DS 7 Crossback gains second plug-in hybrid engine

DS Automobiles has confirmed a second E-Tense plug-in hybrid powertrain will be offered on the DS 7 Crossback.

As in other PSA Group models, the DS 7 will be available with a 225PS front-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid engine.

It will sit alongside the existing flagship E-Tense 4x4 version, which serves up 300PS and has all-wheel-drive.

Prices are yet to be released, but the new model should be cheaper than the £47,670 E-Tense 4x4.

The DS 7 Crossback E-Tense 225 has a 180PS petrol engine with 300Nm of torque, boosted by a 110 horsepower electric motor fitted straight to the eight-speed automatic gearbox.

At start-up only the electric motor is used, enabling zero emissions mode driving up to 84mph. The driver can then choose hybrid mode which optimises energy use, or sport mode which summons all the available power (225 horsepower and 360Nm combined).

The 13.2kWh battery, located beneath the floor has a range of up to 34 miles (WLTP) in electric mode.

CO2 emissions are between 31 and 36g/km and fuel consumption is between 176.6 – 201.8 mpg. Using the petrol engine only, DS says fuel consumption is between  43.5 – 46.3 mpg.

The battery can be recharged in 1h45m using a 7.4kW charger.

As standard the DS 7 Crossback E-Tense 225 has DS Active Scan Suspension, which uses a camera behind the windscreen as well as four attitude sensors and three accelerometers to analyse the kind of road and conditions and make constant adjustments to the suspension.

The new E-Tense 225 will be available across all trim levels and comes with 19-inch alloy wheels as standard.