New DS3 launch! 19th January 2016

[JEZDS3]

Less chrome via a mega quick shop at work. All black or all white

Agreed Beefmasta!! I like the black sporty slightly Zunsport Grille look!

[StevenRB45]

Hmm I know yesterday I said the Peugeot was strong..however was followed by one of these on my way to work this morning obviously it was doing the full Audi so I got to have a close look at the the headlamps and trapezoid grille and chrome...

I'm now thinking its the love child of an Audi and a Peugeot..

[Chris_Blue]

Oh god, I'm slowly turning into Chris..

You got a Golf R too ?

[WTF]

The blacked out one has a bit of Bocanegra about it.

Little fact - a DS3 120bhp Vti will not beat a 180bhp supercharged and turbocharged Bocanegra - Crazy I know. But I can say I tried

[WTF]

I'm now thinking its the love child of an Audi and a Peugeot..

All it is the the new DS 3

[RichardL]

I'm now thinking its the love child of an Audi and a Peugeot..

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And that kids is why you should always

[StevenRB45]

All it is the the new DS 3

I know, and I also know they wanted to distance themselves from Citroen but in doing so it's ended up with a car that's not really a character in its own right, and the things that do give it some character were present on the old one.

Given they've already released most of the stuff like new engines and infotainment incrementally prior to the release maybe they could have let it soldier on until what a must be a fairly imminent all new car without putting that front on it, devaluing any chevron cars in the process..

Not that it matters as as you point out it is the "new" ds3 and it has happened.

[Dangerousfish]

You got a Golf R too ?

Nah, just thinking of going all black on my new one

[WTF]

I know, and I also know they wanted to distance themselves from Citroen but in doing so it's ended up with a car that's not really a character in its own right, and the things that do give it some character were present on the old one.

Given they've already released most of the stuff like new engines and infotainment incrementally prior to the release maybe they could have let it soldier on until what a must be a fairly imminent all new car without putting that front on it, devaluing any chevron cars in the process..

Not that it matters as as you point out it is the "new" ds3 and it has happened.

Could be a mass surge now of people that have liked the DS3 and not taken the plunge and now is the time!

It's all very personal taste - I wrote a lengthy post earlier with my thoughts.

I think it has character. The heart of the DS3 is there, the front has just been changed to embrace the changes we have been expecting for over a year. The DS3 has divided opinion from the get go, and many will be happy that it's no longer a Citroen. I know some of the hard core Citroen fans have never acknowledged the DS3 as anything good.

Education is a big thing - I'd say 80% of the people I've seen online have no idea why this has happened, why the front has changed, why they took the Chevrons away and why it isn't a Citroen anymore. So most its just a new car and they almost feel that there current DS3 has been cast to one side and will become redundant. In reality we know that the first model DS3 holds a lot of heritage and claims.

The DS3 HAS changed a lot since the days when the branding was all about fun, the adverts where how you could customise it with bright and vibrant colours. Now the Adam and the Fiat 500 have take the reins of that it does feel that with the new facelift, the 'sophisticated' names and colour palettes that the DS3 has found itself a bit alone in the corner. It definitely needs something to bring the Spirit back the DS3.

When we first started to notice the DS3

And more recently

As secure as the DS3 with the 4 and 5 by its side, I think it needs to shake off the suit and rebel a bit. Maybe the new look front would have been better received it wasn't in a kaleidoscope of other changes, the brand becoming its own, that brand trying to attract new and contrasting market to what it did before. Old before it's time maybe?

If the DS3 perceived online as a funky super mini that was getting a wicked new look I think people would have been excited by it. Imagine there was new vibrant colours as roof and trim options, such as purple, lime green and yellow. I think there would have been loads of hype about it and people would have been excited and not left a bit confused by the whole thing. It wouldn't appeal to everyone, but you wouldn't have to have these options - we know that.

The DS3 has a place, old or new. I just think some people that don't like it are reacting too quickly because it's changed.

Saying all of this, we have only seen picture online. Could be a big difference when we see the real thing.

[THP]

The main problems for me are that it just seems a bit forced and half-arsed. They've desperately tried to get rid of the Citroën connection and align it with the other DS front ends but it just looks like they've done a quick-fix. It seems a bit "that'll do."

You know how much I love the DS3 but I think it's time for a full new model and the facelift is just disappointing.

I'd definitely have a Performance edition but a DSport equivalent...I don't think so. I think we'll see a lot of current owners end their DS3 relationships with this model (probably me included) but I do think it'll bring a lot of new people to the car.

[StevenRB45]

A reply to WTF..people sneaking in with their entirely valid opinions!

I believe the change in marketing is related entirely to there being other cars in the range. When it was 1st released it was a way of Citroen taking a piece of the lucrative MINI pie with minimum engineering costs (I.e. lots of shared parts), so if it bombed it wasn't a huge loss. Fun marketing had worked for Mini so the DS3 got that as well and as a standalone product that was fine.

The problem came with the release of the DS4 and DS5 which are not about fun, at which point to create a cohesive brand "message" the DS3 then had to become the height of chic not a fun little hatchback as it is the brand bill board being by far and away the DS you are most likely to see. We've now come the full way with Citroen and DS being separate so it can manage that branding to the full.

Only issue being...the car is still the same car and this facelift does nothing to change that if anything it replaces a strong front end treatment with a weaker (but not especially offensive) one. Only because the strong one wasn't "on message". It does this while casually ignoring the headlamps and large parts of the interior still being lifted from a C3.

[drpouch95]

I was genuinely considering getting another DS3 after my current one, loved every moment in it and it still makes me smile with every journey!

I have to say though I'm not a fan of the new one....But not because of the front, I actually really like the front, especially if you have it colour wrapped, rather than the chrome. My mother has a DS5 which think has a similar front end, and I have always liked it. The reason I won't be looking at the new one is purely the lack of innovation on the inside. From what I have seen, and comparing it to my current one, they have barely changed anything. The lack of change or upgrading has really put me off, I thought DS were going to be better than that, and it seems they aren't.

If someone could prove me wrong I would be most appreciative, as I really like the idea of having a new one, but for now, I'll carry on being stuck between an Audi TT TDI Ultra, or a Mini Cooper SD

[flemmo]

I was genuinely considering getting another DS3 after my current one, loved every moment in it and it still makes me smile with every journey!

I have to say though I'm not a fan of the new one....But not because of the front, I actually really like the front, especially if you have it colour wrapped, rather than the chrome. My mother has a DS5 which think has a similar front end, and I have always liked it. The reason I won't be looking at the new one is purely the lack of innovation on the inside. From what I have seen, and comparing it to my current one, they have barely changed anything. The lack of change or upgrading has really put me off, I thought DS were going to be better than that, and it seems they aren't.

If someone could prove me wrong I would be most appreciative, as I really like the idea of having a new one, but for now, I'll carry on being stuck between an Audi TT TDI Ultra, or a Mini Cooper SD

So not even the headunit blanking plate they put in doesn't tempt you? :-P

[flemmo]

The 205bhp performance model looks much better!

[FLP]

Less chrome via a mega quick shop at work. All black or all white

Normally I'm all about murdering out the front, but in this case I lean towards body color. So, to get the best of both worlds I suggest everybody getting a black car