- New design marks new marque
- Updates bring new drivetrain and automatic transmission to Australian market
- DS 3 scheduled for late 2016 Australian launch
A redesigned and repowered DS 3 hatch and cabrio have been unveiled in the shadow of the iconic Louvre in Paris.
Featuring new styling, new drivetrains and revised on-board technology the DS 3 will join the recently launched DS 5 as the second model under the newly formed DS Automobiles marque.
Scheduled for a late 2016 Australian launch the new look DS 3 will introduce an all-new turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine paired to a 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission.
This new drivetrain will join the existing EURO6-rated 121kW turbocharged, petrol-powered 1.6-litre manual model.
The most powerful DS 3, the all-new 154kW, 300Nm DS 3 Performance, is yet to be confirmed for Australia.
Avant-garde design: from the new front-end to personalisation
DS 3 has always been seen as a beautiful take on the avant-garde and was the first DS to feature the highly expressive "DS LED Vision" light signature.
Now it also sports the DS front end with "DS Wings", sculpted like a work of art with a vertically-oriented grille in a hexagonal shape proudly bearing the DS emblem.
Surrounded in chrome to underscore its elegance the grille extends towards the LED headlamps and fog lamps via two chromed-trimmed wings – a new feature making its debut on the DS 3.
Other aspects of front-end have been upgraded to perfectly match the new touches, with the double "Wings" making their debut on a DS model.
The DS design team conserved the car's singular looks with a floating roof, two-tone body/roof colours and the side body line with the shark fin so emblematic of the DS 3's personality.
"The DS 3's compact and dynamic body style, nuanced by chrome-finished signatures, makes it a unique, expressive and appealing car. These personality traits are underlined by its rear styling, notably featuring hypnotic 3D LED lights," says DS Design Director, Thierry Metroz.
The New DS 3 pushes the DS marque's market-leading elegance and sophistication as well as possible personalisation options, including altering the roof, body, rear view mirror housings, dashboard strip, and gearstick handle to suit each buyer's style.
Customers can now choose from 78 body and roof colour combinations* and four canvas roofs for the DS 3 Cabrio.
Experiential technology (local specification to be confirmed)
Unrivalled light quality with DS LED Vision headlamps
As on the new DS 5, DS 3's new headlamps combine LED technology (3W with three jewel-like modules) and Xenon technology (a 25W module) with sequential LED indicators and new LED fog lamps.
The combination of LED and Xenon technology generates a powerful, broad and harmonious light flow for extra visibility and comfort in night driving. It also reduces the energy consumption of dipped beams by 50% and high beams by 67%.
The overall result is more visibility and comfort, especially at night, together with reduced energy consumption.
Mirror Screen compatible with iOS and Android
Selected DS 3 models will be equipped with Mirror Screen, including Apple CarPlay™ or MirrorLink® for Android phones, bringing drivers a smarter, safer and more fun way of enjoying all the personalised features of their smartphones.
The DS driving experience is more high-tech than ever with its new 7-inch colour touchscreen. The latest-generation screen provides simpler access to all the vehicle functions (with 20 fewer buttons on the central fascia).
On selected models it also houses the Mirror Screen service, a connectivity solution compatible with Apple CarPlay™ or MirrorLink®. Drivers can use Apple CarPlay™ to intuitively make calls, consult maps, listen to music and check their messages in a single word or touch of the fingertip. Apple CarPlay™ is easy to use and control, either via the car's native interface or by activating Siri voice recognition technology, distraction-free.
Active City Brake
The Active City Brake system helps to prevent minor collisions at low speeds. A short-range laser sensor in the upper windscreen detects obstacles, such as a vehicle driving in the same direction or at a halt.
At speeds of up to 30km/h it identifies potential risks and communicates directly with the braking control unit without the driver having to engage the brake pedal. The aim of this is to avoid collisions or limit the consequences by reducing the speed of impact.
Automatic braking may bring the vehicle to a complete halt where the situation requires. In this case, the car is maintained in stationary position for around 1.5 seconds so that the driver can take back control by pressing on the brake pedal.
Also of note is the Pre-Fill function. Before activating automatic braking, and if the system identifies an at-risk situation, the system pre-fills the hydraulic braking system and prepares the brake pads. If the situation calls for automatic braking, the system will react faster (for a gain of several hundred milliseconds).
New equipment for day-to-day comfort
Selected new DS 3 models are now equipped with front and rear park assist, a reversing camera with image projection on a 7-inch screen, hill assist (with manual gearbox) making them a concentrate of technologies in a body under four metres long.
Refinement and attention to detail
With 78 body and roof colour combinations, and more than three million combinations across wheel, dashboard strip and other options, the DS 3 has a powerful character and plenty of personality.
Personalisation is stronger than ever today with 10 roof decals available on the hatchback and four canvas roofs on the Cabrio. This is partnered with four roof colours, four canvas roof colours on the Cabrio, 10 rearview mirror housings and 15 alloy wheels available on the two body styles.
As a hip and stylish Parisian forever on the cutting edge of fashion, the new DS 3 is available with new trim and new interior design schemes (Basalt black Dinamica cloth and Topaz brown). It also comes with a new body colour (Aden red) and roof colour (Topaz brown, inspired by gemstones), as well as new alloy wheels.
Fashion is also the inspiration inside, home to a play on materials. Leather, a material that never goes out of style, features on the watchstrap style seat upholstery, an emblematic DS touch available in ultra-premium nappa leather, and on the leather-upholstered dashboard strip with an embossed DS logo. The hood of the instrument cluster can also be covered with imitation leather with contrasting overstitching.
In an ultimate example of attention to detail the DS 3 combines technology and refinement in a silk-screen print on the quarter-lights (Irrésistible Paris design), laser engravings on the dashboard insert (with the same design on the windows) and on the rear view mirror housings (DS monogram with the Faubourg Addict Pack or with the Ultra Prestige trim).
Beautiful and bold the DS 3 shakes up automotive cues and lends new life to French-style luxury. For the hatchback and the Cabrio, the keywords remain appeal and vitality.
Dynamic hyper-comfort
The DS 3 may well have the appearance of a city car, but it is equally at ease out on the open road owing to dimensions conducive to agility, as well as high-performance engines.
For Australia three new features on the updated DS 3 are particularly noteworthy: the latest-generation EAT6 automatic gearbox; the new PureTech 130 three-cylinder turbo engine, and a dynamic model with a torquey and powerful engine, the DS 3 PERFORMANCE.
PureTech 110 S&S EAT6: the perfect marriage
The latest-generation EAT6 gearbox in the DS 3 is mated to the PureTech110 S&S three-cylinder engine, fitted with a turbo for generous torque at low engine speeds. This ideal engine-gearbox alliance makes for a supple and dynamic drive.
Drivers get faster and more seamless gear changes and enhanced at-the-wheel pleasure; improved responsiveness and acceleration. The figures speak for themselves with combined-cycle fuel consumption of 4.6-litres per 100km for the hatchback and 4.9-litres per 100km for the Cabrio, CO2 emissions of 105g/km for the hatchback (a 40g/km or 30% improvement on the VTi 120 automatic) and 112g/km for the Cabrio – not forgetting the 205Nm of torque.
DS 3 Performance: matching performance with versatility
Yet to be confirmed for Australia, DS 3 models will also be available in high-performance DS 3 Performance variant. These distinctive and dynamic cars combine efficiency with comfort and driving ease with athleticism.
"The DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio Performance are the dynamic and distinctive versions of the new DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio," DS Product and Development Director, Eric Apode. "These two exceptional cars head up the DS 3 whole range, featuring all the segment-leading qualities of the previous models but taking them to new, previously unattained levels. Powerful and refined they bring drivers incomparable at-the-wheel thrills and all new styling aimed at perfection, while retaining all the DNA of DS cars. For total peace of mind on board real and prestigious GT models."
The pedigree of the DS 3 Performance can be neatly summed up in a few key figures: 154kW, 300Nm and CO2 emissions of 125g/km.
These qualities are a result of the tremendous work of the DS Performance engineering team, who chose to equip the car with a turbocharged 1.6-litre THP S&S engine mated to a 6-speed MCM gearbox with shorter gearing and special ratios.
The DS 3 Performance is also available with a Torsen® limited slip differential for outstanding traction and road-holding.
For even more agility – and all with complete safety – a considerable amount of development work went into the suspension and braking.
Ground clearance has been lowered by 15mm, while front and rear track have been widened by 26mm at the front and 14mm at the rear.
The DS 3 Performance is also fitted with new 323mm brake discs at the front with special calipers and 249mm at the back.
Naturally, style was also high on the list of the team's priorities. Some parts were redesigned to showcase and underline the vehicle's dynamic qualities at first glance: special twin tailpipes, carbon side mouldings, a new sill panel strip, and matte black wing extenders. Not forgetting the vehicle interior with bucket seats trimmed in leather and Alcantara, featuring special embroidery.
To echo the model's impressive performance while offering yet more personalisation possibilities customers will be able to choose from two trim levels on the Hatchback and Cabrio. The first features six combinations of body and roof colours on the Hatchback and four combination on the Cabrio.
The second, "Black Special", heightens the athletic and refined personality of the car with matte black body paint and a Brilliant gold roof on the Hatchback.
The dark body colour is punctuated by carbon touches on the side strips. The interior echoes the exterior with a Brilliant gold dashboard and gearstick handle, plus additional comfort and safety equipment.
For the ultimate in detailing, an interior Carbon Pack and an exterior decoration kit are available to further enhance the DS 3 Performance.
THE DS 3 IN FIGURES
2 body styles: Hatchback and Cabrio
390,000 sales worldwide since launch
DS Performance version features 154kW, 300Nm and Torsen® limited slip differential
Hatchback launched in March 2010, Cabrio in early 2013
78 body and roof combinations
The DS 3 Cabrio roof can be opened at speeds of up to 120km/h and DS 3 Cabrio is the only Cabrio of the segment with 5 seats
DS 3 is 3.95m long; 1.71m wide; 1.46m high.
DS 3's turning circle is between 10.2m and 10.4m depending on tyre specs.
*Final specifications subject to confirmation.
The DS brand
A French brand born in Paris, DS was officially founded on 1 June, 2014. Its stated ambition is to revive the tradition of premium vehicles in the French automotive industry.
Drawing on the very best of French know-how DS perpetuates the values of innovation and distinction inherited from the first DS, launched in 1955. Designed for customers looking for a means to express themselves as individuals, the DS range now comprises the DS 3, DS 3 Cabrio, new DS 4 and DS 4 Crossback, new DS 5, DS 5LS and DS 6.
The DS range stands out with exceptional styling, sensations and refinement down to the last detail, together with premium materials and advanced technology such as the Hybrid4 hybrid diesel drivetrain available on DS 5.
Marketed in Europe in DS Stores and dedicated showroom areas in the Citroen network DS has its own network of sales outlets in China. For customers DS has come to represent a brand experience that goes beyond the product to include a range of exclusive premium services, in particular through the DS Privilege Club.
The brand has sold more than 600,000 vehicles since launch.
www.driveDS.com
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