DS AUTOMOBILES IS INTRODUCING THE BRAND-NEW PRESIDENTIAL N°8 AT RÉVÉLATIONS, THE BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL CRAFT AND DESIGN SHOW

• Seventy years ago, the world first saw the DS under the glass dome of the Grand Palais in Paris. In 2025, it is the turn of the PRESIDENTIAL N°8 to make its first public appearance. This unique model, was inaugurated by the President of the French Republic during the 8 May 1945 remembrance. This exclusive creation will have its world premiere at the Révélations show, from 21 to 25 May 2025.
• The refined interior of this unique N°8 combines the expertise of the LISON DE CAUNES Workshops for the straw marquetry trim, with the skill of the Maison MÉTAPHORES and Maison LOGNON for the satin and pleating of the door fabric.
• DS Automobiles has been an historic partner of the international biennial for craft and design since 2019, and the only automotive brand present at the exhibition. This year, the Brand will exhibit a retrospective from the two DS x MÉTIERS D'ART design competitions it organised in 2021 and 2023. Lyse Drouaine, the last winner, will be honoured by showing her latest creation.

PRESIDENTIAL N°8 COMBINES FRENCH EXPERTISE AND TECHNOLOGY

A unique design based on expertise and technology to embody the Art of Travel, PRESIDENTIAL DS N°8 was created with the help of several French craftspeople and partners.

Unique livery

Visitors to the Révélations Show will see PRESIDENTIAL N°8 in a world premiere on the DS Automobiles stand located in the middle of the Grand Palais.

A Saphir Blue colour, specially developed for the Elysée Palace’s vehicles, adorns PRESIDENTIAL N°8, while its DS LUMINASCREEN grille, a part of the N°8 identity, lights up in Blue, White and Red. Flag holders are located on the front bumpers and exclusive tricolour badges finish the bonnet and bootlid.

An interior that bears witness to the expertise of craft and art houses

PRESIDENTIAL N°8 replicates the expertise of the craft and art houses in a unique model, in the spirit of the DS x MÉTIERS D'ART design competition and the Brand's recent concept cars.

The LISON DE CAUNES Workshops created the rye straw marquetry trim on PRESIDENTIAL N°8’s dashboard, doors and speakers. The sea green and midnight blue shades form fan patterns, which play with the light. Lison de Caunes creates unique marquetry through crafting each straw strand by hand at its workshop in Paris’ 6^th arrondissement.

"We engineered different expertise to get the final part in pleated fabric that finishes off PRESIDENTIAL N°8’s interior. The satin was woven by Maison MÉTAPHORES, its pleating is the result of the craftspeople at Maison LOGNON, and the final covering of the door panels was carried out by our DS DESIGN STUDIO upholsterers.”

Vincent Lobry – Head of Colour, Materials and Finishes Design, DS Automobiles

The Songe Blue satin that covers PRESIDENTIAL N°8’s door panels is made from Verel de Belval fabrics (a silk factory from Lyon). It was selected by Maison MÉTAPHORES, located in Paris, Bussières (42) and Challes (72). The company is part of the Hermès group’s textile branch.

The unique pleating of the satin was done by the Maison LOGNON workshop. This unique pleated pattern that evokes the sun's rays was achieved with a cardboard mould technique. Maison LOGNON is in the 19M in Paris, a mecca for crafts, fashion and ornamentation.

The DS DESIGN STUDIO master upholsterers, whose workshop is located in the Paris region, have designed the cladding and sheathing of the areas where the pleated satin textile features on PRESIDENTIAL N°8’s door panels. They also embroidered the French Republic’s coat of arms on the centre console.

PRESIDENTIAL N°8 uses markers from the interiors of production DS models. These innovations come from research by the studio's upholsterers. The seats are covered in Eternal Blue Alcantara® and leather with a watchstrap pattern. Pearl stitching features on the door panels and dashboard.

French technology

Coachbuilder CENTIGON, manufacturer of armoured vehicles and based in Lamballe (22), has put its expertise into PRESIDENTIAL N°8 to make it suitable for use by the President of the Republic.

The 100% electric powertrain is manufactured in France. The batteries are supplied by ACC (Automotive Cells Company) in the Gigafactory located in Billy Berclau Douvrin (62). On N°8, their record range goes up to 750 kilometres. The electric motor delivering up to 350 hp is produced by EMotors in Tremery (57).

N°8’s special audio system was produced by FOCAL, a long-standing DS Automobiles partner. The company based in Saint Etienne (42) is well known in the acoustics world for its high-quality audio systems, it has been a member of the Colbert committee since 2024.

All this technology is in aid of serenity and comfort on board PRESIDENTIAL N°8.

DS AUTOMOBILES AT THE 2025 RÉVÉLATIONS SHOW

The stand hosting PRESIDENTIAL DS N°8 at the Révélations Show will also highlight the strong relationship that DS has with craftspeople. The public will see this through the creations exhibited on the stand.

The DS x MÉTIERS D’ART exhibition

The DS x MÉTIERS D'ART design competition, organised by DS Automobiles in 2021 and 2023, seeks craftspeople through a technical challenge. This approach strengthens the Brand’s links, standing for French expertise, with the best national, established professional or emerging craftspeople. This competition inspires the creativity of the DS DESIGN STUDIO’s Colours, Materials and Finishes designers.

This year, the DS Automobiles exhibition area at the Grand Palais will showcase a retrospective of the first two DS x MÉTIERS D'ART. The public will be able to appreciate photos of the original designs from the 19 chosen candidates.

Lyse Drouaine, winner in 2023, will exhibit her latest work.

The theme of the second competition, called DS LUMEN, asked craftspeople to design light effects through the grille of a 100% electric DS 3 E-TENSE. The artist distinguished herself with a backlit grille woven in fibre optics.

The first DS x MÉTIERS D'ART crowned Anne Lopez in 2022. The artist had created an engraved stucco trim enhanced with gold leaf that catches the light, to cloak the interior of a unique DS 9.

DS Automobiles: Révélations show partner

Back at the Grand Palais this year, the international biennial of craft and design is a favoured occasion for DS Automobiles to exhibit its unique expertise and to increase contacts with artists and craftspeople.

With the exhibition of PRESIDENTIAL N°8, its latest design, the Brand is carrying on the tradition. In 2023, DS Automobiles revealed its M.i. 21 Interior Manifesto to the public, following the DS AERO SPORT LOUNGE in 2022 and DS X E-TENSE in 2019 concept cars. Since then, DS Automobiles has included Révélations on the list of its must-do events.

DS Automobiles has specialised in including brand-new expertise on its production models and concept cars since its creation in 2014. This is evidenced by the work on leather, fabrics and stitching, the incorporation of unexpected materials such as feathers or straw marquetry, or the distinctive treatment of trim through guilloche with the Clous de Paris embossed pattern.

This expertise is being displayed from Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 May.

THREE QUESTIONS TO THIERRY METROZ – Design Director, DS Automobiles

What part of the design of PRESIDENTIAL N°8 are you proudest of?

“The interior design of PRESIDENTIAL N°8, with its exclusive finish, is the most striking element. This work is the result of some very good collaborations.

Lison de Caunes has created magnificent trim in straw marquetry, with a fan pattern reminiscent of the Decorative Arts, handled in a contemporary way. Straw, which is a basic and natural material, is enhanced here by expertise. The use of sustainable and high-quality materials – SustainNoble – is our philosophy.

The pleated satin door panels are another exceptional feature, made by Maison LOGNON, which is an international benchmark in the world of high fashion. I salute our master upholsterers who have covered the pleated satin on the door panels, but also all the special accessories such as the grab bar or the handles on the backs of the front seats.”

Why did you choose to introduce PRESIDENTIAL N°8 at Révélations?

"The Révélations show speaks to us a great deal: we have been partners since 2019, because it highlights the excellence of French savoir-faire, craftspeople and art professionals. Exhibiting PRESIDENTIAL N°8 is an opportunity to promote French excellence throughout the world.

This show is a great showcase for our concept cars, but also for the DS x MÉTIERS D'ART design competition. This makes it possible to discover future talent and special French artists and craftspeople.”

Is this very special N°8 a prelude to the interior of a future version?

“The treatment of the interior is reserved exclusively for PRESIDENTIAL N°8. It allows us to feed our creativity, while preparing other types of exceptional finishes at the same time. These could see the light of day on future limited editions, which will be launched in the coming months.”