PARIS MOTOR SHOW: Pure-electric DS 3 Crossback SUV set to star

DS will unveil its first production pure-electric vehicle at the Paris motor show this September.

Likely to be called the DS 3 Crossback, the small SUV is rumoured to be the first car from the PSA Group to be based on the European car-maker's dedicated e-CMP platform.

The DS 3 Crossback will be the DS brand's first step on the way to electrification following its declaration that its whole range will be hybrid or pure-electric by 2025.

As well as the fresh platform, the small SUV will introduce the French car-maker's next-gen pure-electric technology for PSA, says Auto Express, following an interview with DS vice-president of product, Eric Apode.

According to Apode, the DS SUV will be "more than a boutique item" and will be competitive against other emerging pure-electric SUVs like the Hyundai Kona EV.

It's thought the DS 3 Crossback will offer a range of around 450km when it goes on sale in Europe in early 2019 following its unveil in Paris.

For now, the chances of the DS 3 Crossback being offered in Australia are slim, although Peugeot and Citroen’s Australian importer Inchcape has said it considers the larger DS 7 a “serious prospect” for spearheading the brand’s revival Down Under.