09 Jan 2023

NEW DS 3: THE ART OF REFINEMENT

The combination of characteristic expertise and avant-garde inspiration, New DS 3 is the successor to DS 3 CROSSBACK, featuring new design and technology.
New DS 3 E-TENSE, the 100% electric version, has a new 115 kW (156 horsepower) drivetrain and a new 54 kWh battery enabling it to achieve a range of up to 404 km on the WLTP combined cycle.
New DS 3 is built only at Poissy, in the Paris region, with electric or internal combustion engine (petrol or diesel) versions. The engines as well as the new electric motor and the increased capacity battery are also all assembled in France.

At the start of Paris Fashion Week, Womenswear Ready-to-Wear Spring-Summer 2023, DS Automobiles unveiled its latest creation, New DS 3, before introducing it in a World Premiere at the Paris Motor Show.

Benchmark in its segment in terms of design, technology and electrification, DS 3 CROSSBACK becomes New DS 3. Characterised by a new more efficient and dynamic front, a restructured and attractive range, the arrival of new technology and a new electric motor/battery pairing for its 100% electric version, New DS 3 really stands out from the competition.

Power of seduction: New face, refined rear and exclusive colours

New DS 3 shows its daring with a unique shape. Its design constitutes a balance between lines and volume. The most obvious developments are at the front. They give a new dynamism and feeling of solidity while maintaining the height of elegance.

The design language of the rest of the DS Automobiles range is applied with a redesigned grille, wider and enhanced with gloss black or chromed diamond tips depending on the model. The distinguishing DS WINGS have been tweaked to subtly join the grille and headlamps.

The new LED headlamps – standard across the range – introduce a more dynamic design and give New DS 3 a sharper look with three feature modules emphasised with satin chrome. The DS MATRIX LED VISION, with intelligent control and automatic main beam for maximum comfort and safety are also offered as an option. The new daytime running lights feature two LED lines vertically arranged either side of the front for a distinctive and widening signature, consistent with the latest DS Automobiles design language.

New DS 3 has also evolved stylistically as well as technically. The new spoiler and grille have been totally redesigned to optimise the car’s aerodynamic performance. The aerofoils framing the lower air intake grille demonstrate this new efficiency.

The attention to detail is also conveyed on the finish of the badges positioned on the grille and the bonnet with the addition of a Clous de Paris embossed insert and a variety of colours depending on the model.

The profile maintains its distinctive signatures, balancing between daring design and technical expertise with the distinctive DS 3 shark’s fin, flush flitting door handles and invisible exterior window seals.

The rear has been refined: the lights and the tailgate are tastefully emphasised by a lacquered black strip. This gets the “DS AUTOMOBILES” signature through a unique technology, the letters in polished stainless steel being divided and set one by one in the trim.

The wheels introduce a completely new design for an increase in efficiency. Available in 17 and 18 inches, they are divided according to different themes and colours. In the 100% electric E-TENSE model, New DS 3 is available with new 18-inch TOULOUSE wheels shod with “Tall & Narrow Class A+” tyres.

New DS 3 is being offered with seven body colours, opaque, metallic and pearlescent, including two new pearlescent colours: Diva Red, a three-layer colour exclusive to New DS 3, and Lacquered Grey. Crystal Pearl, Platinum Grey, Artense Grey, Perla Nera Black and Polar White complete the offering with the option of creating bi-tone combinations through two variations of roof: Perla Black or the new Carat Grey.

Diva Red: The sensuality of an exclusive red created after several years of research

Since the launch of the electrified Wild Rubis concept during the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show, the Colours, Materials and Finishes team work on the production of a red colour that’s exclusive to DS Automobiles.

In China, then during its appearances in Europe, the Wild Rubis colour – created from eleven sequential layers, applied twice and without coloured lacquer – had made an impression. Since then, more than forty different versions have been crafted to achieve New DS 3’s unique Diva Red. The colour, through its remarkable three-layer treatment with a deep colour, a semi-transparent layer and a protective lacquer, benefits from recent technology in the milling of pigment for greater saturation, to reveal the intensity of the red and emphasise the flop effect (where the variation of the colour and brightness depend on the viewing angle).

“We drew our inspiration from jewellery and gemology. The gem varies from the jewel through its great rarity and its captivating beauty. So we studied the intensity of the colour of rubies with the aim of developing the sensuality of a red, of a toffee apple and of spiced cherries. Our aim was to find a colour that reveals character, depth and saturation while adding a sparkling quality to induce emotion.”
Lisa Grangeon-Coudert (Colours & Materials Designer)

The willingness to introduce high-fashion expertise on concept cars then use new technology to adapt them for sale is an integral part of the DS Automobiles stylistic approach. This new example complements other developments specific to the Brand such as “pearl” stitching and Clous de Paris embossed inserts.

An interior inspired by the biggest names in French luxury

Driven by a unique design model, the DS Automobiles team is introducing remarkable expertise which is replicated in each of its creations. New DS 3 draws inspiration from French luxury expertise to bring life to an exclusive vibe.

Materials are chosen with the aim of offering a finish characterised by excellence, innnovation and sustainability.

The leathers, particularly the Nappa Leather upholstery with the weathered Art Leather specification, Alcantara®, and details such as the “pearl” stitching or Clous de Paris embossed inserts show the uniqueness of DS Automobiles cockpits. This attention to detail, firmly rooted in the Brand’s DNA, is inside New DS 3 and represents a major point of difference.

The driving position has changed with the adoption of a new steering wheel, regrouping controls for driver aids and infotainment buttons and combined with gearshift paddles for automatic gearboxes. A new 10.3-inch high definition central screen is now offered as standard, with the new DS IRIS SYSTEM infotainment system built in.

New DS 3’s seats feature design and technology that serves beauty and wellbeing. These seats are figure hugging and covered with an innovative high-density foam, for class-leading seating comfort. The front seats can be heated, massaging (lumbar) and electric (forwards and backwards, up and down, reclining, lumbar settings).

At the top of the range, OPÉRA introduces a Basalt Black Nappa Leather interior with watchstrap seats for immersion in creative luxury, tinged with character and modernity.

The RIVOLI level offers new Basalt Black grained leather seats with scale-effect Basalt Black trim. A Pebble Grey upholstery with combined Nappa Leather/cloth is also available.

For the PERFORMANCE Line and PERFORMANCE Line + levels, the seats, the dashboard strips and the door panels are embellished with Alcantara®. The PERFORMANCE Line + level gets extra equipment such as a central armrest, mats and lighting for the sun visors and footwells.

The BASTILLE level has been completely revised with new Silicium Grey Peruzzi Cloth seats, with scale-effect grain strips on the dashboard and door panels. As an option, new Basalt Black grained leather seats are available.

A range of multi-energy drivetrains topped by a new 100% electric E-TENSE model

The multi-energy brand with the lowest CO₂ emissions in Europe since 2020, DS Automobiles is offering New DS 3 with three different kinds of drivetrain: electric, petrol and Diesel.

With two Teams’ and Drivers’ titles in Formula E and the record for the number of wins, pole positions and podiums with the second generation single seater, DS Automobiles is benefitting from its excellent performance in competition to introduce new electric techology.

New DS 3 E-TENSE gets a completely new electric motor (assembled in Trémery-Metz), a reduction gear (produced in Valenciennes) and a new battery (assembled in Poissy) for increases in efficiency and range.

The new electric hybrid synchronous motor (HSM) benefits from the expertise acquired in Formula E to demonstrate high efficiency. It offers 115 kW (156 horsepower) of power and 260 Nm of torque at a voltage of 400 volts. The new 54 kWh battery (51 kWh usable) has thermal control through liquid circulation and a heat pump that enables rapid charging, better range and increased lifespan. As standard, the onboard charger takes 100 kW in direct current (10 to 80% in 30 minutes) and 11 kW in alternating current (0-100% in 5 hours 45 minutes).

The architecture has been optimised. With improved energy density, the battery is very compact and distributed beneath the front and rear seats and centre tunnel. Usability and driving position are absolutely identical to those of other drivetrains and impact resistance exceeds the most stringent requirements.

Unique in its segment, New DS 3 E-TENSE manages up to 404 kilometres of range on the WLTP combined cycle and more than 500 km in urban conditions because of the efficiency of the electric motor, its ability to recover energy, ancilliary equipment such as the heat pump, thermal pre-conditioning and the new LED headlamps as well as the aerodynamic optimisation at the front and wheels and lowering ground clearance by 10 mm on models with Tall & Narrow 17 and 18-inch wheels. All these factors together enable a gain of up to 7.6 % on the SCx.

New DS 3 is also being offered with two petrol drivetrains: PureTech 100 with 6-speed manual gearbox and PureTech 130 with 8-speed automatic gearbox. A Diesel BlueHDi 130 with an 8-speed automatic gearbox is also on offer. In these three guises, these engines comply with the most recent anti-pollution standards.

An electric motor manufactured in France and a battery assembled in France

New DS 3 E-TENSE’s upgraded architecture has completely new components, all manufactured or assembled in France for a significant improvement in efficiency and performance.

The new electric motor is manufactured in Trémery, Grand-Est in north-east France. With a power of 115 kW (156 horsepower) for 260 Nm of torque, this drivetrain introduces six-pole technology – for a better blend between power and efficiency – and a multi-stranded coil – for better efficiency and increased power density. The housing is made up of a bygone wax casting technology which enables a one-piece housing to include the cooling circuit for greater compactness and an absence of seams which improves reliability.

The battery has a total capacity of 54 kWh with a usable 51 kWh. Very compact and located beneath the seats and in the central tunnel, the battery uses more efficient technology with an NMC811 make-up (80 % nickel, 10 % manganese and 10% cobalt distributed across 102 cells and 17 modules. Cooling remains liquid. The battery is assembled in the Poissy factory in the Paris region.

The reduction gear is manufactured in Valenciennes, northern France. Through this optimised architecture with a heat pump and aerodynamic developments, New DS 3 E-TENSE gains 84 kilometres of range compared with DS 3 CROSSBACK E-TENSE launched in 2019.

Full of technology inside

New DS 3 gets a new infotainment system accessable via a large 10.3-inch high definition central screen with a redesigned gloss black surround. Connected navigation and intelligent voice recognition are offered by DS IRIS SYSTEM. The distinctive characteristic of this system is the ability for the user to personalise the central screen and the 7-inch instrument panel, complete with head up display that projects essential information in the driver’s eye line. The central screen is split into 12 parts and can accommodate varying sized widgets. As for the instruments, they are split into two distinct parts that can both be personalised. At the same time, the features can be controlled with an advanced voice recognition system or with touch controls on the central pad. The function set-up has been revised to improve the ergonomics and include the specifics of DS IRIS SYSTEM. The mirroring feature is now available wirelessly.

Viewable on the large central screen, VISIO PARK 2 supplements the range of driver aids available on New DS 3 by offering parking help with 360° vision reproduced through new high resolution digital cameras.

Fitted as standard with a camera at the top of its windscreen, New DS 3 includes as standard high-level driver aids: Lane Keeping Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition with information reproduced on the instrument display, and Active Safety Brake.

By scanning its surroundings with radar positioned behind the front bumper and additional sensors, DS DRIVE ASSIST combines the adaptive cruise control with the Stop and Go function and lane keeping assist to give level 2 semi-autonomous driving. DS DRIVE ASSIST positions the car with the help of road markings according to where the driver wants. This feature copes with repeatedly stopping and starting and effortlessly maintains its trajectory. It is linked to the Active Safety Brake system. Capable of detecting other vehicles but also cyclists and pedestrians, even in poor light between 5 and 140 km/h, this automatic emergency braking analyses the risks of a collision and can apply maximum braking force to avoid an impact or limit the consequences of one.

Available as an option, Extended Traffic Sign Recognition detects speed limit signs in addition to some road signs (stop signs, one way, no entry and end of overtaking restrictions).

Fitted with LED headlamps throughout the range, New DS 3 introduces a new face. Composed around three horizontally aligned rectangular modules and highlighted by elegant satin trim, this new design gives a more daring look. Lighting performance is enhanced while energy consumption is reduced for improved range (E-TENSE 100 % electric) or CO₂ emissions (internal combustion engines).

DS MATRIX LED VISION is available as an option. This arrangement produces a light beam that adapts automatically to its setting, which enables continuous driving in “main beam” mode without dazzling other road users. DS MATRIX LED VISION operates with 3 LED modules which have the “dipped beam” function, but also a unit split into 15 segments for each headlamp. The LEDs in this unit turn on and off progressively, segment by segment, depending on the driving conditions detected by a camera at the top of the windscreen. DS MATRIX LED VISION lights up far and wide without ever dazzling the vehicle that’s in front or approaching from the opposite direction. Real comfort and a real safety benefit, particularly at night.

New DS 3 showcases flush fitting door handles. This exclusive technology enables purity of design to be maintained, gives an avant-garde touch to the shape and maximises its aerodynamic efficiency. The door handles fold out when the user needs them and blend into the side of the car the rest of the time, whether it’s stopped or driving. What’s more, with its hands-free access and starting system (PROXIMITY KEYLESS ENTRY & START), you just have to approach the car (within 1.5 metres) for it to unlock and the 4 handles to fold out automatically. Upon walking away, they fold in and the car locks itself.

New connected services for the entire New DS 3 range

Driven by the MyDS app, these services enable you to see the range and level of charge as well as to control charging New DS 3 E-TENSE’s battery. It is also possible to control programming the thermal pre-conditioning. In addition, the MyDS app also introduces a Send2Nav module which lets you search on a destination and send it straight to New DS 3’s infotainment system. A Trip Planner feature is added to this to prepare for 100 % electric driving, with charging points highlighted. Driving information (energy consumption, journey time and distance and history) are available on the app.

A simplified range

The new DS 3 range adopts the principal started by New DS 7. The new OPERA specification becomes the most exclusive. Equipment levels have been reimagined, enabling a smoother climb through the range. The number of options has been reduced, through re-equipping or the creation of option packs to make customer understanding easier. Prices for new DS 3 start from 30,100 euros with the PureTech 100 Manual in BASTILLE specification.

Prices in France

New DS 3 PureTech 100 Manual: from 30,100 euros
New DS 3 PureTech 130 Automatic: from 33,100 euros
New DS 3 BlueHDi 130 Automatic: from 34,700 euros
New DS 3 E-TENSE: from 41,700 euros