Posh Citroen spinoff, DS Automobiles, has been showing off its new flagship, a blocky-looking coupe crossover whose powertrain lineup consists solely of electric options. But a DS chief has let slip that the company is keeping its options open amid volatility in the electric car market.

When asked by Autocar at the international press drive event about the chance of the No8 being reconfigured to work with a combustion engine, DS product chief Cyprien Laurentie admitted that “it’s always a possibility.”

Related: DS No8 Breaks Cover As The New French Electric Flagship

The DS No8 currently comes with a choice of single-motor, front-wheel drive, and dual-motor, all-wheel drive power. Base versions generate 227 hp (169 kW / 230 PS) or 242 hp (180 kW / 245 PS) plus an extra 30 hp (22 kW / 30 PS) from a temporary boost function, and top-flight models make 345 hp (257 kW / 350 PS), or up to 370 hp (276 kW / 375 PS) with the boost function enabled.

Laurentie highlighted the impressive 466-mile (750 km) range as one reason the No8 required “no real compromise” on the part of its driver in its current electric-only configuration, and described it as “perfect for commuting and travelling.”

But DS has struggled for years to get a foothold in the premium market, and it isn’t above changing course if the EV-only experiment with the No8 doesn’t work. “We will keep a close eye on the market and adapt if necessary,” Laurentie told Autocar.

Adapting for combustion power wouldn’t necessarily be that complicated. The No8 is built on the same STLA Medium architecture as the Peugeot 3008, a car that takes advantage of the platform’s flexibility to offer buyers a choice of mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric powertrains.

Citroen’s C5 Aircross uses the same building blocks and is also available with a mix of power options, though the PHEV’s feeble 53-mile (85 km) range looks off the pace in an era when the best plug-ins can travel 50 percent further on electric power. And having a second-rate combustion setup might not be any help to DS when it’s battling well-established premium opposition.

Do you think DS should stick to its EV guns, or would it be better to spread its bets and greenlight a hybrid model to sit alongside the current electric-only No8?

DS

French President Emmanuel Macron has a new ride as DS Automobiles has unveiled the Presidential DS N°8. Introduced as part of the 80th anniversary celebrations for V-E Day, the one-off model sports an assortment of special touches.

Starting outside, there’s a unique Sapphire Blue exterior with contrasting black accents. They’re joined by a special DS Luminascreeen grille, which illuminates blue, white, and red as a nod to the French flag. Speaking of which, there are flag holders on the front bumper. The model also sports a retractable soft top as well as blue, white, and red badges.

More: DS No8 Breaks Cover As The New French Electric Flagship

The blue theme continues inside with Dream Blue Alcantara and Nappa leather upholstery. They’re accompanied by pleated door panels, pearl contrast stitching, and a Focal audio system.

More notably, the Presidential DS N°8 has beautiful straw marquetry. It’s made from rye straw, which has been dyed and arranged in an elegant fan pattern. The resulting trim looks fantastic and is an interesting departure from the typical wood found in luxury cars.

The company didn’t say much else about the interior, but it appears to feature a familiar digital instrument cluster and 16-inch infotainment system. We can also see a handful of special controls hidden beneath the floating center console. Some of these appear to operate flashing lights and, perhaps, a siren.

DS was tight-lipped about powertrain specifics, but confirmed the model has a range of up to 466 miles (750 km). This suggests the Presidential DS N°8 is based on the Long Range FWD variant, which has a 97.2 kWh battery pack as well as a 242 hp (180 kW / 245 PS) electric motor. However, we probably shouldn’t read too much into those numbers as the car is armored and this will undoubtedly impact its performance.