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DS No7 Prototype Previews a Sharper, Electric Reset for France’s Luxury Brand

DS Automobiles has never been shy about zigging where the premium crowd zags, and with the upcoming No7 electric SUV, the French brand appears ready to double down on that contrarian streak—this time with a battery pack and a glow-up. Thanks to design boss Thierry Métroz, we’ve now got our clearest look yet at the DS No7, the all-electric successor to the current DS 7, and it’s shaping up to be less baroque curiosity and more polished provocation.

First, the name. The No7 follows DS’s new numerical naming convention, slotting neatly between the smaller No4 and the larger No8 flagship. It’s tidy, minimalist, and very French—at least philosophically. In the metal, though, the No7 still promises the kind of visual drama that makes German rivals look like they were designed by committee.

Set to debut later this year, the No7 is expected to start at around £45,000, placing it squarely in the firing line of the Audi Q4 e-tron and BMW iX1. It also has its sights on the Tesla Model Y, the default choice for anyone who wants an electric SUV with range, space, and a Silicon Valley attitude. DS’s counterpunch? Style, materials, and a sense of occasion Tesla still hasn’t quite figured out.

Metroz’s social-media teaser shows the No7 wrapped in a distinctive camouflage that does more to reveal than conceal. As expected for an EV, there’s no traditional grille, but DS hasn’t gone full appliance either. The blanked-off front panel echoes the look of the No4 and No8, and odds are good it’ll be illuminated, with the DS badge glowing proudly at the center. Slim LED headlights and sharply cut daytime running lights give the nose a technical, almost concept-car edge—less cute than the old DS 7, and more confident for it.

Step back, and the No7’s bodywork looks noticeably cleaner than its predecessor’s. The previous car flirted heavily with ornamentation; this one dials things back in favor of crisp lines and proportion. Gloss-black lower body sections contrast with the paintwork, visually shrinking the mass and offsetting the large wheels and tall glasshouse. Flush front door handles and hidden rears—previously spotted on test mules—aren’t just a neat party trick; they’ll help cheat the wind and squeeze out a bit more range.

Inside is where DS typically earns its keep, and the No7 should be no exception. Expect heavy inspiration from the No8 flagship, which means a cabin that prioritizes texture and lighting over minimalist austerity. Alcantara, leather, and metal-like trim pieces are all likely, stitched together with enough ambient LED lighting to make a Parisian lounge blush. The massive 16-inch central touchscreen will carry over, along with the brand’s latest software, and while the jury’s still out on whether the divisive X-shaped steering wheel will make the cut, DS has never been afraid to challenge muscle memory.

Underneath the couture skin sits Stellantis’ new STLA-M platform, which is quickly becoming the backbone of the group’s mid-size offerings. You’ll find variations of it under the Citroën C5 Aircross, Peugeot 3008, and Vauxhall Grandland—but here’s the twist: the DS No7 will go fully electric, full stop. No mild hybrids. No plug-ins. Just electrons.

Battery options are expected to mirror those seen elsewhere in the Stellantis lineup, with packs around 73 kWh and 98 kWh. A single front-mounted motor should handle base duties, while a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup will likely crown the range. Official performance figures haven’t been released, but expect competitive acceleration rather than neck-snapping theatrics—DS has always leaned more toward grand touring than drag racing.

The real question is whether the No7 can carve out meaningful space in a segment that’s rapidly filling up with competent, if somewhat anonymous, electric SUVs. On paper, the ingredients are all there: solid range potential, modern EV architecture, and a cabin that prioritizes mood as much as megapixels. What DS brings that its rivals largely don’t is personality—sometimes polarizing, often charming, and unmistakably its own.

If the finished product drives as well as it dresses, the DS No7 could be more than just a stylish alternative to the usual suspects. It could be proof that the electric future doesn’t have to look—or feel—so predictable.

Source: Autocar

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FIAT QUBO L: The Family Hauler That Thinks It’s a Swiss Army Knife

FIAT has never been shy about building small cars with big ideas, and the new QUBO L doubles down on that philosophy—literally. Bigger, more flexible, and far more ambitious than its name suggests, the QUBO L is FIAT’s latest attempt to prove that family transportation doesn’t have to be dull, clumsy, or single-purpose.

Think of it as a box on wheels with a brain.

The QUBO L arrives in two sizes: a 4.40-meter five-seater and a stretched 4.75-meter seven-seater that’s clearly aimed at families who measure life in backpacks, sports bags, and weekend projects. The longer version gets three individually adjustable seats in the second row and two rail-mounted, extractable seats in the third. FIAT proudly claims 144 possible seating configurations, which sounds excessive until you realize that modern family life basically demands it.

Need cargo space? Fold the front passenger seat and you’re looking at up to three meters of loading length. Need places to stash everyone’s stuff? There are 27 storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin, because loose items are the real enemy of long road trips.

Powertrain options are equally broad, bordering on buffet-style. Diesel remains a core offering, with 100-hp and 130-hp manuals, plus a 130-hp automatic for those who prefer their torque served effortlessly. FIAT also promises up to 900 kilometers of range on a full tank, which makes the QUBO L a legitimate long-distance cruiser despite its city-friendly footprint.

Gasoline fans aren’t left out, thanks to a 110-hp petrol option, and for the electrically inclined, there’s a 136-hp EV version—available in the five-seat configuration—aimed squarely at urban duty. In other words, FIAT wants this thing to fit your lifestyle, not force you into one.

Design-wise, the QUBO L leans more clever than flashy, but it has its tricks. The “Magic Windows” glass roof isn’t just there to let light flood the cabin; it allows access to stored items from the rear without opening the tailgate. It’s the kind of detail that sounds odd on paper and brilliant in a supermarket parking lot during a rainstorm.

For drivers who occasionally venture off the smooth stuff, Extended Grip Control tweaks engine response and traction settings to better handle mud, snow, or gravel. This isn’t a crossover pretending to be rugged, but it is refreshingly honest about being useful when the road gets less than perfect.

A massive tailgate rounds out the practicality checklist, making it easy to load everything from camping gear to the inevitable mountain of family luggage. This is a vehicle designed by people who understand that real life rarely travels light.

The QUBO L will be offered in three trims—POP, ICON, and LA PRIMA—and comes in a refreshingly FIAT color palette that includes Gelato White, Cinema Black, (RED), Foresta Green, and Riviera Blue. Orders open in January 2026, with showroom arrivals planned for early 2026.

The FIAT QUBO L isn’t trying to be exciting in the traditional sense. Instead, it aims to be indispensable. And for families who value flexibility as much as horsepower, that might be the most compelling performance metric of all.

Source: Stellantis

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Maserati Grecale Cristallo: When an Alpine Peak Becomes a Paint Code

Maserati has never been shy about romance. This is a company that names cars after winds, builds engines that sound like opera, and insists—sometimes against all logic—that emotion is a measurable performance metric. With the new Grecale Cristallo Special Edition, the Trident leans fully into that worldview, distilling an Alpine mountain into a midsize luxury SUV and daring you not to feel something about it.

Cristallo takes its name from Monte Cristallo, one of the most striking peaks in the Dolomites—a place defined by light, purity, and the kind of sharp, sculptural beauty that makes architects and poets equally jealous. Maserati calls it a “conceptual matrix,” which sounds like marketing-speak until you see the car in person. Then it clicks. This isn’t just another appearance package. It’s an exercise in restraint, balance, and Italian confidence.

The headline act is the color. Azzurro Aureo is a new Fuoriserie-exclusive paint, and Maserati is proud enough of it to certify the shade with a dedicated badge on the fender. The color starts with traditional Maserati blue, then gradually cools and lightens, mimicking the way sunlight plays across snow-covered rock faces at altitude. Embedded in that blue is a fine golden mica—subtle, almost coy—that references achievement and prestige without tipping into flashiness. Think gold medal, not gold chain.

It’s the kind of color that rewards close inspection. From a distance, it reads clean and icy. Up close, it glows. In motion, it changes. That alone tells you who this car is for: someone who notices details and expects others to do the same.

The exterior enhancements stay smartly in the background. The 21-inch diamond-cut aluminum CRIO wheels bring a crisp, technical edge, while the body-color grille inserts clean up the Grecale’s face without muting its aggression. Nothing here shouts. Everything speaks fluently.

Inside, Maserati doubles down on the alpine theme. Premium Leather Ghiaccio—essentially a refined, glacier-inspired light tone—dominates the cabin, amplifying the sense of brightness and airiness. It’s a bold choice in an era obsessed with black interiors, and it works precisely because Maserati commits to it. The effect is modern, elegant, and unmistakably Italian, more Milanese atelier than ski lodge cliché.

There’s also a curated set of Maserati Original Accessories bundled into the Cristallo package. Self-leveling logo hubcaps (yes, the Trident stays upright at all times), branded valve caps, a customized courtesy light, and bespoke front floor mats might sound minor individually, but together they reinforce the idea that this edition is about coherence. Every touchpoint is considered. Every detail is intentional.

Crucially, Cristallo isn’t tied to a single powertrain. Buyers can spec the special edition across the Grecale Modena, Trofeo, and even the all-electric Folgore, meaning you don’t have to give up twin-turbo theatrics—or embrace electrons—to get the look. That flexibility feels very on-brand for a company trying to bridge tradition and future without alienating either camp.

The timing of the car’s debut adds another layer of symbolism. Maserati unveiled the Grecale Cristallo at its historic Modena plant on Viale Ciro Menotti, during stage 32 of the Olympic Torch Relay as it traveled through Italy. It’s a neat bit of narrative symmetry: a car inspired by a mountain introduced alongside a symbol of human excellence, endurance, and shared heritage, all at the birthplace of the Trident.

Is the Grecale Cristallo faster, louder, or more aggressive than the standard car? No—and that’s the point. This is a statement edition, not a spec-sheet flex. It’s Maserati reminding us that luxury doesn’t always need to shout, that beauty can be quiet, and that inspiration can come from places far above the Autobahn.

In an SUV market obsessed with size, screens, and horsepower numbers, the Grecale Cristallo stands apart by focusing on atmosphere. It’s about light. About texture. About the way a color can tell a story. And in true Maserati fashion, it dares you to care—not because you have to, but because you might want to.

Source: Maserati

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