OUI CRACKER
The bright and brisk DS 3 Performance is bursting with irresistible French flair
It’s my personal bit of sunshine car, the lovely DS 3 Performance which has rocked up on my driveway.
Liveried in black and yellow, it immediately reminded me of Muhammad Ali’s famous mantra, “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”, for this small car is very deceptive.
From the outside, it looks like your everyday, regular DS 3 – pretty, fun and pert.
But start up the engine and put your foot down, and you’re in for a surprise. This is a little pocket rocket.
It has a turbocharged 1.6- litreitre petrol engine, boasts 208PS, comesmes with a wider track sports suspensionsion and, as if you hadn’t got the idea, even the names of the colours point to its performance.
It comes in Sport Yellow with a black roof, with 18in Black Nemesis lightweight alloys and a Brembo sports braking system.
I’ve always been a fan of thehe DS 3. I think it’s a stylish and funky-ylooking car. With this engine andnd power, the Performance cranks up the desirability level even more. Inside and out, there are design cues to remind you that this is a lot more than just a small city car. These include alloy sports pedals, a perforated leather sports steering wheel, special Performance seats and the sound, that glorious sound, that the DS 3 Performance makes when it is getting carried away with itself. It taketakes just 6.5 seconds to do the dash from 0- 62mph and has a top speedspee of 143mph. Ama Amazingly, you will still get an average of more than 50mpg out of this little mover. It is more rigid than the norm normal DS 3, which holds it in good stead when you throw it arou around corners at speed. It just won’t budge. It stays f irmirmly on track, pushes for forward to the next bit of road and is so willing to give you the best drive you have ever had.
Its agility means that it is also really good for nipping in and out of traffic in town. And because it’s small, it’s easy to park.
It comes with the full panoply of tech wizardry, from a 7in touchscreen to an upgraded sound system.
There’s cruise control and a speed limiter, hill start assist, auto lights and wipers, as well as the DS Connect Box Emergency and Assistance System, which automatically calls for help if you’re involved in an accident.
I love the look of this car,the way it handles and its economy.
And for an extra bit of dash, the car key has the spot colour of Sport Yellow on i,t too.
That’s the French flair for you.