New Citroen DS3 Crossback SUV teased

Citroen's overseas premium arm DS Automobiles has begun releasing official teases of the DS 3 Crossback SUV it will unveil at a VIP event in Paris this Thursday.

Posting both a snapshot and short video of the French rival to cars like the Audi Q2, we already have a clear idea how the French premium brand's smallest SUV will look following patents of the DS 3 Crossback were leaked online.

Set to become the DS brand's best-selling model, the small SUV is expected to quickly eclipse sales volumes of the ageing DS 3 hatch.

Despite sharing its name with the small hatch, the larger SUV will have little in common with the soon-to-be pensioned off model. Instead, beneath the skin PSA's next-generation CMP architecture will feature. The same building blocks will also underpin the next Peugeot 208.

The new modular CMP is not only lighter and stiffer than the previous PSA platform but it has been engineered for both internal combustion and pure-electric drivetrains.

Hence the DS 3 Crossback to be unveiled at Paris is rumoured to be a battery-powered SUV.

Set for production, the EV-version of the DS 3 Crossback SUV will feature a 50kWh lithium-ion battery that provides for a range of around 450km. Its electric motor will produce around 90kW.

As well as pure-electric power, petrol and diesel versions will also benefit from the option of both the car-maker's 48V mild hybrid and full plug-in capability.

At Paris, apart from outlining how the brand plans to electrify its models to slash emissions, it’s expected DS will also launch conventional versions of the new Crossback powered by both the 1.2-litre three-cylinder Puretech and 1.6-litre THP turbo-petrol engines.

Despite the decline in diesel’s popularity, the DS 3 Crossback will also be offered with a 1.5-litre HDi engine.

Inside, the DS 3 Crossback is likely to come with a scaled-down version of the DS 7's interior with added 'funky' elements designed to appeal to a more youthful audience. Expect lots of diamond-shaped graphics.

There's still no news on whether the DS brand could return Down Under but senior PSA bosses have admitted it's on the cards – but only after local importer, Inchcape, has revived passenger car sales for Peugeot and Citroen.