The French government and the Stellantis premium brand DS Automobiles have officially presented the DS7 Crossback Élysée. The armored luxury SUV is now part of Emmanuel Macron's fleet and drives the President to his appointments.
While other important heads of state like Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin travel in massive limousines like the Cadillac The Beast and the Aurus Senate , Emmanuel Macron prefers to cruise the streets in a high seat. DS7 Crossback Élysée is the name of the luxury SUV in which the French President has recently been chauffeured. République and DS Automobiles recently presented the model at a ceremony to commemorate the armistice of 11 November 1918 in World War I.
Does the French state car look familiar to you? Well, it would be weird if not. After all, the Élysée is based on the DS7 Crossback E-Tense 4x4 300. What the latter obviously doesn't have: additional built-in armour, presidential special equipment and the extended chassis of the state body, which comes with a classy finish in Encre Blue Metallic. Otherwise, the DS7 Crossback Élysée is identified by blue and red flashing lights on the front. Removable flag holders are attached to the front fenders. Badges with the abbreviation RF (for République Française) and small France emblems can be found on the bonnet, on the front doors and on the trunk. In addition, the state carriage reveals itself with the special 20-inch wheels and a shark fin antenna for the special telecommunications system.
Comfort en masse in the mobile office
Compared to the conventional DS7 Crossback E-Tense, the total length of the Élysée increases from 4.57 to 4.79 meters. The wheelbase has been extended by 20 centimeters to 2.94 meters. The width remains the same at 1.91 meters, as does the height at 1.62 meters. In practice, Macron enjoys a total of 545 millimeters of legroom in the rear. So there's enough space to work with a laptop and the like when you're on the go. Instead of a continuous rear seat, the armored SUV spoils the president and another rear occupant with two individual seats separated by armrests. Practical features such as wireless charging options, USB ports and an open, centrally placed document holder are designed to make Macron's journeys as uncomplicated as possible.
Well-known drive train
In terms of motorization and co., there are no changes compared to the conventional DS7 Crossback E-Tense 4x4 300. The armored crossover has the same plug-in hybrid drive train as its model father - which consists of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and two 110 hp electric motors together with a 13.2 kWh battery pack . The all-wheel drive vehicle has a cumulative system output of 300 hp and 520 Newton meters of torque.
Conclusion
France's government and DS presented the DS7 Crossback Élysée as part of state celebrations, in which President Macron will be chauffeured from now on. It is clear that the SUV therefore appears quite classy and is stuffed with all sorts of special equipment. There is also an extended wheelbase, but the drive technology remains in the standard state.
