DS Automobiles launched the updated DS 3 last year, upgrading the powertrain. However, new spy shots show the automaker isn’t done with the model yet. The images capture a sportier version of the electric crossover’s high-altitude test in Europe.
Camouflage-wise, the DS hasn’t made any significant styling changes, with most of the updates on the front. This electric crossover will feature a new grille design that matches other changes to the face. The DS extends the chrome accents below the headlights and hides the lower center bumper opening.
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The crossover lacks camouflage throughout its body, as it doesn’t look like the DS will be making major stylistic changes elsewhere. The only other indicators that set this DS 3 E-Tense apart from the standard model are the larger brake discs, red calipers and wider wheels. It appears that the crossover is wearing 275/45 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires and mounted on 20-inch rims, but the photos are a bit blurry.
It’s unclear what kind of powertrain upgrade the DS will make for the model. Car maker update it in 2022, giving the vehicle a more powerful 156 horsepower electric motor that produces 191 pound-feet of torque. The crossover also received a new, larger 54.0 kilowatt-hour battery (50.8 kWh usable) that gives it a range of up to 250 miles on WLTP standard.
The sportier DS 3 E-Tense should come with more power and a bigger battery to offset the increased energy use. The spy photos don’t show off the car’s cabin, but there shouldn’t be any significant changes inside. The model can receive unique branding, software with new graphics, and bespoke trim pieces. DS Automobiles previewed its future interior back in June, but we weren’t expecting such a radical change in the DS 3 yet.
We don’t know when the automaker may reveal the new DS 3 E-Tense variant. The French brand announced that a few years ago it will be a completely electric brand starting in 2024, and adding a sporty EV will no doubt help boost the lineup at a very competitive time in the industry.
The camouflage isn’t particularly thick or stealthy, but it may take a while before the DS opens its shutters. We wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t debut until early next year, but we also wouldn’t mind being surprised before the end of 2023.
