#DS7 Draws

[darkspace7]

Somehow, combining a few of my favourite tropes (throwing randos into situations way over their head and found family formation via feral vigilante youths and their reluctant but just as chaotic guardians) have somehow resulted in the following: the vicarious need for a phantom thief spiderman.

And who am I to ignore my gremlin-brain impulses?

Enter: Pitch Warker "The Glass Arachnia"

• So this spidey wasn't "bitten" in the traditional sense but was instead pricked by a cursed bejewled spider-broach thing. (Think something along the lines of that shitty mask from JoJo part 1.) Maybe this happens when they go on an errand to, idk, deliver lunch to their Uncle Mais -who works as a security guard at the "New Londattan Gallery of Art"- at the bequest of their Aunt Benita (who are local Aunt May/Uncle Ben variants but cisswaped/roleswaped for some reason?)

•Okay and so while on this normally easy errand somehow the two of them get caught up in a jewel heist with some mook trying to get at the "Glass Spider" (a polished silver & garnet broach with a diamond decal so clear that it looks like glass) and that's what gets this ball rolling.

•The spider jewel apperantly has some legendary curse associated with it. Something about how "the blood shed in the darkened night shall beholden to whims of the fanged court albeit at the cost of forever being ensnared upon their shadowy throne." And so during the scuffle our little wannabe hero tries wrestling back the jewel from the thief but gets scratched in the process. Getting blood on the diamond activates the curse (which for...plot reasons...can only have one bearer at a time?) In the confusion the crook tries takes aim at our hero only to be pulled back by Mais. The weapon misfires hitting the man in the process.

•As expected, Uncle Mais kicks it while the mook takes the opportunity to abscond with the now useless gem leaving a traumatized kid behind for the cops to (not) deal with. (Also because this is New Londhatten, where the only cure for bereavement to either lock yourself away in mourning clothes and drown yourself in absinthe & gin or find a sketchy religion) Aunt Benita kind of dips off for a while to (not) deal with being newly widowed, and so our newly cursed spiderling takes it upon themself to find out why this happened and (hopefully) avenge his relative's death. And what better way to catch a thief is to become a thief yourself and find a way lure out the other? Not the healthiest of coping methods but whatever, it's not like the police are gonna believe some kid coming up to them and spouting on about 'cursed gems' and magic abilities' right?

•I'm thinking of a fancy victorian gentleman thief/steampunk-themed "spider" suit. Something distictly regal and vaugely unearthly to fit with the more magical aspect of the origin as opposed to the usual techno-organic radioactive superhero sthick. Maybe a nice white suit with an gossimer capelett and attached hood. Coupled with an interwoven reddish-silver spiderlace design as the (bulletproof) vest. A spider-shaped broach (perhaps modeled after the "missing" Glass Spider?) Pinned to the neck, a dashing caravat matches sticky-palmed gloves (that somehow never manage to leave a smudge.) They compliment the ruby-tinted lenses of goggles set in that strange porciline mask. Oh and of course what gentleman is without his multi-purpose utility cane (now with retractable grappling hook!) Really, stark white clothes and clacky heels don't mean a thing when you can become the shadows themselves.~

•After not only attracting the attention of the New Londhatten police but managing to snag the attention of other interesting characters as well. Like: Lady Jamie Joan Jameson, a gossip reporter desperate for the next breaking scoop on that 'dastardly snitch-thief Glass Arachnia' with a fondness for that queer little bookbinder who always seem to have their head stuck in some little tinkering thing this or sewing project that. Or Mikelangleo "Mike" Jones, the lovestruck youth with a massive pining for the bespecticaled little bookbinder, whose dry (and often unintentional) sense of humour and keen intellect continuously sends his heart a-flutter. (Such a shame that said bookbinder is completly uninterested in Mike's advances & any and all attempts at disuading the other have -through a continuing comedy of errors only sought to bolster the himbo's impression of the other. A misunderstanding like this would probably easily be solved if there was just a moment of direct communication but when has a phantom thief been direct about anything?) Luckily Gunther Stetson, current owner of Bugel's Books, resident "guy-behind-the-curtain" (Pitch's words -not his-), and the only (self proclaimed) sane man, runs interference.

•And after a while of doing this thieving gig the cursed spiderling hits paydirt. It turns out the mook who stole the Glass Spider was actually part of a larger scheme by this shifty organization to steal away cursed gems and use their powers to do horrific and unspeakable things. Also, something about getting enough of them and it equal immortality. Somehow? I mean what kind of name is Sinistrum Orichalcium, anyway?

•Gunther: "So yeah, that's bad and someone reasonable and totally equiped for this should probably go stop them? Right? Right?? [Of course it has to be them, damn it all Pitch...This is only going to end poorly.] (He was right. Oh mercy, he was right. The youth watched as the body of his ((only)) friend slipped off the crystiline horn of the rhinocerous-beetle-that-was-once-a-man. A lunge forward, torn glove outstreched as the hand r e a c h e d o u t. Metalline claws dug in ((burning agony it hurt)) and rapidly drug his form up and away. He writhed against the restraint, razor blades that drew him back again and again as solid steel scales absorbed the blows. ((Let me go let me go please I can't reach!)) Cackling as groping fingers wriggled under the dirtied white of his mask and ripped it away ((his shield, his safety nonono!)) Recognition. "So this is what you really are little spider. Even now you try to bear your milkteeth." A derisive snort as a gnarled tendril cupped his face an mockery of care. "Poor little Pitch, who would've expected the simple bookboy to have such a storied life?" Everything he had worked for, all that he had sacrificed was now crumbling around him as the other went on, "Feh, you are as brittle as the pages of tomes you peddle and as fragile as the Glass you come from." A contemplative look and the porcaline shattered. "Now look at your ruins and weep.")

• When it rains it pours. Thanks to the combined efforts of the Sinisturm Orichalcum, the New Londhattan Task Force, and Lady Jameson, our hero is now not only wanted for numerous accounts of thievery, breaking & entry, and other assorted stuff related to his vigilantism but now Pitch Warker aka the Glass Arachnia is (erroneously but not that they'd take his word for it) on the list for no less than three counts of battery, assault, & murder. The Sinistrum and their allies basically have been given free access to all of the remaining gems that they need to complete their plan and the city itself. Oh and Mike hates him now. So he fine. He can totally handle this solo. Not like he's the reason his close loved ones are dead and a bunch of villains are going to become supervillains that he still somehow has to stop despite being public enemy number one. Yep. Totally.

•(Spoiler: He is not fine. The spiderling is very stressed and needs a break. Not his supposed villain origin story. Let our adhd boi rest.)

[gurvana]

[Car]

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DS7 Crossback review – a genuine rival to premium alternatives?

For  Luxury trappings, good ride, well-equipped Against  Expensive, uninspiring engines, dull handling The DS7 Crossback offers much in the way of luxury, space and moderately quirky design but it’s not an inspiring drive While DS has been back in business for a few years now the DS7 Crossback is the first machine that has been designed from the ground up to represent what the company stands for – charismatic design, French luxury and advanced technology. It might look pretty similar to a horde of other smaller SUVs but DS is hoping it has enough bespoke design cues to draw customers away from rivals such as BMW’s X1, Audi’s Q3, the Volvo XC40 and the Range Rover Evoque. While DS says it designed the car very much with that set of competitors in mind it’s worth noting that it’s a little larger than most of them, certainly in terms of rear seat accommodation and boot capacity, so it starts out on a good footing when trying to appeal to family buyers. All but the entry-level models pack quite a high level of specification and have enough showroom appeal with their luxurious interiors to potentially steal customers from the more established brands. > Range Rover Evoque review However, if those potential buyers have even a modicum of driver involvement in mind from their SUV they may well be disappointed with the DS7 Crossback. Yes, it has a comfortable ride but the engines aren’t desperately inspiring and their performance isn’t on a par with the majority of their rivals. There’s not much reward to be had from trying to hustle one along a back road as it’s just rather dull from a driver’s perspective. A more powerful PHEV model with four-wheel drive and a claimed 300bhp is coming in 2019 but it’ll need to have a thoroughly revised chassis if it’s to endow the DS7 with an enthralling driving experience.  In the meantime, those after a small sporty (ish) SUV should look elsewhere. DS7 Crossback in detail  > Performance and 0-60 time – DS7 Crossback acceleration figures won’t set the world on fire and lag behind rivals with the 2-litre diesel’s nigh-on 10-second 0-62mph time looking tardy these days. > Engine and gearbox – Three engines are offered, two diesels and one petrol with outputs ranging from 128bhp to 222bhp. Transmissions are a six-speed manual or a new eight-speed auto for the 180 and 225 models. > Ride and handling – Clever Active Scan suspension endows DS7 with a decent ride in Comfort mode. Driving modes frustratingly do not offer the option of personalizing them. > MPG and running costs – Smaller-engined diesel promises nigh-on 70mpg while more powerful models are said to do high-50s. > Interior and tech – Style and luxury are the watchwords for the DS7’s interior and it certainly comes with plenty of Gallic flair. Lots of gadgets and gizmos to play with, and plenty of space, too. > Design – The DS7 tries to stand out from its rivals with some neat detailing like the LED rear light clusters and the jewel-like rotating headlights. Prices, specs and rivals DS is pitching the DS7 Crossback into a very crowded SUV marketplace and says it sees the BMW X1, Audi Q3, Volvo XC40, Jaguar E-Pace and Range Rover Evoque as key rivals. But can the DS7 hope to compete with these established premium players? The initial launch line up comprises two diesels, BlueHDi 130 (manual only) and BlueHDi180 (auto only) and one petrol, the PureTech 225 (again, auto only). Three trim levels are offered, Elegance (BlueHDi 130 only), Performance Line and Prestige (all three engines) and Ultra Prestige (180 and 225 only). Prices start at a palatable £28,050 for the Elegance and rise to a pretty stratospheric £43k for the two Ultra Prestige models. Yes, you do get a lot of kit for your money with these latter two, but when a BMW X1 20d xLine costs £35k, the DS7 looks rather expensive. The BMW’s significantly quicker too, even if it doesn’t have quite so much standard equipment. Image 2 of 19 Image 2 of 19 In terms of equipment Elegance comes with cloth seats, 18-inch alloys, cruise control, lane departure warning and two-zone air con while Performance Line models gain 19s, an Alcantara-clad interior, Active Scan suspension (180 and 225 only), LED headlights and a navigation system. The two top end models really are very well kitted out and just about the only option of note that can be fitted to the Ultra Prestige model is Night Vision. The compact SUV market is tough though and while the DS might not have the established players licked for driver appeal it does offer an alternative to them with its Gallic style, luxury bent and quirky appeal. Performance and 0-60 time It’s no exaggeration to say that the DS7 isn’t going to set the world on fire when it comes to its performance figures, even when the 296bhp Hybrid comes on line in 2019. The launch line up comprises three engines, BlueHDi diesels in both 130 and 180 guises as well as a PureTech 225 petrol model. All are four-cylinder units and while they all pass muster as far as emissions and economy figures are concerned they lag behind the competition in performance terms. The manual only BlueHDi 130 (1499cc, 128bhp) saunters to 62mph in 11.7sec while the auto only BlueHDi 180 (1997cc with 178bhp) isn’t massively faster with a claimed 9.9sec 0-62mph time. To put that into perspective an Audi Q3 2.0 TDi with 181bhp bests that by 2.0sec, although the German does have four-wheel drive to help get it off the line. > Jaguar E-pace review For the time being the only petrol model is the PureTech 225 with 222bhp and while its claimed acceleration figure from rest to 62mph of 8.3sec sounds a little bit more like it, a BMW X1 20i with 189bhp covers the same increment in 7.4sec. On the road the HDi 180 does feel stronger than its vital stats suggest, no doubt assisted by its 295lb ft of torque that’s developed at 2000rpm. Pop it into its Sport mode and the engine feels moderately enthusiastic if a little more gruff than the class-leading 2-litre diesels. Conversely the 225 petrol doesn’t imbibe the same feeling although to be fair to DS, it did say it’s still fine-tuning the transmission software for this model. While it was smooth enough in Normal mode it was far too eager to kick down in Sport, which constantly took the engine out of its torque-rich mid-range.   Engine and gearbox  The entry-level 1.5-litre BlueHDi 130 develops 128bhp and 221lb ft at 1750rpm mated to a six-speed manual and while we’ve not driven it yet, we’d reckon it’ll only appeal to a small proportion of buyers on a strict budget, or those after low (107g/km) emissions. The larger diesel, the 1997cc BlueHDi 180, is expected to be the best seller and musters 178bhp at 3750rpm and 295lb ft of torque at 2000rpm. At launch this will be pared with PSA’s new EAT8 eight-speed automatic gearbox. It’s not a bad combination either, with the box swapping between ratios in a discreet fashion in Comfort and Normal modes while in Sport it’s a little snappier if not quite up there with the class leaders. Image 19 of 19 Image 19 of 19 With 222bhp at 5500rpm from the 1598cc four-cylinder mill in the PureTech 225 model, we were hoping this might be a little bit more aligned to the thrill of driving but with just 221lb ft of torque at 1900rpm it’s not quite as peppy as we hoped it might be. Driven moderately it’s relatively quiet and refined but, as mentioned previously, the gearbox is too keen to kick down in Sport mode, which brings more noise, but not a significant rise in forward momentum. One further model that will come on stream – but not until the second half of 2019 – is what DS is calling the E-Tense, a 296bhp PHEV that combines a 197bhp petrol engine with a brace of 107bhp electric motors. One of those electric motors is mounted up front with the petrol engine and transversely mounted EAT8 gearbox, while the other is mated to the rear axle, providing the DS7 Crossback with the only four-wheel drive model in the range. It has a claimed electric only range of 37 miles and DS says its packaged in such a way as to keep the DS7’s practicality intact. We had a very brief try in a prototype version of the car on a test track and it seemed brisk enough in both electric and hybrid modes, although there’s still plenty of work to be done on it’s refinement. No performance claims are being made at the moment so we’ll have to view this as a work in progress for the time being. It needs to be good though as it has a projected price of £50k. Ride and handling As part of DS’s desire to move the Crossback upmarket it’s fitted all but the entry-level Elegance model with its Active Scan suspension system. This is the sort of set up you might find in high-end Mercedes and BMW models and uses cameras to examine the road surface ahead of the car and adjusts the dampers’ responses accordingly. It’s clever stuff and currently unique to this segment of the market. But how does it work in practice? On the whole we’d have to say it does work well, but with certain provisos. For starters it only works when the DS7 is in its Comfort setting which does seem a little daft and seems to assume that if you’re in Normal or Sport modes you’re quite happy for potholes to send a shudder through your car as you go over them.  Comfort works best around town or at speeds of up to 50mph or so when on more open roads and while the Active Scan isn’t perfect it does make crossing speed bumps a more refined experience and does seem to spot the worst of the road’s imperfections. Above these speeds though and it becomes rather wallowy and floaty and will have you reaching for the driving mode switch to engage Normal mode. For most road conditions this will probably be the default setting as it offers decent body control, a nicely weighted (if pretty devoid of feel) steering set-up and an acceptable ride, unless you decided 20-inch items were a good idea when you spec’d the car. The big rims have plenty of showroom appeal, but are a poor choice on the move. Engaging Sport tightens the chassis further and does make it corner with a flatter attitude, although we wouldn’t go as far as to say that it actually feels sporting. It’ll understeer if you’re over ambitious but what really hampers the car in this mode is the steering which just becomes overly heavy and leaves you with a feeling that you’re wrestling with the car rather than driving it. Image 6 of 19 Image 6 of 19 What is frustrating about the DS7 Crossback is that DS has seen fit to allow you to choose eight different moods of lighting for the interior and six different displays for the TFT dashpod yet won’t allow you to choose what’s what with the driving modes. Thus, if you select Sport the steering, engine, gearbox and suspension all engage Sport – you can’t choose to have just the chassis and engine in Sport leaving the gearbox and steering in Normal which seems a little remiss. While we’re discussing the DS7’s drive we should also mention the plethora of driving tech fitted to the higher end models. All cars receive lane departure warning, speed limit recognition but higher end models up the ante with lane keeping assist, blind spot detection and active cruise control with stop and go. The various systems do work well and the lane keeping assist in conjunction with the active cruise control did make light work of rush hour Paris Périphérique traffic. MPG and running costs The quoted economy and emissions figures for the three DS7 Crossback launch models are perfectly respectable without perhaps being quite good enough for class-leading status. The HDi 130 is the economy champion at a claimed 68.9mpg which is identical to a BMW X1 18d’s figure which sounds good until you remember the BMW has an additional 20bhp and is two seconds quicker to 62mph. Of the two models we drove the HDi 180 offered a better blend of performance and economy than the PureTech 225, despite both cars having official stats of 57.6 and 57.9mpg respectively. The HDi’s superior mid-range torque helps here as there was no need to chase down the red line to make (moderately) rapid progress. In normal driving we’d expect both cars to return figures in the 40s. To sit alongside the DS7’s luxury ethos DS is promising a luxurious ownership prospect via its ‘Only You’ program which will give owners benefits such as DS rentals, a valet (delivery) service, a Privilege club, an exclusive ‘My DS’ app as well as an eight-year assistance system too. Interior and tech To go with the luxury side of the DS7 Crossback’s character there are several different interior ambiances to choose from. In an Elegance model you get a cloth (special cloth, mind) interior and traditional dials while the Performance Line models have just about every surface slathered in Alcantara. Prestige has a ‘Rivoli’ quilted leather look while the Ultra Prestige model gets an Opera interior with high-end Nappa leather. Depending on model there’s some nice detailing too, with all models receiving swanky metal switchgear on the centre console and some receiving nicely illuminated LED door handles. All DS7s bar the entry level Elegance have a TFT screen in place of traditional dials and while you can personalise these to a great degree, we can’t help but feel that the more traditional style items are more immediately readable. Most models have a BRM-logoed clock sitting on top of the dash which rotates into view when you turn the car on… it’s a bit naff really. The seats are very comfy though, especially in the front, and there’s plenty of legroom in the back – better than in all the cars DS includes as rivals – although a relatively high floor means that for taller rear seat passengers there’s not much in the way of thigh support from the rear bench. evo comment - While the higher-end Prestige and Ultra Prestige models pack lots of technology and gadgets to play with do ask yourself whether you’ll use them all or you’ll be paying over the odds for equipment you don’t need or want. Design DS is keen for its products to be seen as something a little bit different from the offerings of the mainstream so it’s a little bit of a shame that the Crossback follows the traditional crossover SUV look. It is well proportioned, even if it does have a slight hint of Audi about its front end, and there is some nice detailing, too. Pride of place must go to the rotating, jewelled effect headlights which look superb when they switch on - it’s just a shame you can’t see it happen from the driver’s seat. On the move the lights feature several different modes depending on where you’re driving (town, countryside, motorway, etc) and set their light pattern accordingly. It works well in practice, although the number of oncoming drivers who flashed us on our test drive left us wondering if they’re not a little over-bright in some modes. Image 14 of 19 Image 14 of 19 evo tip - It might be uninspiring to drive but the DS7 has more interior space than its rivals and a boot that’s nigh-on 100 litres larger than an Audi Q3’s so if it’s space you’re after Crossback may well be worth a look. 18 Dec 2017

http://www.evo.co.uk/reviews/20527/ds7-crossback-review-a-genuine-rival-to-premium-alternatives

[privateplates4u]

DS7 Crossback review – a genuine rival to premium alternatives?

For  Luxury trappings, good ride, well-equipped Against  Expensive, uninspiring engines, dull handling The DS7 Crossback offers much in the way of luxury, space and moderately quirky design but it’s not an inspiring drive While DS has been back in business for a few years now the DS7 Crossback is the first machine that has been designed from the ground up to represent what the company stands for – charismatic design, French luxury and advanced technology. It might look pretty similar to a horde of other smaller SUVs but DS is hoping it has enough bespoke design cues to draw customers away from rivals such as BMW’s X1, Audi’s Q3, the Volvo XC40 and the Range Rover Evoque. While DS says it designed the car very much with that set of competitors in mind it’s worth noting that it’s a little larger than most of them, certainly in terms of rear seat accommodation and boot capacity, so it starts out on a good footing when trying to appeal to family buyers. All but the entry-level models pack quite a high level of specification and have enough showroom appeal with their luxurious interiors to potentially steal customers from the more established brands. > Range Rover Evoque review However, if those potential buyers have even a modicum of driver involvement in mind from their SUV they may well be disappointed with the DS7 Crossback. Yes, it has a comfortable ride but the engines aren’t desperately inspiring and their performance isn’t on a par with the majority of their rivals. There’s not much reward to be had from trying to hustle one along a back road as it’s just rather dull from a driver’s perspective. A more powerful PHEV model with four-wheel drive and a claimed 300bhp is coming in 2019 but it’ll need to have a thoroughly revised chassis if it’s to endow the DS7 with an enthralling driving experience.  In the meantime, those after a small sporty (ish) SUV should look elsewhere. DS7 Crossback in detail  > Performance and 0-60 time – DS7 Crossback acceleration figures won’t set the world on fire and lag behind rivals with the 2-litre diesel’s nigh-on 10-second 0-62mph time looking tardy these days. > Engine and gearbox – Three engines are offered, two diesels and one petrol with outputs ranging from 128bhp to 222bhp. Transmissions are a six-speed manual or a new eight-speed auto for the 180 and 225 models. > Ride and handling – Clever Active Scan suspension endows DS7 with a decent ride in Comfort mode. Driving modes frustratingly do not offer the option of personalizing them. > MPG and running costs – Smaller-engined diesel promises nigh-on 70mpg while more powerful models are said to do high-50s. > Interior and tech – Style and luxury are the watchwords for the DS7’s interior and it certainly comes with plenty of Gallic flair. Lots of gadgets and gizmos to play with, and plenty of space, too. > Design – The DS7 tries to stand out from its rivals with some neat detailing like the LED rear light clusters and the jewel-like rotating headlights. Prices, specs and rivals DS is pitching the DS7 Crossback into a very crowded SUV marketplace and says it sees the BMW X1, Audi Q3, Volvo XC40, Jaguar E-Pace and Range Rover Evoque as key rivals. But can the DS7 hope to compete with these established premium players? The initial launch line up comprises two diesels, BlueHDi 130 (manual only) and BlueHDi180 (auto only) and one petrol, the PureTech 225 (again, auto only). Three trim levels are offered, Elegance (BlueHDi 130 only), Performance Line and Prestige (all three engines) and Ultra Prestige (180 and 225 only). Prices start at a palatable £28,050 for the Elegance and rise to a pretty stratospheric £43k for the two Ultra Prestige models. Yes, you do get a lot of kit for your money with these latter two, but when a BMW X1 20d xLine costs £35k, the DS7 looks rather expensive. The BMW’s significantly quicker too, even if it doesn’t have quite so much standard equipment. Image 2 of 19 Image 2 of 19 In terms of equipment Elegance comes with cloth seats, 18-inch alloys, cruise control, lane departure warning and two-zone air con while Performance Line models gain 19s, an Alcantara-clad interior, Active Scan suspension (180 and 225 only), LED headlights and a navigation system. The two top end models really are very well kitted out and just about the only option of note that can be fitted to the Ultra Prestige model is Night Vision. The compact SUV market is tough though and while the DS might not have the established players licked for driver appeal it does offer an alternative to them with its Gallic style, luxury bent and quirky appeal. Performance and 0-60 time It’s no exaggeration to say that the DS7 isn’t going to set the world on fire when it comes to its performance figures, even when the 296bhp Hybrid comes on line in 2019. The launch line up comprises three engines, BlueHDi diesels in both 130 and 180 guises as well as a PureTech 225 petrol model. All are four-cylinder units and while they all pass muster as far as emissions and economy figures are concerned they lag behind the competition in performance terms. The manual only BlueHDi 130 (1499cc, 128bhp) saunters to 62mph in 11.7sec while the auto only BlueHDi 180 (1997cc with 178bhp) isn’t massively faster with a claimed 9.9sec 0-62mph time. To put that into perspective an Audi Q3 2.0 TDi with 181bhp bests that by 2.0sec, although the German does have four-wheel drive to help get it off the line. > Jaguar E-pace review For the time being the only petrol model is the PureTech 225 with 222bhp and while its claimed acceleration figure from rest to 62mph of 8.3sec sounds a little bit more like it, a BMW X1 20i with 189bhp covers the same increment in 7.4sec. On the road the HDi 180 does feel stronger than its vital stats suggest, no doubt assisted by its 295lb ft of torque that’s developed at 2000rpm. Pop it into its Sport mode and the engine feels moderately enthusiastic if a little more gruff than the class-leading 2-litre diesels. Conversely the 225 petrol doesn’t imbibe the same feeling although to be fair to DS, it did say it’s still fine-tuning the transmission software for this model. While it was smooth enough in Normal mode it was far too eager to kick down in Sport, which constantly took the engine out of its torque-rich mid-range.   Engine and gearbox  The entry-level 1.5-litre BlueHDi 130 develops 128bhp and 221lb ft at 1750rpm mated to a six-speed manual and while we’ve not driven it yet, we’d reckon it’ll only appeal to a small proportion of buyers on a strict budget, or those after low (107g/km) emissions. The larger diesel, the 1997cc BlueHDi 180, is expected to be the best seller and musters 178bhp at 3750rpm and 295lb ft of torque at 2000rpm. At launch this will be pared with PSA’s new EAT8 eight-speed automatic gearbox. It’s not a bad combination either, with the box swapping between ratios in a discreet fashion in Comfort and Normal modes while in Sport it’s a little snappier if not quite up there with the class leaders. Image 19 of 19 Image 19 of 19 With 222bhp at 5500rpm from the 1598cc four-cylinder mill in the PureTech 225 model, we were hoping this might be a little bit more aligned to the thrill of driving but with just 221lb ft of torque at 1900rpm it’s not quite as peppy as we hoped it might be. Driven moderately it’s relatively quiet and refined but, as mentioned previously, the gearbox is too keen to kick down in Sport mode, which brings more noise, but not a significant rise in forward momentum. One further model that will come on stream – but not until the second half of 2019 – is what DS is calling the E-Tense, a 296bhp PHEV that combines a 197bhp petrol engine with a brace of 107bhp electric motors. One of those electric motors is mounted up front with the petrol engine and transversely mounted EAT8 gearbox, while the other is mated to the rear axle, providing the DS7 Crossback with the only four-wheel drive model in the range. It has a claimed electric only range of 37 miles and DS says its packaged in such a way as to keep the DS7’s practicality intact. We had a very brief try in a prototype version of the car on a test track and it seemed brisk enough in both electric and hybrid modes, although there’s still plenty of work to be done on it’s refinement. No performance claims are being made at the moment so we’ll have to view this as a work in progress for the time being. It needs to be good though as it has a projected price of £50k. Ride and handling As part of DS’s desire to move the Crossback upmarket it’s fitted all but the entry-level Elegance model with its Active Scan suspension system. This is the sort of set up you might find in high-end Mercedes and BMW models and uses cameras to examine the road surface ahead of the car and adjusts the dampers’ responses accordingly. It’s clever stuff and currently unique to this segment of the market. But how does it work in practice? On the whole we’d have to say it does work well, but with certain provisos. For starters it only works when the DS7 is in its Comfort setting which does seem a little daft and seems to assume that if you’re in Normal or Sport modes you’re quite happy for potholes to send a shudder through your car as you go over them.  Comfort works best around town or at speeds of up to 50mph or so when on more open roads and while the Active Scan isn’t perfect it does make crossing speed bumps a more refined experience and does seem to spot the worst of the road’s imperfections. Above these speeds though and it becomes rather wallowy and floaty and will have you reaching for the driving mode switch to engage Normal mode. For most road conditions this will probably be the default setting as it offers decent body control, a nicely weighted (if pretty devoid of feel) steering set-up and an acceptable ride, unless you decided 20-inch items were a good idea when you spec’d the car. The big rims have plenty of showroom appeal, but are a poor choice on the move. Engaging Sport tightens the chassis further and does make it corner with a flatter attitude, although we wouldn’t go as far as to say that it actually feels sporting. It’ll understeer if you’re over ambitious but what really hampers the car in this mode is the steering which just becomes overly heavy and leaves you with a feeling that you’re wrestling with the car rather than driving it. Image 6 of 19 Image 6 of 19 What is frustrating about the DS7 Crossback is that DS has seen fit to allow you to choose eight different moods of lighting for the interior and six different displays for the TFT dashpod yet won’t allow you to choose what’s what with the driving modes. Thus, if you select Sport the steering, engine, gearbox and suspension all engage Sport – you can’t choose to have just the chassis and engine in Sport leaving the gearbox and steering in Normal which seems a little remiss. While we’re discussing the DS7’s drive we should also mention the plethora of driving tech fitted to the higher end models. All cars receive lane departure warning, speed limit recognition but higher end models up the ante with lane keeping assist, blind spot detection and active cruise control with stop and go. The various systems do work well and the lane keeping assist in conjunction with the active cruise control did make light work of rush hour Paris Périphérique traffic. MPG and running costs The quoted economy and emissions figures for the three DS7 Crossback launch models are perfectly respectable without perhaps being quite good enough for class-leading status. The HDi 130 is the economy champion at a claimed 68.9mpg which is identical to a BMW X1 18d’s figure which sounds good until you remember the BMW has an additional 20bhp and is two seconds quicker to 62mph. Of the two models we drove the HDi 180 offered a better blend of performance and economy than the PureTech 225, despite both cars having official stats of 57.6 and 57.9mpg respectively. The HDi’s superior mid-range torque helps here as there was no need to chase down the red line to make (moderately) rapid progress. In normal driving we’d expect both cars to return figures in the 40s. To sit alongside the DS7’s luxury ethos DS is promising a luxurious ownership prospect via its ‘Only You’ program which will give owners benefits such as DS rentals, a valet (delivery) service, a Privilege club, an exclusive ‘My DS’ app as well as an eight-year assistance system too. Interior and tech To go with the luxury side of the DS7 Crossback’s character there are several different interior ambiances to choose from. In an Elegance model you get a cloth (special cloth, mind) interior and traditional dials while the Performance Line models have just about every surface slathered in Alcantara. Prestige has a ‘Rivoli’ quilted leather look while the Ultra Prestige model gets an Opera interior with high-end Nappa leather. Depending on model there’s some nice detailing too, with all models receiving swanky metal switchgear on the centre console and some receiving nicely illuminated LED door handles. All DS7s bar the entry level Elegance have a TFT screen in place of traditional dials and while you can personalise these to a great degree, we can’t help but feel that the more traditional style items are more immediately readable. Most models have a BRM-logoed clock sitting on top of the dash which rotates into view when you turn the car on… it’s a bit naff really. The seats are very comfy though, especially in the front, and there’s plenty of legroom in the back – better than in all the cars DS includes as rivals – although a relatively high floor means that for taller rear seat passengers there’s not much in the way of thigh support from the rear bench. evo comment - While the higher-end Prestige and Ultra Prestige models pack lots of technology and gadgets to play with do ask yourself whether you’ll use them all or you’ll be paying over the odds for equipment you don’t need or want. Design DS is keen for its products to be seen as something a little bit different from the offerings of the mainstream so it’s a little bit of a shame that the Crossback follows the traditional crossover SUV look. It is well proportioned, even if it does have a slight hint of Audi about its front end, and there is some nice detailing, too. Pride of place must go to the rotating, jewelled effect headlights which look superb when they switch on - it’s just a shame you can’t see it happen from the driver’s seat. On the move the lights feature several different modes depending on where you’re driving (town, countryside, motorway, etc) and set their light pattern accordingly. It works well in practice, although the number of oncoming drivers who flashed us on our test drive left us wondering if they’re not a little over-bright in some modes. Image 14 of 19 Image 14 of 19 evo tip - It might be uninspiring to drive but the DS7 has more interior space than its rivals and a boot that’s nigh-on 100 litres larger than an Audi Q3’s so if it’s space you’re after Crossback may well be worth a look. 18 Dec 2017

http://www.evo.co.uk/reviews/20527/ds7-crossback-review-a-genuine-rival-to-premium-alternatives

[darkspace7]

[ Broken / Mirror ]

“Oh look little gambler there are five familiar faces to staring back at thee.”

[Page 3]

[Page 5]

[darkspace7]

[Broken / Mirror]

“What have you found Little Gambler? What do you see?”

[Page 2]

[Page 4]

[darkspace7]

[Broken / Mirror]

“Little Gambler lost his way...”

[Page 1]

[Page 3]

[darkspace7]

[Broken / Mirror]

“You need to wake up Little Gambler. Something isn’t right.”

[Cover]

[Page 2]

[darkspace7]

[Broken / Mirror]

“Ah come now Little Gambler, don’t you know that’s bad luck?”

A short Comic

[Page one]

[darkspace7]

Stanley: “And now to go where no kids (and pig) have gone before!” 

-Nudges Gompers forward and immediately proceeds to tip over-

Mabel: “This was a good idea.”

Disclaimer: This piece is a fanwork and thus not intended for profit in any sense of the word. It is merely a fan creation meaning I do not own Gravity Falls or its characters and as such all rights are reserved by Alex Hirsch and the appropriate such parties understood?

[darkspace7]

The moment when you discover that the “Time Machine” you and your brother were fighting over actually works and you might just have accidentally stranded the both of you in the future with no possible way to get back home. 

It’s a good thing that pair of weird kids were nearby enough to hear the panicked screaming.

Disclaimer: This piece is a fanwork and thus not intended for profit in any sense of the word. It is merely a fan creation meaning I do not own Gravity Falls or its characters and as such all rights are reserved by Alex Hirsch and the appropriate such parties understood?

[darkspace7]

So I tried my hand at colouring this thing.

It turned out better than I thought it would..

Disclaimer: This piece is a fanwork and thus not intended for profit in any sense of the word. It is merely a fan creation meaning I do not own Gravity Falls or its characters and as such all rights are reserved by Alex Hirsch and the appropriate such parties understood?

[darkspace7]

So, I did a thing.

Presenting: Stanford Filbrick Pines as per his appearance in Ao No Falls.

His trench coat’s gone because somehow the dork accidentally managed to set the thing on fire while attempting to “strike a cool pose” when Mabel tried to get his photograph for her scrapbook.

Disclaimer: This piece is a fanwork and thus not intended for profit in any sense of the word. It is merely a fan creation meaning I do not own Gravity Falls or its characters and as such all rights are reserved by Alex Hirsch and the appropriate such parties understood?