Thanks: DS STORE İstanbul Anadolu
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The Wacky DS 3 Crossback Is a French Take on the Small Crossover
And it could be part of the lineup should DS come to America.
When Citroën launched its luxury-focused DS line less than a decade ago, there was no talk of turning it into its own brand. But the market response to the first generation of vehicles was so positive that PSA decided to turn DS into an equivalent of Acura or Lexus. A new generation of DS products, without the Citroën branding, has begun to arrive. The first was the DS 7 Crossback, a compact crossover slightly smaller than a Lexus NX, and now comes the DS 3 Crossback. This crossover is a true subcompact (it's nearly a foot shorter than a Mercedes-Benz GLA), but, in the true French idiom, it has outsize style.
It also has a wide variety of powertrains. There are five conventional engine offerings: a trio of turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engines and a pair of four-cylinder diesels. The strongest among them is a 153-hp gasoline engine that's mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. There's also a fully electric version (called E-Tense) that produces 134 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. That's enough for a sprint from 0 to 62 mph in a claimed 8.7 seconds and top speed of 93 mph. A full charge is said to yield close to 200 miles of range (in the European cycle).
All DS 3 Crossback models are front-wheel drive. There is a variety of driver-assistance systems including a semi-autonomous lane-keeping system that works at up to 112 mph, plus matrix LED headlights, and the vehicle can be unlocked and started via a smartphone app.
The DS 3 Crossback would not be a DS without exceptional design. (The brand is, after all, named after the Citroën DS, a timeless design icon.) The exterior incorporates unusual elements such as retractable door handles, vertical daytime running lights, and a shark fin on the B-pillar (the latter echoes the DS 3 subcompact). If the EV-exclusive Polar White paint is specified, the grille can be finished in white as well.
But the most stunning aspect of this car is the interior. The diamond pattern, intended to evoke the pyramid at the entrance to the Louvre Museum, looks classy, and the instruments and controls are futuristic. And everything is executed with extremely high-quality materials.
There are numerous customization options and six versions, each with its own look. In addition to a La Première special launch edition and the Performance line, there are four trim levels, called Montmartre, Bastille, Rivoli, and Opéra. How French is that?
In Europe, DS gets its own distribution channel, and the products feature premium pricing. It will be interesting to see whether this small crossover with big style is among the first DS models sold in America should the French return to the U.S.
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