France's new presidential car is a bespoke, armoured, electric DS N°7
On Bastille Day, France gives its President a very French EV
What better day than the 14th of July to reveal a new presidential state car? As the traditional Bastille Day parade rolls through Paris, the French President has a striking new ride: the DS N°7 Élysée, a bespoke, fully armoured, all-electric version of a car we have always felt is criminally underrated.
A state car built around the President
The N°7 Élysée is no ordinary DS. Its chassis has been lengthened by 25 centimetres to create a far more spacious rear cabin, completely redesigned as a mobile office for the head of state. There is exclusive oleo-pneumatic suspension developed in France, tinted rear side windows with adjustable darkening, removable flag holders and dedicated signal lighting, all the details you would expect of a car built to carry a president.
Fully armoured, fully electric
Security is paramount, so the car features full integral armouring built to the Presidency's specifications, along with comprehensive onboard safety equipment. What makes it especially notable is that it does all this while being 100% electric. The E-TENSE powertrain uses dual motors for all-wheel drive, producing 350 hp, fed by a 97.2 kWh battery, for silent, comfort-focused progress. A silent, zero-emissions presidential limousine is a genuine statement of intent from France.
A showcase of French craftsmanship
This is where the N°7 Élysée really shines. It wears an exclusive Bleu Liberté paint, and the cabin is a celebration of French savoir-faire: Alcantara and Nappa leather, an ash wood dashboard with a laser-engraved Marianne motif, guilloché detailing on the vents and steering wheel, RF embroidery and tricolore accents finished with pearl-stitching. It is exactly the kind of patriotic, hand-finished luxury the DS brand was created to deliver.
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We have long argued that the standard DS N°7 is one of Europe's most underrated luxury cars, so seeing DS entrusted with the French President's official state car feels like proper vindication. Choosing a home-grown, fully electric, beautifully hand-trimmed DS over the usual German limousine is a lovely bit of national pride, and it puts DS on exactly the stage it deserves.
Unveiling it on Bastille Day is the perfect touch, and it fits a broader French EV resurgence, from hits like the electric Renault 4 and 5 to this presidential flagship. Vive la France, and vive the wonderfully underrated DS. We would happily take one, armour optional.
