Following an impressive 300,000 sales globally, Citroen has updated the chic DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio city car with a new light signature, new engines and additional technology features.
Set to begin production in July, the refreshed DS3 and DS3 Cabrio will feature new headlights inspired by two innovative concept cars – Numéro 9 and Wild Rubis that combines LED and Xenon modules with new sequential indicators.
Both DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio retain their distinctive 3D-effect LED rear lights, with a chrome finished DS logo in a black embossed DS pattern setting. The existing LED daytime running lights compliment the new lighting signature at the front of both cars.
Efficiency has been improved as well, where energy consumption is now 35% lower in dipped mode and 75% lower in high-beam mode, while the LEDs can last up to 20 times longer than halogen lights, with an impressive standard lifetime of 20,000 hours!
Also from July production, selected versions of DS 3 will be available with the choice of a laser-etched dashboard strip and a screen-printed rear window. Colour options have also been enhanced, with the addition of Pearl White on the DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio and Belle-Ile Blue exclusively for the DS 3 Cabrio. Meanwhile, the DS 3 gains new visually striking 17” diamond-cut alloy wheels on selected models.
The new DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio will be available in diesel and petrol engines. The two new Euro 6 diesel engines are Blue HDi 100 and Blue HDi 120 engines which not only have improved the supermini’s performances but they also are more fuel efficient. The lesser version can return up to 3-litres / 100 km with 79 g/km of CO2 whereas the more powerful unit will do 3.6-litres / 100 km with 94 g/km of CO2.
Select markets are also getting a Euro 6-compliant PureTech e-VTi 82 ETG that can do 4.1-litres / 100 km and 95 g/km of CO2. This engine works in combination with an automated-manual five-speed Efficient Tronic Gearbox (ETG) equipped with a ‘creep’ function and optimised software mapping, which adjusts power delivery for smoother starts and a better driving experience.
Selected model will be available in the UK with ‘Active City Brake’ that helps to prevent low-speed collisions. This is achieved thanks to a short-range radar, mounted at the top of the windscreen, which identifies slow moving or stationary vehicles on the road ahead. If the vehicle is driving at speeds lower than 35km/h, the sensor activates the brakes to avoid a potential collision. Although it’s not a new technology, it certainly gives more appeal to the new cute city car.
Apart from that, day-to-day manoeuvres are made easier too, with the addition of an optional reversing camera on both DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio. This camera is automatically linked to the eMyWay navigation system for ease of use.
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