Tech upgrade for new Citroen DS3

While it seems that in South Africa the Citroen DS nameplate won’t be split into two different dealerships as first thought, that hasn’t derailed the French automaker from pushing out fresh and funky products like the latest Citroen DS3.

A car that always sells on its dollops of style, the new Citroen DS3 receives a modern corporate face with stylised lights and Citroen has done some additional trimming to its current floating roof concept by tweaking the C pillars.

We won’t get carried away with the engines until Citroen SA confirms the range but you can bet a 1.2-litre Puretech will continue to do so many things so well and be the volume seller. Above that our market should again receive the very tuneful 155kW 1.6-litre turbo for the DS3 Performance.

Underpinnings are largely carried over while the DS3 Performance version is lowered by 15mm with front and rear tracks widened by 26mm and the front’s by 14mm. Citroen DS3 Performance is equipped with larger Brembo brakes.

Citroen has put most of its resources into developing a new technology interface for the DS3, an updats that’s immediately obvious once you clap eyes on the 7-inch colour screen. This means a less cluttered interior with some 20 buttons not making the migration to the new model. Citroen can now offer features like Mirror Screen, like rivals such as the Volkswagen Polo.

The Citroen DS3 Performance is further distinguished by Alcantara trim, bucket seats, DS embroidery and smatterings of aluminium to key areas in the cabin.

Giving Mini a run for customisation options, the 2016 Citroen DS3 carries more than three million combinations of roof, body, rear view mirror housings, dashboard and gear knob.  In total 78 body & roof colour combinations are available for the hatchback and four variations of fabric roof for the cabriolet.

We’ll have more news when it arrives in SA.