DS Automobiles is bringing three examples of its new N°7 SUV to the 2026 Paris Motor Show. The French manufacturer is also giving visitors the opportunity to book a test drive, turning the exhibition into an early introduction to the model’s commercial launch.
The N°7 will share the stand with the electric N°8, the N°4 and a special DS 3 Maison Sarah Lavoine. Together, the four models will give visitors a fairly complete picture of where DS is heading with its latest range.
The N°7 is particularly important because it enters a segment where customers have plenty of established alternatives. Buyers looking for a premium family SUV can already choose between numerous German, Swedish and Japanese models. Convincing them to consider a DS requires more than an attractive exterior.
The company hopes its approach to French craftsmanship will make a difference.
At the Paris exhibition, DS will demonstrate some of the techniques used in creating its interiors. A master saddler will work in front of visitors, showing how traditional upholstery skills are applied to modern vehicles.
Original design sketches will also be displayed. These should offer a closer look at how the company’s designers develop an idea before it becomes part of a production car.
It’s an unusual way to present a new SUV, particularly at an event where manufacturers normally concentrate on performance figures and technology.
But it fits the image DS has been developing for years.
The brand has consistently placed considerable emphasis on materials, stitching and interior decoration. Its challenge has been translating those details into a convincing alternative to more familiar luxury cars.
The N°7 gives DS another opportunity to make that argument.
Having three examples on display should also allow visitors to examine the vehicle more closely, rather than relying on promotional photographs. Details such as seating comfort, visibility and the quality of interior materials are much easier to judge in person.
DS is going a step further by offering test drives during the show. That’s particularly relevant for a premium SUV, where refinement and ride comfort can influence a purchasing decision as much as the equipment list.
The larger N°8 will provide another point of comparison. As the brand’s electric flagship, it represents a different part of the range, but both vehicles share DS’s latest design direction.
Visitors will also get a preview of what might come next.
DS plans to reveal an exploratory concept at the exhibition. The company describes it as a look at its future design ambitions, rather than another production model ready to enter showrooms.
The 2026 Paris Motor Show opens to the public on October 13, following the press activities on October 12.
For anyone considering the N°7, the event offers something more useful than another collection of official photographs. They’ll be able to sit inside the SUV, examine its details and, potentially, drive it before making a decision.
That’s a sensible way to introduce a premium vehicle whose appeal depends heavily on the experience it delivers in person.
Stay tuned for more info and photos from the 2026 Paris Motor Show.
