a look under the hood of the DS X E-tense, the car from 2035

sometimes the best designs come out of complete disregard for reality mixed with a little pure creative freedom. with absolutely no rules or expectations, except to invent the car of the future, the french car designers from DS created this exceptional concept. the DS X E-tense is their prediction for the dream car of 2035.

all images and video courtesy of DS automobiles

the car of the future is exiting, but also perhaps a little confusing to those of us still in 2018. while it has many of the essential characteristics such as four wheels and a chassis, it disregards one commonplace rule of car design. it is not symmetrical, neither side is alike and looking down at the car, it appears a little like a hot wheels miniature that was tossed in the microwave. but perhaps this prediction of asymmetry is a fair assumption as more organic shapes in car design are growing in popularity due to the advancement of manufacturing technologies. the asymmetry is quite flattering. the design is unique and refreshing with its aggressive lines and LED lights that seem to melt into the frame.

although DS automobiles has no intention of manufacturing this vehicle — at least not until 2035 perhaps — they included lots of specs and details about the interior layout and inner workings. with only imagination as a guide, the interior ended up being pretty impressive. it is described that the driver is: ‘enclosed in a sensuous capsule, snug in a ventilated, massaging seat that stretches back like a deployed bird’s wing, with a feather star motif crowning the top of the back.’ thank goodness there is autonomous driving function, as there is a serious risk of passing out amidst all this comfort.

the designers don’t even stop there. they conceptualized a way to filter and scent the air circulating throughout the car. the DS X E-tense not only comforts, it also excites with a ‘see-through electro-chromatic glass floor, that provides a view of the road as it flashes beneath, while the cocoon’s lavish blend of leather, wood and metal draws the eye.’ they conceptualized the electric engine with 400kW (540 horsepower), a figure that rises to 1,000kW (1,360 horsepower). while cars are fairly hi-tech in this day and age, the DS X E-tense in 2035 will have a personal holographic assistant called iris to tend to every function you don’t want to. hopefully, the designers of DS are right, and their prediction is quite electrifying.