French President Emmanuel Macron’s administration has added a heavily modified version of the all-new DS No7 SUV to the presidential fleet for the Bastille Day parade in Paris on July 14.
Dubbed the ‘Elysee’ in reference to the French head of state’s place of residence, the Elysee Palace, Macron’s armoured No7 is the latest in a long line of DS vehicles that have played their part in French political history.
The story between the French president and one of the nation’s most-loved carmakers began with President Charles de Gaulle’s armoured Citroen DS 19, which saved the general’s life during an assassination attempt in 1962.
Macron’s one-off DS No7 Elysee has undergone several modifications over the standard car. The wheelbase is extended by 25 centimetres, and a hydro-pneumatic suspension offering Citroen-levels of ‘magic carpet’ ride comfort is now part of the car’s underpinnings.
In the back, the DS No7 Elysee has been completely redesigned for presidential use as a mobile office, and the rear window tinting can be adjusted for additional privacy. DS hasn’t explicitly stated what’s involved here, but “in-car security equipment” is also part of the changes.
When it comes to external changes, the Elysee comes with removable flag holders, special light signalling, and the illuminated grille lights up in the blue-white-red pattern of the French tricolour. The colour scheme is repeated on the bonnet badge, the rear tailgate, and the central wheel caps.
Inside, the cabin is trimmed in DS’s ‘Eternal Blue’ Nappa leather, which is offset by a light grey Alcantara headlining. The Elysee’s dashboard is trimmed in ash wood, which is etched with a laser engraving of Marianne, the national figure of the French Republic.
Additional interior enhancements include ‘RF’ (‘République Française’) embroidery, tricolour accents enhanced with gold pearl stitching, and a one-off ‘Liberty Blue’ exterior paint finish.
The DS No7 Elysee is very much a home-grown affair. Its armour was built in Brittany, while the 97.2kWh battery was produced in Hauts-de-France. The twin electric motors that power the presidential car were made in the Grand-Est area, the suspension was developed in Occitanie, and audio systems were developed in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
DS’s parent company, Stellantis, feels that the Elysee represents a symbol of “French savoir-faire” as it “highlights French technological, artisanal and industrial excellence at the highest level.”
The No7 Elysee is the second DS model to feature in President Macron’s fleet. The first was a similarly revised DS No8, which debuted last year. In keeping the relationship between the Fifth Republic’s leader and its car makers very alive, Macron’s garage also includes a bespoke, and heavily-armoured, Renault Rafale.
The non-presidential version of the DS No7 will go on sale in the UK towards the end of 2026, and is set to be priced from £45,000 when it hits the showrooms.
