Creating a compact luxury vehicle is certainly no novel exercise for the car industry, or for Peugeot-Citro\u00ebn’s most refined and valued brand, committed to this project since 2010. The new crossover, the smallest in the line (although not replacing the original three-door DS3, which will stay in production for another two years or so), does, however, represent an interesting break from some other manufacturers’ equivalents and, of course, the French group’s own past.<\/p>\n<\/div>
![\"DS3](\"http:\/\/autodesignmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2019010702_DS3Crossback.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/div>Design Director Thierry Metroz proudly confirms, \u201cAlthough this model is in the B segment, some of its features are certainly from the D segment, two categories higher. The flush-mounted door handles, for instance, that pop out automatically when you approach the car within a 1.5 meter radius: a unique feature that changes the design of a fundamental element for unlocking the vehicle\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/a><\/span><\/div>Equally unusual is the sophisticated shape of the front headlights: \u201cHere we have been bolder than with the DS7 Crossback, the first in our new series. Category codes have become more flexible and customers are younger, with women now making up half, whereas before the majority were men. Hence the decision to enclose the matrix LED headlights in an irregular perimeter, which features a small \u2018comma\u2019 to create a striking front\u201d, explains Mr. Metroz.<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/a><\/span><\/div>\u201cThis choice is completely in line with the sculptural style of the entire bodywork, which has no flat parts. The ribbed horizontal bonnet that curves back towards the door mirrors is another important expression, for example. In general, much has been done to maximise the interior space, which is simple but full and extremely harmonious: this is also thanks to the completely new chassis, which has enabled us to achieve excellent proportions\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>