when Alpine had only the A110 berlinetta to show for itself.

Based on the STLA Medium platform, the zero-emission sedanover will replace the China-built DS 9 sedan. The Stellantis-developed architecture underpins the Peugeot e-3008 and roomier e-5008. Soon enough, the Jeep brand will deploy the STLA Medium in the Compass.

Detailed in July 2023, said platform targets a best-in-class electric driving range of more than 700 kilometers (435 miles) in the WLTP. Also compatible with transverse-mounted internal combustion engines, the STLA Medium uses a 400-volt electric architecture. Stellantis further confirmed front- and all-wheel-drive solutions, with outputs ranging from 160 to 285 kW.

DS 8 Crossback is expected to feature both, with 160 kilowatts converting to 214 horsepower and 285 kilowatts to 382 horsepower. By comparison, the Peugeot e-3008 doesn't go higher than 240 kW or 322 hp, whereas driving range tops 700 kilometers (430 miles) with front-wheel drive.

To be manufactured at the Melfi plant in Italy rather than Sochaux in France, the DS 8 Crossback is presently referred to as project D85. The French brand has yet to confirm the DS 8 Crossback moniker. The Melfi plant is also gearing up for the European-spec Jeep Compass EV, along with electric vehicles from Lancia, Opel, and sister brand Vauxhall. The Compass EV for North America will be made in Canada.

DS 8 Crossback also happens to be a turning point for DS because everything from here on in will be 100% electric. In other words, DS could very well become the first Stellantis brand to drop internal combustion in favor of battery-electric setups.