ahtishambuttStellanti’s French luxury brand DS has unveiled the E-Tense Performance concept, a fully electric supercar incorporating technology from Formula E. The study is an evolution of the previous DS E-Tense concept from 2016, featuring a significantly more powerful powertrain and a fresh exterior design that will inspire future models from the former Citroen subbrand.
After securing the team’s and drivers’ titles in the last two seasons of Formula E, DS Performance took the electric powertrain of its single-seaters and fitted it on the carbon monocoque of the prototype.
Dual electric motors are good for a combined 805 hp (600 kW / 815 PS) – divided to 335 hp (250 kW / 340 PS) on the front axle, and 469 hp (350 kW / 476 PS) at the rear. More impressive is the system’s maximum torque figure that stands at a colossal 8,000 Nm (5,900 lb-ft) at the wheels – not the motor’s exit. This means the E-Tense Performance is twice as powerful with sixteen times the peak torque figure compared to the single-motor rear-wheel-drive E-Tense.
See Also: DS 9 Plug-In Hybrid Gets More EV Range Thanks To New E-Tense 250 Trim
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The race-inspired battery with carbon-aluminum composite housing mounted in a central-rear position for optimum weight distribution has “an innovative chemistry and an immersive cooling system for cells”, according to the company. At the same time, it allows a regeneration capacity of 600 kW, making the traditional braking system with discs and pads obsolete – although it is still there for safety reasons. According to the French brand, the suspension geometry is designed to offer the best possible grip on bumpy roads and all weather conditions.
While hinting at a blistering-fast 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of 2 seconds, DS will officially announce the performance figures of the concept car after the development is finalized. Professional drivers and Formula E champions Jean-Éric Vergne and Antonio Felix da Costa will sit behind the wheel of the DS E-Tense Performance starting from this month, in order to test its true potential.
Facelifts are not only for production models
The DS E-Tense Performance retains the silhouette of its predecessor however it gets a new face. The simpler and more angular LED graphics combined with headlight-mounted cameras and a digital grille, will likely be featured in future production models, while the new bonnet has different vents and a dual-tone treatment (beetle-effect exterior color with gloss-black accents) that continues throughout the entire body.
The profile looks pretty similar, besides the graphics and the more aerodynamic 21-inch wheels. The back also remains largely the same with futuristic LEDs, a massive diffuser, and a Formula-inspired brake light, while benefiting from the black-themed graphics and the E logo on the windscreen-less rear deck. DS didn’t give us photos of the interior but said that it features bucket seats, a Formula E steering wheel, data collecting equipment, a Focal Utopia sound system, and black leather trim inserts.
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